Visit Milford on Sea Food Week on your caravan holiday in Lymington

Milford-on Sea Food Week from Easter Monday to Sunday 11 April. Come and stay in my caravan and enjoy this and the many other places to visit in the New Forest. See http://www.milfordonseafoodweek.org/ and www.cogb.com/lymington for more information.

Special offer if you mention 'food week' £125 for 3 nights or £185 for week beginning 10 April 2010.

New Forest in Autumn - take a caravan holiday

The children will soon be going back to school and the New Forest will be getting back to the more peaceful place the locals love, so it is a perfect time to take a caravan holiday in my mobile home near Lymington www.cogb.com/lymington
The weather is often more settled in September and October and the New Forest and South Coast are beautiful for walking, cycling, or just taking a sightseeing drive. Visit Exbury Gardens, Hilliers Arboretum, Rhinefield Ornimental Drive and the many other places where you can enjoy the beauty of the trees as they change colour. And the south coast, particularly Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes are a great place to see migrating birds at this time of year. Of course a holiday out of season is also much cheaper, so email or phone me for prices and availability and treat yourself to a late holiday. Tel 01590 673077 or email linda@harleystreet.net

July/August Availability in Lymington caravan in the New Forest

All this is on your doorstep when you take advantage of my late booking offer in my holiday caravan on the outskirts of Lymington. We have views of the Solent and Isle of Wight, and you can walk along the sea wall to Lymington or Keyhaven Yacht Harbours or Milford-on-Sea beach. My two bedroom caravan has all the comforts of home - a proper double divan bed, a fully fitted kitchen with dishwasher, two toilets, a large shower cubicle, and its own garden and sundeck. You can holiday here for just £650 for two weeks for up to four people. And the lovely beaches of the south coast and the beautiful New Forest are are just a short drive away.

See www.cogb.com/lymington email linda@harleystreet.net or phone 01590673077 for more details

Getting around the New Forest on your Caravan Holiday

Most people arrive in the New forest by car, although the rail, coach and bus links to the New Forest and Lymington are very good. However once you get there you are sure to want to get off the beaten track and explore, and there are many ways to do this. You can take a Wagon Ride through the Forest, either from Brockenhurst - tel 01344 627722, or from Burley - tel 07786371843. Or travel further afield with the NF Horsedrawn Omnibus Company - tel 07852 208048, or www.thenewforest.co.uk/tourbus.html Or if you fancy taking to the water try Puffin Cruises - tel 07850 947618, and take a variety of boat trips around the Solent or to the Isle of Wight. And if you want to be more hands on you can hire a boat from Christchurch Quay and go up or down river. If you cannot bring your own bicycles you can hire them from Brockenhurst, http://www.countrylanes.co.uk/ and cycle down the lane from my caravan www.cogb.com/lymington and along the cycle path to Keyhaven or Milford-on-Sea, or to Lymington or through the many other cycle ways around the New Forest.

Lymington Sea Water Baths

Lymington open air Swimming pool near Lymington Marina

The Lymington Sea water Baths were opened in the 1780's, and are the largest on the south coast. They were originally privately owned, and capitalised on the 19th century public health interest in sea water and mud. In 1895 there was even archery and a 12 hole golf course here, but this was closed in the Second World War. They have been in public ownership since 1929 and the Lymington Town council normally open them from May to September. However this year they are sadly not opened yet due to essential maintenance work. There is a rigorous campaign by local bathers to reopen them soon, and it is hoped that they will be open in time for the school summer holidays when local children and holiday makers alike enjoy this popular facility.

However if you holiday in the New Forest, in my caravan near Lymington - www.cogb.com/lymington you will be pleased to hear that there are many lovely beaches nearby where you can enjoy the benefits of salt water bathing, and a public indoor swimming pool at Pennington, just up the road.

Summer holiday activities in the Lymington area of the New Forest

During July and August there is so much going in in the Lymington area of the New Forest that there is hardly a week goes by without some fun event. The following is a calendar of the main events - I apologise in advance for the many local village events I must have missed out.

July 3- 12 Sway Carnival week, with the main parade usually on the Friday evening, but other events, including a 'fun run', every day.

July 11/12 Ringwood Festival.

July 24-26 Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show.

July 28-30 New Forest and Hampshire County Show, held near Brockenhurst.

August 1 Burley Village Show

August 1-8 Cowes Week Sailing Regatta.

August 2 Mudeford Lifeboat Fun Day.

August 5 Round Island Race (sailing I.O.W.)

August 20-23 Bournemouth Air Show.

August 29 Milford-on-Sea Carnival.

August 31 Brockenhurst Carnival and Fete.

One of my particular favourites is the New Forest and Hampshire County Show, which has world class show jumping, a flower show that wouldnt be out of place at Chelsea, craft tents and demonstrations, animal and agricultural exhibits, entertainment, and much more. See http://www.newforestshow.co.uk/ for more details. On a much smaller scale Milford-on-Sea Carnival is a charming village event which goes on all afternoon and evening with entertainment on the village green, a fete, tug- of -war and other side shows, all put on by local people. You may wonder why I have included the Cowes Sailing Regatta and Round the Island race. My caravan at Hurst View is only a few minutes walk from the Pennington sea wall and footpath to Keyhaven and Hurst. Well from Hurst Spit or from the footpath along the Pennington sea wall you can get a good view of the sailing boats in the Solent. Many impressive yachts are moored at Lymington during Cowes week, and you can take a boat trip from Lymington to see the Friday night firework display off Cowes sea front. Or you can watch it for free at Calshot or Lepe beach. All this to do if you stay in my holiday caravan www.cogb.com/lymington during the summer holiday.

Explore the history of the New Forest on your caravan holiday

The New Forest was created in 1079 by William 1, known as William the Conqueror, as a hunting area, primarily for deer. It became famous in August 1100 when Sir Walter Tyrell killed King William Rufas near Minstead in the New Forest in a hunting accident. A stone marks the exact spot. The ancient rural practice of commoners grazing rights has survived to this day, and ponies, cattle, pigs and donkeys can still be seen roaming free in the forest. Over the years the New Forest has provided much timber for the Crown, and for the Navy. In the 18C much of Nelsons fleet was built at Bucklers Hard from New Forest timber. In nearby Beaulieu is the 13C Abbey, which was partly destroyed in the 15C. In the first and second world wars there was heavy felling of timber, much of which has been replaced by conifer plantations.

Visit Breamore House near Fordingbridge, a 1583 Elizabethan Manor House with art, furniture and tapestries, and also Breamore Country Museum. Near here is Rockbourne Roman Villa, which is over 1600 years old. Another interesting place to visit is Eling Tide Mill, which was restored in 1980 and is the only tide mill in the world still regularly producing flour. The Totton and Eling Heritage Centre is also here. Then there is Hurst Castle built by Heny VII, which is a walk or ferry ride from Keyhaven. And just up the road from my holiday caravan, in Lymington, is the St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery. Most people come to the New Forest for the scenery, beaches, walking, fishing, birdwatching and wildlife but it has so much more to offer. So enjoy your holiday in my caravan www.cogb.com/lymington