That, plus a lot of arms, splash and effort for very little return.  As that is overly damaging to my fragile ego, I leave the pool alone (unless of course that is to experience the customary hour of drowning that most fathers experience whenever it’s time to take the kids for a swim!).

The New Forest however offers much to the swimmer, the cyclist and the runner.  This coming weekend sees all three come together in the form of the excellent Primera New Forest Triathlon .

The event takes place at venues featured in the New Forest Pocket Guide

A lap (1.1km) of Ellingham Lake, home of Ellingham Waterski and Wakeboard Club

A 40km bike route from the Lake around the New Forest, taking in the spectacular beauty the New Forest has to offer.

A gruelling 10k run on a mix of road and gravel tracks finishing at Sandy Balls Holiday Centre to take full and much deserved advantage of the excellent facilities on offer!

It’s a terrific event.  Fantastically well organised, generating the kind of inspiring, collegiate atmosphere that is an inevitable feature of a large number of like minded people in one place (particularly competitive ones!).

It’s great fun for all the family, a real spectacle for people of all ages to enjoy the great outdoors and the beauty of the New Forest.   Even if sport is not really your thing, there are great friendships to be made, great people watching to be had and great countryside to enjoy!

You never know, you may even find yourself tempted to dig out the speedo’s, dust off that bicycle and shake of those slippers!

Click the link below to download your New Forest Pocket Guide

New Forest Pocket Guide for iPhone

New Forest Pocket Guide for Android  

We’d originally thought it might prove useful to have something in the APP that could entertain whilst under a wet canvas on a typical british summers day!

Initial feedback from users (huge thanks, you know who you are and we couldn’t do this without you!) has evidenced that children love the games (particularly the memory games).

So there you have it, unintended consequences maybe but a huge plus nonetheless!  Not only can you get everything you need to make your time in the New Forest complete, you can entertain the whole family along the way!  All that for just 69p!

The New Forest Pocket Guide is now available in the APP store for your iPhone. Here’s a screen shot that gives you a sneaky peek at what you can expect.

You can click on the screen shot or the link below and go straight to the APP to download

New Forest Pocket Guide 

We’d love to know what you think so please do let us have your feedback.  We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the New Forest Pocket Guide!

The New forest area in England is one of the few places that provide a perfect holiday destination for people of all age groups. This place has a lot to offer for every age group and people with varied interests. A large number of visitors visit this place due to its unique inherent natural and cultural beauty. The place is visited by numerous visitors every year due to its tranquil and serene natural beauty.

Visitors to New Forest area find the camping in this area very interesting. There is a wide variety of New Forest Camping sites to choose from which are run by Forestry Commission and Camping & Caravan Club. The areas of Arhurst, Stoney Cross, Lyndhurst, Beaulieu, Lymington, and Brockenhurst have wide variety of camping sites. You can also check out the latest caravanning facilities available in different areas. Wide variety of flora and fauna and five different species of deer give you a reason to find out more about the natural beauty of the place.

New Forest area has variety of options for people from all age groups. Kids and teenagers feel delighted to experience the beauty of Mother Nature at the sight of herds of ponies, sheep, pigs, Britain’s dragonflies, and damselflies. The wildlife offers a close glimpse to the rare species that are a fascinating delight for every nature lover.

For those who wish to ensure a hassle free stay while visiting the national park in the area can opt for New Forest Hotels located within the forest and even at the close proximity to the national park. So, you can have a comfortable stay at the hotel besides relishing the feast of natural beauty at its best. The Penny Farthing Hotel in Lyndhurst, Four Season Hotel in Hythe, and Candlesticks Inn in Ringwood are the few most popular hotels in the area.

If you wish to take your family to a holiday with a difference, going to New Forest area can be a perfect choice. Once you make up your mind to explore the beauty of this wonderful place, it is important that you gather all the important information by investing some time in doing the research about the area.

With a score of 84% Careys Manor has once again proved to be a hotel of high quality, providing attentive and personal service. The AA inspector commented that in his opinion, Careys Manor is “one of the best 4 star hotels in the country” based on location, quality and service.

Careys also holds accolades for the Manor Restaurant. With 2 AA Rosettes, the Manor Restauarnt demonstrates consistancy and precision in the quality of the food it serves. The policy of the Restaurant is to use quality ingredients, sourcing fresh, local, organic produce. Bacon and Sausages are sourced from Owls Barn, Goats Cheese from Sway Dairy and line caught Mackerel from Lymington.

Why not come and experience the luxury and comfort of Careys Manor Hotel for yourself? We have some excellent special offers available at the moment. Click here for more information.

 A Bit of History…

Principally used as a large hunting lodge, in its history the site of Careys Manor has played host to prestigious clientele, including British royalty and a number of Welsh guards.

A former Royal hunting ground, in 1086 the New Forest became a Royal Ground. King William I (William the Conqueror) and his entourage would principally hunt deer from one hunting lodge to the next.

Most large lodges such as the old manor, now known as Careys Manor, would have a retainer who managed the property on a permanent basis. Charles II gave the old manor, to John Carey for services rendered during the period 1660 ­ 1685.

And in 1970 the Bowden-Smith Family took over the ownership of the country house.

The original house was built 100 yards into college grounds but was demolished. Built in 1888 the present house originally stood in approximately 14 acres of grounds. Within the grounds was the village Cricket pitch and over the years the house acquired tennis courts.

Herman Bowden-Smith later built a row of houses within the village that are now known as Careys Cottages. The cottages were given to the village so that they could be rented to the poor, with priority given to the retired estate staff.

Herman Bowden-Smith was the last member of his family to own the house, which he sold in 1934 before he went to live in Switzerland. A Dutchman called Mr Builderbeck bought the house and turned it into a country house Hotel, most of the land was sold off separately to the local council.

During the Second World War, the country house Hotel was used to accommodate a number of Welsh Guards. Mr John Ferris bought the Hotel in 1957 and added the garden wings in 1966 and 1967.

The present owners bought the hotel in 1975; they added the Carat Club (the old Leisure Club) in 1987, the East Garden Wing in 1988, The Cedar Suite in 1995, a light and spacious room, ideal for conferences and weddings. Added in 1988 the Manor Suite offers a versatile space again ideal for conferencing, weddings and private dining.

In May 2009, the hotel bedrooms and suites underwent significant refurbishment. Offering a mix of both traditional and modern oriental features, the bedrooms were designed with luxury and comfort in mind. This included 36 Garden Rooms and all Manor Rooms, the garden rooms then became our well-appointed Oakwood Rooms.

In 2004, The Health Club underwent extensive refurbishment and was transformed into the luxurious award winning SenSpa.

Now into 2011…

Careys Manor hotel offers a warm and relaxed environment, undisputed service, timeless elegance and well-equipped facilities. The country house hotel and Spa provides a wonderfully serene retreat, a great base to explore the beautiful New Forest and an indulgent treat for you and your loved ones.

For more information please visit our website www.careysmanor.com

New Forests offer a complete package for everything ranging from the need to unwind, wander or just the want of enjoying. The New Forests are an ideal location for people of all ages. There is variety of  New Forest accommodation to suite all tastes and needs starting from luxury and grand hotels to holiday cottages,  New Forest bed and breakfast to camping and caravan sites and holiday parks.

There are various places which one can visit while on their vacation in The New Forest from the award winning gardens, museums, leisure to wildlife parks and farms. There is always something happening throughout the year in The New Forest.  The New Forest is a haven for the cyclist, horse rider and walker.

There are varieties of hotels one can choose from which are right by the coastline and close to the New Forest National Park. Whether one is looking for a short trip or a long stay, these hotels offer it all. To add adventure to ones day, one can choose from activities such as walking, bicycling, horseback riding, sailing or golfing, with windsurfing being another option as well. One can also spend time outdoors either on or by the water or in the forest. The hotels also offer a ferry ride to the Isle of Wight for the day. The port town of Lymington provides a gateway to the Isle of Wight and is home to a number of famous sailing regattas.

Another attraction offered by various hotels to lure customers is the Solent, which is a varied beautiful coastline inclusive of one of the most photographed sights in the UK, the needles.

While on a stay in any luxurious hotel one can enjoy plenty of dining options. One can opt for fresh seafood or enjoy light snacks and meals or enjoy a relaxed drink in the hotel bar while looking over the cliffs to the beautiful mountains below. These hotels offer it all and there is one to suite every budget as well.

Rhinefield House in the heart of the New Forest is one such example, this grand country house was originally built in 1887 and architecturally is a blend of Tudor and Gothic styles, and offers a fantastic standard of new forest accommodation. Located close to Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and all the New Forest has to offer, the hotel is only 20 miles from Southampton and Bournemouth.

Previously a Lodge, Rhinefield House was built with no expense spared. It is fitted with chandeliers, intricate carvings and unique touches, but has retained a homely, easy-going feel. In 1877 many of the Crown Lands were “privatised”. Grace and Favour appointments lapsed and vacant lodges were leased to private individuals. Rhinefield passed to the hands of the Walker family, which owned Eastwood Colliery, immortalised in the novels of D.H.Lawrence.

In 1885 the only daughter of the family became engaged to a Lieutenant Munro RN, and her father’s engagement present was £250,000 with which to build a family home at Rhinefield. After their marriage in I887 the couple adopted the name Walker-Munro and supervised the construction of an impressive countryseat comprising the Great House, a Hunting Lodge, Stables and a Gate Lodge.

In 1950 the great estate passed into the hands of private investors and for many years was owned by several entities with uncertain ideas about what to do with the estate. In 1989 Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Hotels) started a program of redevelopment to upgrade the now Hotel.

The present owners, Arcadian Hotels, are continuing the programme of refurbishment and modification. Once completed, they will have achieved the aims of restoring the great house to a condition worthy of its magnificent New Forest setting.

Rhinefield House in the heart of the New Forest is one such example, this grand country house was originally built in 1887 and architecturally is a blend of Tudor and Gothic styles, and offers a fantastic standard of new forest accommodation. Located close to Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and all the New Forest has to offer, the hotel is only 20 miles from Southampton and Bournemouth.

Previously a Lodge, Rhinefield House was built with no expense spared. It is fitted with chandeliers, intricate carvings and unique touches, but has retained a homely, easy-going feel. In 1877 many of the Crown Lands were “privatised”. Grace and Favour appointments lapsed and vacant lodges were leased to private individuals. Rhinefield passed to the hands of the Walker family, which owned Eastwood Colliery, immortalised in the novels of D.H.Lawrence.

In 1885 the only daughter of the family became engaged to a Lieutenant Munro RN, and her father’s engagement present was £250,000 with which to build a family home at Rhinefield. After their marriage in I887 the couple adopted the name Walker-Munro and supervised the construction of an impressive countryseat comprising the Great House, a Hunting Lodge, Stables and a Gate Lodge.

In 1950 the great estate passed into the hands of private investors and for many years was owned by several entities with uncertain ideas about what to do with the estate. In 1989 Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Hotels) started a program of redevelopment to upgrade the now Hotel.

The present owners, Arcadian Hotels, are continuing the programme of refurbishment and modification. Once completed, they will have achieved the aims of restoring the great house to a condition worthy of its magnificent New Forest setting.

Autumn in the New Forest

Could there be a better time to visit the new forest? In my opinion, no! For at this time of year the forest is in its full glory. Visitor levels are lessened affording an experience more personal and almost serene. It is a quiet time and peaceful yet… also vibrant, as the colours that overwhelm the eyes are in the main still gently tethered to every tree and bush with the ground beneath your feet covered with the crisp and freshly fallen leaves and nuts from a thousand trees. The air is clean and invigorating life is for the living and the soul rejoices in the pleasures upon ones senses.

There is still plenty going on in and around the forest, as the climate this far south in England is quite mild at this time of the year the days are mild but short so favours the earlier bird as the evenings can be rather chilly with the fresh ozone meandering inland from across the sea. The visitor centre located in Lyndhurst always has an up to date guide of events and places of interest to visit.

Because there are less visitors at this time, the places of interest are more personal, but the biggest benefit could be in the range of new forest accommodation on offer and special deals to be had staying in one of the many new forest hotels which can be found dotted across the national park from Cadnam at the eastern gateway into the new forest to Fordingbridge at the far northwest edge of the forest.

If you are with your family and possibly the family dog, the walks are more accessible during the off-season, especially along the beaches where walking dogs is allowed after the summer season has gone. Many families take advantage of the reduced prices for new forest self catering holidays which all offer reduced rates during the months of November, December, January, February and March.

Whichever venue you choose the new forest will not disappoint and with half term just around the corner you should make your enquiries soon in order to take advantage of this, the last break in the school year before Christmas!.

Jhon writes about New Forest Bed and Breakfast To get more information on new forest accommodation and New Forest b&b, you can logon to New-Forest-Bed-Breakfast.co.uk

Autumn in the New Forest

Could there be a better time to visit the new forest? In my opinion, no! For at this time of year the forest is in its full glory. Visitor levels are lessened affording an experience more personal and almost serene. It is a quiet time and peaceful yet… also vibrant, as the colours that overwhelm the eyes are in the main still gently tethered to every tree and bush with the ground beneath your feet covered with the crisp and freshly fallen leaves and nuts from a thousand trees. The air is clean and invigorating life is for the living and the soul rejoices in the pleasures upon ones senses.

There is still plenty going on in and around the forest, as the climate this far south in England is quite mild at this time of the year the days are mild but short so favours the earlier bird as the evenings can be rather chilly with the fresh ozone meandering inland from across the sea. The visitor centre located in Lyndhurst always has an up to date guide of events and places of interest to visit

there are less visitors at this time, the places of interest are more personal, but the biggest benefit could be in the range of new forest accommodation on offer and special deals to be had staying in one of the many new forest hotels which can be found dotted across the national park from Cadnam at the eastern gateway into the new forest to Fordingbridge at the far northwest edge of the forest.

If you are with your family and possibly the family dog, the walks are more accessible during the off-season, especially along the beaches where walking dogs is allowed after the summer season has gone. Many families take advantage of the reduced prices for new forest self catering holidays which all offer reduced rates during the months of November, December, January, February and March.

Whichever venue you choose the new forest will not disappoint and with half term just around the corner you should make your enquiries soon in order to take advantage of this, the last break in the school year before Christmas!

Jhon writes about New Forest Self Catering To get more information on new forest accommodation and New Forest Hotels, you can logon to New-Forest-Bed-Breakfast.co.uk

Named by William the Conqueror the ‘new hunting forest’ in 1079 the landscape of the New Forest has hardly changed since then. The woodlands and heaths are looked after today using the same ancient systems implemented by William the Conqueror mainly in the form of Commoners which are the local inhabitants who farm cattle, pigs, donkeys and ponies. These areas are called pasture woodland are left open for the cattle and pigs, also deer. The Ancient and Ornamental woodlands cover 3,692 hectares of the open forest. There are also a number of other workers who manage the forest from rangers and keepers to skilled woodsmen, all of which work full time to look after the forest.

The New Forest was given National Park status in 2005 and covers an area of approximately 580 square kilometres which is 143321 acres with a population of 38,000. The forest includes the largest tracts of unenclosed forest, heath land and pastureland remaining in the South East England. The uniqueness of the landscape provides habitat for rare wildlife and plants. These lowland areas are a rare occurrence in the UK today. In the forms of wet heaths, dry heaths and valley bogs these areas are home to adders, grass snakes and lizards and more information regarding these creatures can be found at the New Forest Reptile Centre.

The New Forest is a popular location for all ages and interests. All year round there are activities such as guided walks, historic and geographic talks and traffic free cycle tracks with many New Forest bed and breakfast establishments to stay in. There are now a wide ranging selection of New Forest accommodation venues available, from 5 star country house hotels and bed and breakfasts to self catering lodges.

Something that should always be kept in mind is the British weather and if the weather is inclement there are numerous museums, galleries and visitor centres to look round. Surrounding the park there are many pretty villages and the towns such as Totton and Lymington to explore. These villages make an ideal base with a huge choice of New Forest B&B accommodation venues.

To get more information about New forest hotels and accommodation, you can go online to New-forest-bed-breakfast.co.uk which offers you the best online hotel packages for the New forest accommodation and holidays.

The New Forest is located in South East England, namely South West Hampshire and some of South east Wiltshire and is the newest National Park in England.

Olde Barn - New Forest

Named by William the Conqueror the ‘new hunting forest’ in 1079 the landscape of the New Forest has hardly changed since then. The woodlands and heaths are looked after today using the same ancient systems implemented by William the Conqueror mainly in the form of Commoners which are the local inhabitants who farm cattle, pigs, donkeys and ponies. These areas are called pasture woodland are left open for the cattle and pigs, also deer. The Ancient and Ornamental woodlands cover 3,692 hectares of the open forest. There are also a number of other workers who manage the forest from rangers and keepers to skilled woodsmen, all of which work full time to look after the forest.

The New Forest was given National Park status in 2005 and covers an area of approximately 580 square kilometres which is 143321 acres with a population of 38,000. The forest includes the largest tracts of unenclosed forest, heath land and pastureland remaining in the South East England. The uniqueness of the landscape provides habitat for rare wildlife and plants. These lowland areas are a rare occurrence in the UK today. In the forms of wet heaths, dry heaths and valley bogs these areas are home to adders, grass snakes and lizards and more information regarding these creatures can be found at the New Forest Reptile Centre.

The New Forest is a popular location for all ages and interests. All year round there are activities such as guided walks, historic and geographic talks and traffic free cycle tracks with many New Forest bed and breakfast establishments to stay in. There are now a wide ranging selection of New Forest accommodation venues available, from 5 star country house hotels and bed and breakfasts to self catering lodges.

Something that should always be kept in mind is the British weather and if the weather is inclement there are numerous museums, galleries and visitor centres to look round. Surrounding the park there are many pretty villages and the towns such as Totton and Lymington to explore. These villages make an ideal base with a huge choice of New Forest B&B accommodation venues.

Amit writes about The New Forest, England’s Newest National Park. To get more information about the New forest accommodation and New forest hotels, just logon to http://www.new-forest-bed-breakfast.co.uk