(Luxury yacht rentals) New Forest England Travel Travel to the New Forest

November 21st, 2008 admin Posted in travel |

By Joseph Carducci

The New Forest is one of England’s most fascinating and scenic places. It is full of beauty and wonderful scenery.

What is the New Forest?

The New Forest is one of England’s oldest medieval forests, and a British National Park. It encompasses an area of 150 square miles, including ancient woodlands, heathlands and valleys. There is a wide variety of scenery and landscapes which change from season to season.

You can explore quaint little villages such as Lyndhurst, Brokenhurst, or Ringwood.

There are a large number of attractions and sites to explore in this park. You can see many different types of wildlife, from horses to otters and owls. It is also a world-renowned area for bird watching. There are zoos, museums (lots of museums!), gardens, castles, parks, even vineyards. There is truly something for every taste and fashion in the beautiful New Forest National Park.

Brief History

It is now known that settlers in the New Forest area can be traced back to the Bronze Age. The area was the site of heavy farming, which involved cutting through the woodland. This is also the main reason why you can see heavy woodlands on one side of the road and then it ends abruptly and turns into a heathland totally devoid of trees on the other side!

It is believed that William the Conqueror actually created the New Forest in the 10th century as a protected area for Royal Hunting.

After heavy shipbuilding in the region throughout the 17th century put severe pressure on the health of the woodlands, the New Forest Act was passed in 1877 to preserve and protect the area. Finally, in 2005, the New Forest was elevated to the status of a National Park, which has also increased the number of tourists who visit this fantastic place every year.

Located between Southampton and Christchurch in the south, west of London it is easy to find the New Forest. However, since it has the status of National Park, there are no airports or rail stations that will take you directly to the most picturesque areas of the park. If you wish to come by train, probably the best location is Brokenhurst. You can reach this town very easily from London, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. By car, it is Junction 1 off M-27. The closest nearby airports would probably by in Southampton and Bournemouth.

Once you are here, enjoy! Whether your pleasure is horseback riding, cycling, walking or hiking there is something for you here! I have thoroughly enjoyed all my time in this area and look forward to returning. It is equally as beautiful in the summer with all of it’s greenery as it is in the winter beneath a blanket of freshly fallen snow. Enjoy!

Joseph Carducci is a lover of all things English and a frequent traveler to the UK. For more information about visiting England or the UK, please visit his sites at:

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Salisbury England Travel

New Forest England Travel

Salisbury England Travel To Salisbury
By Joseph Carducci

Salisbury is one of England’s finest places to visit, and seems to have been largely overlooked by many of the tourist and travel guides and writers. Situated less than a day’s train trip from London, it is definitely accessible.

Salisbury was formed during the 11th century, when citizens came here to escape the Viking raids on England. However, it’s official founding was in 1217. Several years later the city held it’s first annual fair and had a marketplace. It received it’s Charter (an official settlement status from the King which gave it’s citizens certain rights) in 1227.

Since the city was in a very strategic location between London, Exeter & Southampton it flourished primarily due to trade. During the middle ages the wool and cloth trades were extremely important.

Situated on the river Avon, Salisbury is probably best known for it’s proximity to Stonehenge and it’s own world-famous Cathedral. Construction on the Cathedral began in 1220 and was not completed until 1258. With the exception of the towering spire, built between 1285 and 1315, it has remained largely undisturbed throughout it’s history. The spire itself is the tallest in England at 404 feet, and quite a sight to behold. Stonehenge of course, has held our mysterious attention for thousands of years. It was thought to have been built by the ancient druids, but it’s meaning today is still unclear. Nevertheless, countless tourists and visitors come to see these sites every year.

The building of the Cathedral marked the modern town of Salisbury. Before this event, most of her population lived a few miles away in a place called Old Sarum. Old Sarum is a town which dates back to the iron age and can be seen on tours even today (run by the English Heritage Society). There is little remaining of the settlement today, but some of the original stone was taken to build what is called the Cathedral Close.

Within the Cathedral Close there are several main attractions. The first is the National Trust’s Mompesson House. This is a Queen Anne style house built in 1701, with a walled garden. There is also The Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, which is set in an old medieval building called the King’s House. Another attraction here is the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment Museum. This is situated in a 1254 building which was one of the first to be erected in the Cathedral Close. These are some fascinating places to visit, especially if you enjoy actually seeing history!

Throughout the town of Salisbury you can see some lovely medieval streets and buildings. Be sure to also visit the Wilton House, which has simply a gorgeous estate and gardens. Also, do not miss the Malmesbury House, which was built in the 13th century and the home to the first Earl of Malmesbury.

Of course, this is just a small sampling of some of the things to see and do in this lovely town of Salisbury.

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