The New Forest, located in the heart of Hampshire, England, offers a perfect blend of ancient woodlands and heath-fringed villages. Designated as a National Park in 2005, it is steeped in history, having been created as a royal hunting ground by William the Conqueror in 1079. Today, the forest is a haven for wildlife, with free-roaming ponies, cattle and deer that you’ll often see on the village greens too.
The New Forest is ideal for a peaceful weekend break and Careys Manor in Brockenhurst is a good hotel choice, both for its pretty location and its wellness offering of expansive spa and intriguing programming like underwater sound baths. King Charles II gave the old manorhouse to John Carey for services rendered during the period 1660-1685. A hotel since the 1930s, the present owners bought the hotel in 1975 and it has evolved over the years, featuring expansions that include the SenSpa, which offers a range of treatments (the anti-stress massage is brilliant), sauna and steam rooms, an indoor swimming pool and an excellent hydrotherapy pool.
If you opt to arrive by train at Brockenhurst, the hotel will arrange a car service but if you don’t have much luggage, Careys Manor is only a 10 minute walk from the station. You’ll receive a 10 per cent discount on your room rate for taking the the train rather than driving. Brockenhurst is a pretty village, with lovely walks around it.
A nearby walk in the New Forest National park is a fifteen minute walk from the hotel. The .