The New Forest, places to visit here, Burley, Hampshire, England. (16 )

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• published: 18 May 2014
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The New Forest National Park lies within the county of Hampshire, on the south-central coast of England, and is Britain's smallest National Park. Some typical New Forest National Park scenes The Park is predominantly occupied by an area called the New Forest, about 150 square miles in size and once a royal hunting ground for King William I and his noblemen, in the 12th century AD. The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes one of the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heath land and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire and towards east Dorset. The name also refers to the New Forest National Park which has similar boundaries. Additionally the New Forest local government district is a subdivision of Hampshire which covers most of the Forest, and some nearby areas although it is no longer the planning authority for the National Park. There are many villages dotted around the area, and several small towns in the Forest and around its edges. Like much of England, the site of the New Forest was once deciduous woodland, re colonised by birch and eventually beech and oak following the withdrawal of the ice sheets starting around 12,000 years ago. Some areas were cleared for cultivation from the Bronze Age onwards; the poor quality of the soil in the New Forest meant that the cleared areas turned into heath land waste, which may have been used even then as grazing land for horse's. There was still a significant amount of woodland in this part of Britain, but this was gradually reduced, particularly towards the end of the Middle Iron Age around 250--100 BC, and the 12th and 13th centuries, and of this all that remains today is the New Forest. There are around 250 round barrows within its boundaries, and scattered boiling mounds, and it also includes about 150 scheduled ancient monuments. One such barrow in particular may represent the only known inhumation burial of the Early Iron Age and the only known Hallstatt burial in Britain; unfortunately, the acidity of the soil means that bone very rarely survives. Barton-on-Sea There is a good safe beach in this seaside village, which has outstanding views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Beaulieu Slow down for donkeys and ponies strolling around the narrow streets of this ancient village, best known for the National Motor Museum and Palace House, home to the Montagu family. The village, with tiny shops and a pub, is built around a wide tidal river, attracting all kinds of wildlife. Buckler's Hard The 18th century maritime village of Buckler's Hard sits on the western bank of the Beaulieu River, a couple of miles south of Beaulieu village, and is a pleasant place to rest a couple of hours while learning about the important role that Buckler's Hard played in Britain's shipbuilding history. Boldre Small pretty village near Lymington with narrow lanes and a well-preserved 800 year old church. Bramshaw Piper's Wait, the highest point in The New Forest is near Bramshaw. In the village, visitors can enjoy the church, built over the centuries in a variety of architectural styles. Brockenhurst There is a busy railway station here, the main bus/train interchange in The New Forest. The village itself is peaceful with a pretty green often full of grazing ponies and cattle. Many of the main walks and cycle trails through The New Forest start in Brockenhurst, which is set in some of the loveliest scenery in the district. Burley Legends concerning dragons, witches and smuggling abound in this traditional village. Today you can go riding on horseback, in a horse-drawn wagon or on cycles. There are also plenty of shops and tearooms here too.