New Forest Cycle Routes
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The New Forest became a National Park in 2005 in order to help protect the area. The majority of the land is owned by The Crown and is free to visit. It is open all year round for everyone to enjoy.
The New Forest is a popular UK holiday destination with many great things to do and see in the area – from endless walks to stunning beaches. The stunning part of the English countryside has nature at its heart with towering trees in the ancient woodlands, heathland, open moors, cliffs and beaches. It is a hub for wildlife with species from insects to wild ponies, making it the perfect place to visit at any season, whether you are looking to spend your day embarking on a woodland walk or visiting the local attractions.
Whether you are looking for hotels in the New Forest, places to eat, places to drink, wedding locations, conference rooms, swimming pools or spa treatments – we have got you covered. But first let’s learn a little bit more about the magic of the New Forest.
The New Forest is located in Southern England. It covers the southwest of Hampshire and the southeast of Wiltshire. The nearest city to the New Forest is Southampton, but London isn’t far away and can be reached by 90 minutes on the train.
The New Forest National Park spans over 219 square miles. Of this area around 56 square miles is broadleaved woodland, 46 square miles is heathland and grassland, 13 square miles of wet heathland and 32 square miles of tree plantations.
The New Forest is home to many towns and villages. The major towns and villages in the New Forest include: Ashurst, Beaulieu, Burley, Brockenhurst, Lymington, Lyndhurst and Ringwood. There are many other towns, villages and hamlets.
The New Forest is almost 1,000 years old. It was formally designated by William the conqueror in 1079. The national park status was granted in 2005.
The area got its name from William the Conqueror who used to use it as a place to hunt – so he named it ‘Nova Foresta.’ This translates into the English name meaning ‘New Forest.’
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