Exploring the New Forest

When my friends and I went away for NYE, there were three of us that really wanted to go on longer walks. So we decided to try and do a few during the year and have it as an excuse to get together and explore areas that we haven't been before in the UK.

We had our first weekend away a few weeks ago in a little fishing village near Southampton called Lymington. We chose Lymington so that we could go walking / cycling in The New Forest. I have always wanted to go there because I had hear there are ponies wandering around! 

The New Forest is a national park consisting of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest. There are lots of cute little villages - and of course the ponies that can wander around different sections of the Forest.

We decided to walk from Lymington to Brockenhurst, which should have been an easy stroll. It ended up being a very muddy walk - almost like a Tough Mudder course! We had a good laugh but I think we were all very happy when we finally made it to Brockenhurst.

We then hired bikes so we could see more of the Forest - it was such a good decision. We cycled for about three hours - stopping (or being stopped by) near the ponies. Apparently they are owned by locals who breed them and sell them. At the beginning of our ride we thought they were wild so I was so excited when one came up to me and let me pat it! We found out later they are semi-tame - although that didn't stop me from still being excited :-) 

It was a lovely relaxed weekend away, especially as there was a bath in the flat we were in - we were all able to have a soak with a glass of prosecco while watching TV (yes, there was a TV in the bathroom - proper fancy!). It was the perfect girls weekend away - I can't wait till our next one!

a walk from Beachy Head to Cuckmere Haven

My friends Alissa, Vivi and I have a loose agreement that once a month we will get together and do a walk somewhere close by - and this month Vivi wanted to show the two Aussies one of her favourite walks only an hour's bus ride east of Brighton.

We started at Beachy Head and made our way to Cuckmere Haven (pronounced Cookmere Haven - oh those Brits and how they say things) which took about three hours walking up and down beautiful rolling green hills. 

A few years ago when I first arrived in the UK I went with Vivi to stay with her friend Eliza at Birling Gap (my post about it is here) - this was the halfway point on the walk.

Beachy Head and Cuckmere Haven are within Seven Sisters Country Park which is a part of the South Downs National Park. Every time I do a walk around Brighton I feel so lucky that I can access the Downs and the parks that surround Brighton so easily. I think it's one of the best things about living in Brighton, that you can pretty much see the Downs from any high point in the city. 

We finished at the pub at Cuckmere Haven which wasn't great, I do not recommend it! The food was not good at all and the service was so bad it made us laugh. But it didn't matter, we had an amazing day out in the sunshine seeing another part of the South East. We are already planning next month's outdoor adventure! 

West Wittering Beach

A couple of weeks ago I went to East Head at West Wittering Beach with a few friends. It still isn't very warm here yet, Spring is taking its time to spring! East Head is a sandy beach about an hour's drive from Brighton. For Brightonians, a sandy beach is a novelty!

Going to the beach on a sunny spring day in the UK is a slightly different affair to going in Australia.. we had to bundle up with jackets and scarves because it was still a little chilly, even when the sun peeked out of the clouds. 

Brits also like to drink tea at the beach - that is a very alien concept to an Aussie! 

But it was a lovely day out, it was so nice to see another part of the South Coast of the UK.