CLOCKWISE FROM TOP The sun setting in Bratley Wood in the New Forest; ferns carpet the forest floor; wild horses are a familiar sight in the Forest; sit back and relax with a fine glass of English wine by the wood-burner at The Pig in Brockenhurst; 13th-century Beaulieu Abbey is a conserved ruin on a vast scale.
Perhaps it's the diversity of magical vistas that range from ancient woodland to open heathland and stretch out to a 26-mile coastline encompassing mudflats and saltmarshes. Or maybe it's the free-roaming ponies that languidly graze the countryside and wander indolently alongside the roads. Whatever the reason, there's a certain sense of the exotic in the New Forest, and travellers venturing here can't fail to feel a sense of getting away from it all' thanks to the area's unique culture, its laid-back atmosphere and exceptional scenery.
Established as a royal hunting forest by William the Conqueror in 1079 for the pursuit of 'the beasts of the chase', his ownership of the area extended to banning local communities from using the forest to graze livestock, forage or hunt. It wasn't until 1217 that the rights of the people were restored, with the Charter of the Forest allowing common rights over grazing and use of the land. These days, this ancient tradition of commoning' still exists, and the livestock seen here now may look wild but are actually owned by a community of latter-day commoners.
The New Forest is best known for these wild-roaming animals and its wealth of outdoor activities. But it has much more besides, with a rich seam of historic attractions, myriad shopping opportunities in its charming towns and villages and an incredible diversity of local food and drink, of which the area is rightly proud. Look out for the New Forest Marque', which is awarded to produce with a clearly defined local provenance.
Denne historien er fra November 2022-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
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Denne historien er fra November 2022-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Lisa Coppin
The Cotswold Company’s chief creative officer shares the pieces that mean so much to her
TRAVEL
Six of the best pineta, plus a festive trip to Covent Garden. Review of The Orange, Belgravia by Katie Pike, travel stories
OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE
Stumbled upon by chance, this ingenious material was a more affordable option than solid silver, and well-preserved examples are particularly desirable today
Merrily on high
Summoning servants since the 1700s, bell boards create instant English country-house style (even if you don't have any servants). Emma Longstaff dons her pinny
Let it snow
Nostalgic, magical and highly collectable, snow globes are curious objects of wonder that never fail to instil joy
Velvet Crush
Once the preserve of the wealthy, velvet finally touched all levels of society, thanks to advances in its production process
Celebrating in the Stable
Antiques dealer Julia von Hülsen specialises in Gustavian pieces - all of which look perfectly placed in her German home
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Victorian toy theatres charming and exquisitely designed miniature worlds have inspired theatre royalty for decades. Today, the tradition is being kept alive by a small but talented network of makers
NICHOLAS LEES
The ceramic artist talks to Dominique Corlett about new ways of working with clay and blurring the edges of solid objects
Candy CHRISTMAS
Pastel hues, vintage decorations and bowls of sweet treats: the festive run-up is gloriously joyful at Bettina Færgeman's historic Copenhagen apartment, where there's an emphasis on entertaining...
