South Englands New Forest offers one of the best destinations for discovering the natural beauty of Britain. The area is heralded as a haven for bikers, walkers, horse riders, and general nature enthusiasts.
Originally created in 1079 by William the Conqueror as a royal hunting ground, much of the area has recently become a National Park. The New Forest National Park was created in March of 2005, with the New Forest National Park Authority taking full power in April of 2006 and making New Forest the eighth National Park in England. New Forest is also
Britains smallest National Park, and the most densely populated.
No visit to the New Forest would be complete without catching a glimpse of the famous New Forest Ponies. These are often seen in wooded areas but also wander into towns as well. Though the ponies roam free and appear wild, they are actually owned by commoners, who have grazing rights to the land. The ponies are one of the most popular attractions of the area, and though the National Park Authority encourages
visitors in Britain to enjoy their beauty, they do ask that people refrain from touching or feeding the ponies, as this may encourage them to wander onto roads or cause illness.
The New Forest area offers a plethora of surrounding attractions as well, including the Beaulieu National Motor Museum, Palace House, and Gardens, as well as the Exbury Gardens and steam railway. Literary enthusiasts may also be interested in the grave of Alice Liddell, Lewis Carrolls inspiration for Alice in Wonderland, located in Lyndhurst.
VisitBritain hosts a video highlighting the beauty of New Forest at http://www.visitbritain.tv.
