The New Forest in July/August:
This June has been most unusual with a very wet start and then some incredibly hot days across the country. Everybody has been out walking their dogs very early during the heatwave and we feel so fortunate to have lots of local places in the New Forest with some shade.
We are very lucky to have Linford Bottom nearby with a small brook that runs most of the year and mature trees on each side. It is easy to extend your walk and get out on the open heath. It is possible to walk from Fernwood Glamping but generally we would recommend driving to their car park a couple of miles away from us. The heather is just starting to come out in flower and it is stunning some years with lots of different shades of pink / purple. I end up taking far too many photographs!
As we had so much rain at the beginning of June ,the forest is still looking fabulous and the ponies look in amazing condition as there is plenty to eat. No need to worry about them finding water as they know where to go even when some of the dew ponds dry up over the summer.
Jonathan and I quite like to go out on our bikes when we can. As it is a relatively flat area you generally don't get too hot and can enjoy the breeze as you cycle along. There are lots of woodland enclosures you can cycle through with gravel tracks and fallen logs to sit on for a picnic. There are cafes and pubs in the New Forest villages for a chance to relax and rehydrate. It always seems to feel cooler under the trees or near water.
Talking of water, don't forget the New Forest Water Park is not far away and great fun for families with older children. They are open all day Saturday and Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday and open the other three days from 1pm. Guests have found that they need to book an activity here in advance over the summer season.
The beaches are not far away. It's worth planning your visit to avoid the crowds but there are a lot of fabulous options and some still have free parking on nearby roads.
Several of our visitors this last month visited the Raptor and Reptile Centre. If you want to avoid too much driving, this is only 5-10 minutes away. They are an established business who also help with rescuing and returning birds to the wild. I have been told by several guests the talks are excellent and they vary throughout the day. If you like birds, you might also like to find Blashford Lakes, very peaceful and bird hides looking out on grassland and lake areas so don't forget to bring your binoculars!
After a busy day out Fernwood Glamping is a great place to come back to in the evening, with shaded areas, a field to look out on (the hay has just been cut so it might be easier to spot the deer again (when they visit) and lovely flower borders.
This year in particular, guests have commented on the birdsong in the morning and now we are all staying out more in the evening, seeing the bats flit around catching insects. One morning in May, I woke up at 5am and used my Merlin bird app. In 5 minutes, it picked up 14 different birds! One guest told me she had recorded 20 different birds here during her 2 night stay!
For local events click here
