The New Forest got it’s name when it was made a new royal hunting preserve by William the Conqueror. Now a national park, it retains some ancient laws- especially the right for locals to graze animals across the entire forest. These include the famous New Forest ponies, which roam freely through the villages. The New Forest with a largely flat landscape and a 100-mile (161km) network of signposted trails is ideal for exploring by bike or car.

Two important facts about the New Forest that you should know:

-it’s not new. It was established as a royal hunting reserve in 1079;

-it’s not a forest. More like an open heath dotted with the occasional tree or copse.

If you decided to go on driving tour into the New Forest start point will be in Lyndhurst -the “the capital of the New Forest”  and finish one would be in Minstead- a little village that was favourite of Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.

On your  Driving Tour you will see:

-Bolderwood -the best place to see deer in the forest.

-Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, the road lined with some of the only American sequoias and redwoods to be found in England.

-Brockenhurst -one of the prettiest New Forest villages. It’s a popular base for pony treks into the countryside. Ponies, cattle and donkeys are often seen drinking at the river ford in the center of Brockenhurst.

-Burley – nice village with it’s low-roofed cottages and freely roaming ponies.

-Ringwed is famous for it’s market, that held here every Wednesday since 1226.

-Rufus Stone , that marks the spot where cruel King William II (known as Rufus) is said to have been killed.

New Forest National Park is a paradise for nature lovers!