New Forest one bedroom holiday cottage
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We encourage wild life with bird feeders and, because we don't have any animals, we are fortunate to have a wonderful collection of birds in the garden. There are a pair of Buzzards which we hear "mewing" regularly and we are visited by nuthatches, green finches, field-fares and many other birds. red Kites have been seen in the near facinity as well as Nightjars and the Dartford warblers. Deer, badgers, pheasants, 14 Donkeys,are regular visitors.
We take the recycling of waste very seriously and provide separate bins for paper, tins and plastic and another for household waste. Glass is recycled at the nearly farm shop. Low-energy bulbs are used in the cottage and the whole structure was insulated ahead its time. by brick 7 cavitity thermalight block, polystyrene.
Transport, bus service to Hythe and Lymington from the end of the lane but rather infrequently. However, the New Forest Bus stops at Hatchet Pond and visitors can tour the forest in an open top bus (weather permitting) and get on and off at the different villages without having to use their car. Cycling is actively encouraged in the Forest and bikes can be hired in Beaulieu and secure storage is provided for those who prefer to bring their own. Maps are provided for many of the various walks in and around the Forest and books are available in the cottage giving advice on routes and places for refreshment on the walk, t.
Local attractions.
Passes giving discounts to the Beaulieu Estate and the maritime museum at Butlers Hard are available for guests. Canoes can be hired from Liquid Logistics in Beaulieu and various interesting courses are often available from the Countryside Education Centre in Beaulieu.
Community
A list of pubs of hotels for eating are available in the information provided in the cottage. These range from the humble country pub such as The Turf Cutters Arms at East Boldre and The Red Lion at Boldre to the more sophisticated Limewood Hotel and Spa in Lyndhurst. When we want to celebrate we usually go to Limewood where we have the choice of "fine dining" or "The Scullery " which serves a variety of food from Chateau Briand steak to Lobstar and Chips. Nearer to home is The Montagu Arms Hotel which has a Micheline star along side Monty's Bistro. The Master Buiklder at Bucklers hard is in a wonderful setting and offers bar food, summer BBQ's, and restaurant,
The farm shop round the corner offers all locally sourced meat, game (in season) cheese, bread and organic vegetables. In Beaulieu, the Abbey Store offers freshly baked bread and filled baguettes.
Both my husband and I are regular members of the congregation at Beaulieu Abbey Church. The church is over 800yrs old and was the refectory of the original Cisterician Abbey. We were involved four years ago in a £350,000 fund raising and restoration project to repair the roof and stained glass windows and to redecorate the church for the first time in 50yrs. My husband was asked by Ralph Montagu to provide drawings to restore the school bell spire on the Beaulieu Village School to celebrate the millenium .
We employ a local cleaner and gardener to maintain the cottage and the garden.
Landscape
We have enjoyed this special, extremely tranquil place for over forty years, living here full-time for nearly twenty years. We love to be able to share our love for the New Forest National Park with our guests. Mr Barber is keen to show our guests the lesser known parts of forest. The cottage is situated in a wonderful position adjacent to the open forest and the ancient "Manor Bank" lies on the cottage boundary. Equally well it is possible to walk by the sea shore from Tanners Lane (possible to park on the roadside) to Lymington. The walk along the sea wall at Lymington gives interesting views of the Isle of Wight and, for keen bird watchers, the mud flats on both walks host a quantity of various bird life from "waders" to migratory species. It is possible to swim either at Lepe (6 miles away or at Highcliffe where there is an interesting Edwardian Castle above the beach.
We hope to be able to share the facilities that Mares Tails has to offer with many more people over the coming years.
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