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Why the New Forest for a Self-Catering Holiday?
The New Forest's unique selling point is the free-roaming animals — ponies, cattle and deer wander freely throughout the forest and through villages. Waking up to a pony outside your VRBO cottage window is one of those genuinely memorable travel experiences. The forest also has over 100 miles of waymarked cycling trails, all completely traffic-free.
Best Areas to Stay
- Brockenhurst: The most popular New Forest village — railway station (direct to London Waterloo), excellent cycling base, beautiful village. Book early.
- Burley: Charming village with witchcraft heritage — great cycling, less touristy than Brockenhurst.
- Lyndhurst: The 'Capital of the New Forest' — shops, restaurants, New Forest Museum.
- Beaulieu: National Motor Museum, palace, beautiful village on the Beaulieu River.
- Lymington: Coastal — sailing, ferry to the Isle of Wight, beautiful Georgian high street.
Cycling in the New Forest
The New Forest is arguably the best cycling destination in southern England. Over 100 miles of waymarked Forestry England cycle trails connect across the forest, all traffic-free and well-maintained. Bike hire is available in Brockenhurst, Burley and Fordingbridge. For families, the Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst trail is an easy 8-mile round trip through beautiful forest.
The Solent Coast
The New Forest meets the coast at Barton-on-Sea, Milford on Sea and Lymington. The views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight are spectacular, and on a clear day you can see as far as the Needles. Coastal VRBO properties here offer a brilliant combination of forest and sea.
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Forest retreats, village properties and coastal escapes across the New Forest National Park.
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