About The New Forest National Park
(For a list of all the prime country estate properties sold in the New Forest recently, scroll down to the bottom of this page)

Sway, Boldre, Thorney Hill, Beaulieu, Norleywood, Lymington, Burley, Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst area of The New Forest National Park in Hampshire.

To live in the New Forest is a pure delight, the envy of all that see it.

The whole area is heavily restricted regarding further development, which is a bonus for those who make it their home.

The New Forest was traditionally the haunt of the extremely horsey, or those who wanted a second home, rather than a primary residence, but since it won National Park status, the Forest is becoming more popular with those who do not have to be in London for every single working day of the week, and who admire the wildlife and landscape such a place provides, even if the tourists in summertime can be somewhat taxing.

There is the benefit of many idyllic villages with beautiful countryside where you can relax and enjoy the peacefulness of the truly wonderful forest surroundings. In particular Lyndhurst, Burley, Brockenhurst, Lymington and Beaulieu are picturesque New Forest.

Forest ponies and livestock ramble free and with most gardens backing directly onto the Forest, this presents a conversation over the fence with a difference! Pony trekking, horse riding and forest rambling are all available to be freely enjoyed here.

The picturesque village of Beaulieu, close to Lymington and Lyndhurst at the head of the Beaulieu River, might best be described as "the Historic Heart of the New forest", its origins date back to the 13th century and the days of King John. No other place in the forest can match Beaulieu for historic interest.

The village grew up around Beaulieu Abbey, founded in 1204 by Cistercian Monks on land given to them by King John, who had a royal hunting lodge at Beaulieu - Bellus Locus Regis, the beautiful place of the King - and the monks who came over from CITEAUX in France re-christened it in their own tongue `Beaulieu' but it came to be pronounced "Bu-Lee" as it is still today.

The abbey thrived until 1538 when, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Henry VIII ordered the destruction of the religious buildings beyond the possibility of restoration. Some buildings which could be put to secular use were allowed to remain.

Beaulieu passed into the ownership of the present Lord Montagu's ancestor Sir Thomas Wriothesley and has been the ancestral home of the Montagu Family ever since, and remains thus to this day.

The 8,000 acre estate has been in the ownership of the Montagu Family for nearly 500 years. The present Lord Montagu of Beaulieu is a well known motoring personality who founded Britain's National motor Museum, internationally recognised as one of the finest in the world.

The museum holds over 300 exhibits and include world class examples of automotive interest, from early examples of motoring from the 1890's to legendary motor vehicles from all over the world, including record breakers such as " Bluebird" and "Golden Arrow"

In the village of Beaulieu the visitor can find many attractions and places to visit, the gently sloping High street has an interesting variety of village stores, ranging from specialist gift and chocolate shops to art and craft.
Beaulieu River provides an ideal location for a leisurely stroll or a place to relax beside for a picnic.

This large and attractive village lying just a few miles south of Lyndhurst, is one of the outstanding locations of the forest, making an ideal spot to stop and enjoy a walk or picnic, and watch the ponies and other animals graze around you.

Brockenhurst, meaning "badgers home" in Celtic, is one of the largest villages in the New Forest. It still retains an air of old world charm. it is here the ponies, donkeys and cows roam freely, and drink from the watersplash at the bottom of the main street on their way to graze the open heathland and ancient woods which surround the village.

Easily accessible by road and inter-city rail service, Brockenhurst is within a few miles of the sea and the heart of the forest is only a few minutes walk away.

The village is well known for a diversity of shops, tea rooms, pubs and high quality restaurants. There are also forest tours with wagon and horses, forest walks, of varying lengths, some waymarked with explanatory notes to help visitors. Every year there is a village fête on the Bank Holiday Monday in August.

Many parts of the forest, hidden to the motorist are easily accessible by bicycle on designated gravel tracks, horse riding is another activity well catered for by the town, local riding establishments cater for all ages and abilities.

In Late July The New Forest show takes place in New Park just a few minutes drive from the centre of the village.

Buckler's Hard was built in the 18th century as a ship building village community. The village played host to the naval dockyard in the late 18th century and many famous warships from the era were built in the village using timber from the Forest.

The most famous boats built here were Lord Nelson's Agamemnon and HMS illustrious. The original shipbuilder's cottages still remain and now act as a maritime museum. This is well worth visiting as the museum offers an insight into the life and times of the naval dockyard and the village community, and features many interesting naval artifacts.

Outside the village miles of open heathland provide good walking, cycling and riding. Burley was a famous centre for smuggling and is renowned for its association with witches, both ancient and modern.

For some Lyndhurst is just a thoroughfare for the journey to Southampton, but if those people driving through stopped in the village they would discover just how much it has to offer.

Lyndhurst has been the "Capital" of the Forest area since William the Conqueror established the area as a royal hunting ground in 1079, and has been visited by Kings and Queens throughout the centuries who came to stay at the Royal Manor.

A must for any visitor to Lyndhurst is the New Forest Museum, an unique guide into the Forest's history and heritage. The museum details the development of the Forest since its creation by William the Conqueror, and provides a first-hand exhibition of life and work in the Forest and demonstrates the best the Forest has to offer.

Lyndhurst which offers the visitor a wide range of shops, both high street names and those exclusive to the village, popular with those seeking that special souvenir of their visit to the Forest. And naturally there is a wide range of tea rooms pubs cafes and restaurants to discover.

Lymington is a bustling, colourful town with lots to see and do. Its Georgian High Street is the venue for a well-known street-market every Saturday morning. This is the busiest time for the town, and the popular market boasts a range of stalls selling everything from local fine foods to craftwork and antiques. Visitors can enjoy the hustle and bustle of this unique shopping experience, where you can browse at your leisure. The high street also offers an extensive range of shops, some very familiar, others as unique and individual as the town itself. When weariness sets in, there are many parks, cafés and restaurants and, of course, pubs in which to relax and unwind.

The town's many features include a unique series of cobbled streets leading down to the pretty main quay area, popular with visitors who wish to sit, relax and watch the world sail by. Boat trips around the Solent can be taken from the quayside and private sailing, motor-boating and fishing trips may be arranged at short notice. For those wishing to adventure further afield, Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight is reached by ferry in only 35 minutes, and caters for both foot passengers and cars.

Other facilities in the town include a well-equipped leisure centre with heated pool, and the historic outdoor Roman seawater baths, very popular on a hot summer's day and only a short walk from the main quay area.

Fordingbridge is a small country town on the banks of the River Avon. It was recorded in the Domesday book and the name has evolved through the years from `Forde' and `Bridge'.
The first Great Bridge, built in medieval times, is up stream from the ford and is a major feature of the town with its seven graceful arches.

Once an industrial town and commercial centre, Fordingbridge boasted many trades such as brickmaking, pottery and textiles. It was also noted for its smuggling and the infamous Captain Diamond, the `Smuggler King' spent much of his time here in a local hostelry. The town has developed into a wonderful place for visitors with its beautiful scenery, nature havens, cycleways and welcoming people.

Nestling in the Southern edge of the New Forest, four miles from the coast at Lymington, Sway is a shining example of a quiet but thriving village community, renowned for its friendliness and offering a good range of shops, services, pubs, restaurants and accommodation.

In Victorian times Captain Marryatt used the surrounding countryside as the backdrop to his "Children of the New Forest", the somewhat eccentric Judge Peterson built the 220 foot Sway tower as a celebration of concrete and St. Luke's Church was established at the heart of what was then principally a rural community.

The arrival of the railway in the late 1880s opened up new opportunities and the following decades saw the village expand impressively. Today regular train services link the village with Dorset and London and all points North.

Accessibility & Surrounding Areas.

Both Dorset and Hampshire have excellent road links to London through the much improved M3, M27 and A31 dual carriageway.

The New Forest is well served by regular daily fast trains from Waterloo with journey times of approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

There are also good airports at both Southampton and Bournemouth servicing most Western European countries and the Canary Islands.

Sailing to France and Spain is comprehensively served by the main Ferry companies, Brittany Ferries, P&O Ferries and Condor Ferries from ports at Poole, Weymouth and Portsmouth. In addition there are regular ferry services to the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey.

The larger towns such as Southampton and Winchester offer more urban developments. Southampton has the benefit of the port and quayside for which you can spend many hours watching life pass by. Winchester is a truly beautiful city, a pleasure to live in and around.

Schools

Hordle Walhampton School, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 5ZG
01590 627013

Brockenhurst College
(01590) 625555

Leisure

Golf courses: Brockenhurst, Burley

Hunts: the Hampshire (HH), Mr Goschen's, the Hursley Hambledon, the Isle of Wight and the New Forest.

Staghounds: the New Forest.

Yachting clubs: the Royal Southampton, Ocean, Royal Solent, Royal Southern and Royal Lymington Yacht Clubs; (Isle of Wight) Island Sailing Club, Cowes Corinthian, Royal Corinthian, Royal London and Royal Victoria Yacht Clubs and the Royal Yacht Squadron.

THE BEST NEW FOREST COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN RECENT YEARS
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)

2005
The Tukal, Beaulieu, New Forest (Architect designed, 19,000 sq ft, 12 acres with direct water frontage): £5m
click to view further information

St Leonards Grange, Bucklers Hard (Grade II* listed, with Grade 1 Abbey ruins): £2.75m

Friars Wood, Rope Hill, Boldre (Country House, 20 acres): £2.6m

Lisle Court Farmhouse, Lymington (Country House, views of Lymington Water): £1.85m

Ryelands House, Snooks Lane, Lymington (renovated Country House, 5 acres): £1.74m

The Log House, St Leonards (Country house with Uninterupted Solent views): £1.65m

Boldre Grange (Compact Country House, 4 acres): £1.6m

Burley Heights, Longmead Road, Burley (Country House): £1.35m

Forest Oaks, Hightown Hill (Country House): £1.35m

The Graces, Armstrong Road, Brockenhurst (Country House): £1.3m

Durmast Lodge, Bisterne Close, Burley (Country House): £1.3m

2004
Clobb Copse, Bucklers Hard, Beaulieu (Country Estate, 20 acres, Direct water frontage to Beaulieu River): £5m

Spy Holms, Bisterne Close, Burley (Renovated Country Estate): £3.3m

Marl House, Burley Street, Burley (Country House): £2.95m

Burnford House, Bramshaw (Country House): £1.7m

Thornby, Armstrong Road, Brockenhurst (Country House): £1.4m


2003
Clobb Gorse, Bucklers Hard, Beaulieu (8,000 sq ft, 7 acres): £2.5m

High Meadow, Undershore Road, Lymington (Executive home, views of Lymington River): £1.75m

River House, Dock Lane, Bealieu (Direct waterfrontage - Beaulieu River): £1.5m

2000 - 2002

Latchmoor House, Brockenhurst (Country House): £1.875m

Curtle House, High Street, Beaulieu (Direct waterfrontage property - Beaulieu River): £1.59m

Shappen House, Pound Lane, Burley (Country House): £1.35m


For property search assistance, please contact Sands Home Search.

Sands are independent buying consultants specialising in finding and acquiring prime country houses & estates, farm & equestrian property and waterside homes for retained private & corporate clients.

For further information about our service in the New Forest please visit www.newforesthomesearch.com or use the menu at the top of this page.

If your enquiry is urgent or you require impartial advice on acquiring a prime property in Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Lymington and the surrounding areas of the New Forest please contact our specialist New Forest Buying Department on
01425 462 549