A day trip to New Forest

A trip to New Forest usually takes 1.5 hours from Kingston. Over the bank holiday it took us a little over 2. 

We did make it though, and our first stop was Lyndhurst information centre to work out where to go.

Apparently New Forest is England's smallest National park. It was named 'nova foresta' (New Forest) by William the Conqueror more than 900 years ago. Forest in those days meant an area of land set aside for hunting game. Now a days you can't hunt and as you drive through ponies, cattle and deer graze freely. 

We had a little wander through Lyndhurst and found the grave of Alice Hargreaves (Liddell) that inspired the character Alice from Alice in Wonderland.

Grave site of Alice Hargreaves

As the forest is full of walking and cycling trails we took the advice of the information centre and headed for Blackwater Arboretum. The walks around this spot left a little to be desired. I don't find walking along a busy road particularly relaxing, so we drove further and found a nice walk along a little river. 

  

Before we headed home we did a detour to Burley (home of witches), well that's what the brochure said. I didn't see any and all I could find was lots of shops selling the same corny nic nacks. After waiting for ages to try and get a pint at the local watering hole we cut our losses and decided to head back to London, spoiling ourselves with a nice Indian curry on the way home.

I think we'll have to stay a whole weekend next time!