Beautiful Beaulieu

Pat Coulter enjoys a visit to this incredible estate and motor museum in the heart of the New Forest.

- Pat Coulter

Factfile

• Scenic Beaulieu derives its name from the French beau lieu, meaning beautiful place.
• Action for the 1966 Oscar-winning film "A Man For All Seasons", starring Paul Scofield and Orson Welles, was filmed along the unspoilt Beaulieu River.
• Beaulieu River and Buckler's Hard played a pivotal role during D-Day preparations, with thousands of troops assembling in the area before embarking on "Operation Overlord".
• The New Forest is far from "new" with 1,000 years of history. It was William Conqueror who named what was his new royal hunting ground.

WE'VE enjoyed a celebratory summer with the Queen's Jubilee, and the celebrations continue during our latest trip to the heart of the New Forest.

Poppy and I are making a welcome return to Beaulieu, home to stately Palace House, the seat of the Montagu family, and the family-friendly attraction that encompasses the National Motor Museum.

It's a platinum anniversary for Palace House, too, which first opened its doors to the public in 1952.

It's a dual celebration for the Montagu family, with the golden anniversary of the opening of the National Motor Museum.

Entering the New Forest National Park, the pace of life immediately slows from a gallop to a gentle trot.

The 40 mph speed limit through the park ensures the safety of its most famous residents: New Forest ponies.

They might be wild, but they are inquisitive. As we pull into a car park alongside a babbling, rust-coloured brook, one shaggy-maned yearling pokes its head inside my open car window, nuzzling for a treat.

Poppy enjoys a scamper on the paw-friendly sandy soil, where yellow-flowering gorse bushes abound.