Into The Woods
The Official Magazine Britain|March/April 2019

A thousand years after William the Conqueror first set his sights on it, the New Forest exerts the same fascination that captivated a king

Natasha Foges
Into The Woods

There’s nothing new about the New Forest. Far from the spindly saplings that the name conjures up, this is a vast swathe of ancient woodland carpeting 566 square kilometres of Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Designated a royal forest by William the Conqueror, it was once used as a hunting ground for deer. It’s thought that the king forced the inhabitants of 36 parishes out of their homes to create this royal playground, a decision he perhaps came to regret: a number of family members, including his successor William Rufus, lost their lives here, as 17th-century writer Richard Blome described: “This wicked act did not long go unpunished, for his Sons felt the smart thereof; Richard being blasted with a pestilent Air; Rufus shot through with an arrow; and Henry his Grandchild, as he pursued his Game, was hanged among the boughs”.

You can visit the Rufus Stone, marking the spot where William Rufus was felled, but no traces of the “pestilent Air” that did for his brother remain. These days, the New Forest is all fresh air and soul-soothing expanses of unspoilt woodland and heathery plains. It’s one of the few areas of the country where the ancient landscape has remained more or less intact, and a drive through the area yields plenty of pleasing animal encounters: ponies trotting unhurriedly across roads, cattle grazing on grassy verges, deer skittering across the road at dusk. The forest is theirs; they have been here for centuries, after all.

All of which makes an idyllic setting for a weekend in the country. Within easy reach of London – just an hour and a half by train – the area makes a great escape from the Big Smoke. Walk scenic moorland and windswept cliffs, explore pretty villages and cosy up in country pubs.

Esta historia es de la edición March/April 2019 de The Official Magazine Britain.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición March/April 2019 de The Official Magazine Britain.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE BRITAINVer todo
Take The High Road
The Official Magazine Britain

Take The High Road

The North Coast 500 is an epic route that takes you past some of the country’s most spellbinding scenery

time-read
5 minutos  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Where To Stay In 2021
The Official Magazine Britain

Where To Stay In 2021

Whether it’s a country house escape, a rustic bolthole or a sophisticated city stay, you’ll find your perfect getaway on these pages

time-read
10+ minutos  |
Britain 2021 Guide
The EMPEROR'S ISLE
The Official Magazine Britain

The EMPEROR'S ISLE

Tresco was once a treeless and windswept island, the haunt of smugglers. Dramatically transformed by one man’s vision, it is now one of Britain’s most beautiful spots

time-read
6 minutos  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Hidden Cornwall
The Official Magazine Britain

Hidden Cornwall

Discover the beautiful, beguiling and rugged land of West Penwith in the far reaches of Cornwall

time-read
6 minutos  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Wonders of Wales
The Official Magazine Britain

Wonders of Wales

With its wild cliffs, pretty coves and puffins galore, St Brides Bay holds the best of Pembrokeshire

time-read
5 minutos  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES
The Official Magazine Britain

Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES

Equal parts mystical moor and secluded seashore, the Yorkshire coast beats some of Britain’s more traditional summer destinations hands down

time-read
5 minutos  |
Britain 2021 Guide
PEAK PERFORMANCE
The Official Magazine Britain

PEAK PERFORMANCE

From heathery moors to rolling hills and underground caverns, the Peak District is home to some of the most majestic landscapes in the country

time-read
5 minutos  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Culture CAPITAL
The Official Magazine Britain

Culture CAPITAL

After a year of stop-start openings, London's museums are welcoming visitors back in 2021 with an array of blockbuster exhibitions

time-read
4 minutos  |
Britain 2021 Guide
HISTORIC NORFOLK
The Official Magazine Britain

HISTORIC NORFOLK

Spend time exploring this peaceful county, whose stately homes are a grand counterpoint to its unadorned rural landscapes

time-read
6 minutos  |
Britain 2021 Guide
1066 COUNTRY
The Official Magazine Britain

1066 COUNTRY

England’s sunny south coast has a rich heritage, harbouring ancient castles and evocative landscapes that tell the story of the Battle of Hastings and beyond

time-read
7 minutos  |
Britain 2021 Guide