As winter rolls in and the days get shorter and colder, it can sometimes feel like there isn’t much to look forward to. The Christmas period isn’t quite here yet, and once the celebrations pass you still have two of the UK‘s bleakest months to endure: January (when money is particularly tight) and February. However, winter doesn’t necessarily mean we have to hide out in our houses for months on end, spending the best part of our pay packets on keeping ourselves warm. In fact, winter is one of the best times to take a short break in the countryside – especially if you shack up in a quintessentially British cottage for a few days’ rest and recuperation.
Fortunately, the UK has an abundance of stunning regions to visit, so whether you‘re looking for winter walks on the beach, historic castles and cobble streets to explore, or excellent hiking trails, there really is something for everyone. And due to the relatively small geographical size of the UK, you‘re never more than a couple of hours’ drive from an exciting destination.
One of the most beautiful parts of the country you should keep in mind when considering a cottage holiday is definitely the New Forest National Park, which is in the south of England. This beautiful expanse of greenery is renowned for its wonderful walking routes and idyllic setting. In fact, the area is so picturesque and romantic in the natural sense that it would fit quite perfectly into a Thomas Hardy novel! The internationally important landscape is famed for its wildlife in particular, as grazing ponies, cattle and pigs all roam free. This obviously makes the New Forest National Park an ideal holiday destination for anybody with an interest in nature, cycling, pony trekking or hiking.
Securing a self-catering cottage in the New Forest National Park area for a few days couldn’t be easier – especially if you make use of the online search tools that are now so readily available. There are hundreds of properties to choose from at any given time, and these come in all shapes and sizes, and will suit almost any budget. That means you can just as easily source a small but luxurious one-bedroom cottage for a romantic getaway, as you can a large 4-bedroom cottage suited to a holiday for the entire family.
Find a rural cottage in the New Forest
Cottages are now also more varied than ever, and you can tailor your search quite specifically to find your ideal accommodation. Many cottages, for example, will have little extras included like a barbecue, so you can warm up even the coldest winter nights with some good hot food (which you could source from a local farmers market), and a good bottle of red wine. Other cottages might have a 50-inch TV, which is perfect for couples that want to snuggle up on the sofa after a long day of sightseeing. Even power showers are fairly standard in more high-end cottages, which gives your holiday that little added luxury that can make all the difference. And on the luxury note, if you really want to push the boat out, you will find that some of the cottages you look at even have their own hot tub! It doesn’t get more romantic than that…
Activity breaks in the New Forest
Finally, as the New Forest is primarily a walking destination – or at least an activity destination – you might even want to invite your pet, or pets, along for the fun. To many, this might seem like a Ludacris idea, but there are an abundance of cottage owners who, like you, love their pets and understand that people don’t like leaving them behind for too long. If you do find a pet-friendly cottage in the New Forest, it is worth ensuring there aren’t any additional charges per pet prior to booking, as well as looking up the cottage‘s damage policy – particularly if you have a naughty dog!
Book a New Forest holiday home that has Wi-Fi
One final thing worth noting in your search for a New Forest cottage break is Wi-Fi. You might think it is a given that everywhere has a stable internet connection nowadays, but this is definitely not the case. And if you are travelling with children, Wi-Fi is a great way to keep them entertained – especially the social-media loving teenagers! In fact, Wi-Fi has the added benefit of giving you access to your emails, so during your holiday you have the peace of mind that you are still contactable if necessary.