Summer days may be slipping away but don’t be sad - because now’s the perfect time to book a seasonal pick-me-up stay at one of the cosy hotels in the magical New Forest.
Snug, elegant bedrooms with fluffy robes to tuck up in? Tick. Warm, intimate bars and restaurants serving exquisite local fare? Tick. Roaring log fires and sink-into sofas? Tick and tick again.
New Forest hotels have elevated cosy to an art-form – here’s a few of our favourites to treat yourself to in the weeks ahead.
For cosy fires and sofas galore… The Pig at Brockenhurst. Spend your days walking out in your wellies from this now-legendary country house hotel. Then, return for a drink in their traditional bar – or take tea and petit-fours in one of their two drawing rooms, each with log fires, where you’ll find velvet sofas a-plenty to hunker down on before dinner in their greenhouse restaurant. Then, step upstairs to bedrooms with tip-top showers and ultra-comfortable beds before drifting off into the deepest sleep.
Image - The Pig at Brockenhurst
For a cosy restaurant and afternoon tea… Montagu Arms Hotel, Beaulieu. Tucked into the chocolate-box village of Beaulieu, this hotel has a reputation for fine wine and food, as well as hospitable, knowledgeable staff and comfy beds. Its tranquil, garden-side drawing room with its crackling fire makes it the perfect place to indulge in one of their delicious and award-winning afternoon teas.
For cosy with spa facilities… Balmer Lawn Hotel, Brockenhurst. This hotel has turned welcoming into an art form and its position places you in the heart of the New Forest’s best walking country. Once you’ve been out all day you’ll be spoiled for choice – swim in their pool and luxuriate in their Saltus Spa? Try some heavenly cocktails in their Lodge outdoor bar? Or cosy up on a sofa with a pot of tea and a good book?
Image - Balmer Lawn Hotel
For sustainable cosy… Cottage Lodge Hotel, Brockenhurst. This hotel will cosset you with the environment in mind – they have applied their caring for the planet philosophy to pretty much everything they do. So, look forward to eco-friendly touches, as well as their warm, comfortable rooms, peaceful, beamed dining area and restful modern country style.
For deer watching… Burley Manor, Burley. This baronial-style manor house, set within an 800-year-old estate, is the ideal quiet spot to settle down by the fireplace with a drink and some nibbles and watch the neighbouring red deer through the large paned windows.
Image - Burley Manor
For 5* cosy and legendary cuisine… Chewton Glen Hotel, New Milton. Whether you opt for the Edwardian splendour of the main building, or splash out on one of the fabled treehouses, you’ll be cocooned in luxury from start to finish; in their beautiful spa, at dinner in the airy dining room and finishing off in one of their warm, spacious bedrooms and suites, with views over the tranquil grounds.
For cosy with hip… Lime Wood, Lyndhurst. This hotel is dedicated to making you feel relaxed and at ease, wrapping you in an invisible blanket of cosy – just one of the reasons why it’s such a celebrity-magnet. Its Herb House spa will soothe away the stresses and strains of life whilst you contemplate the scrumptious food at their acclaimed Hartnett Holder & Co restaurant - before heading upstairs where you’ll find super-king beds and baths with breath-taking garden views.
Image - Lime Wood
For hideaway cosy… Bartley Lodge Hotel, Cadnam, is hidden along a winding drive surrounded by woodlands. Once the home of a world-leading geologist, the hotel is now a haven of cosy; from its bright dining room with views over the garden to the forest beyond, elegant bedrooms with crisp sheets and coverlets, to a panelled drawing room and bar.
For cosy with the kids… New Park Manor Hotel, Brockenhurst. At this recently refurbished hotel, children are welcomed with open arms and mums and dads can be cosseted to their heart’s content, whether you want to join the kids in the heated outdoor pool or enjoy an outdoor moment on the adults-only sun terrace.
Image - New Park Manor Hotel
For cosy with home comforts… Forest Park Country Hotel, Brockenhurst. This ultra-cosy hotel comes with the kind of add-ons you always hope to find; from Nespresso coffee machines, to Dyson hairdryers, to Roberts radios, as well as premium bedlinen.
As well as the super cosy hotels listed above, there are plenty of others to choose from, we just couldn’t fit them all in! Head to our website for a full list of gorgeous hotels in the New Forest and book your unforgettable escape to our magical National Park.