One thing that always helps when I'm staring down the barrel of January is to have a holiday booked in to bolster my mood. The New Forest is the perfect place to slope off for some serenity, secluded woodland scenery and a chance to escape the grind. We may have only just got back from the Christmas holidays – but if you're already in need of a break, I'm with you. And if you're aching for a restorative staycation, I've got just the recommendation.
Tucked in the heart of the New Forest, just past docile wild ponies grazing along the country roads, is the Lime Wood Hotel – a laidback, but luxurious bolthole that offers great food, breathtaking views and the most relaxing Herb House spa.
The Lime Wood Hotel at a glance:
- A countryside regency manor house, loving restored and refurbished in 2009
- Surrounded by generous grounds and woodland trails, you can roam the garden and charming greenhouse or head off for a cycle on one of the hotels bikes
- The newly renovated Herb House spa boasts ten treatment rooms, a lap pool, hydro pool, outdoor pool, sauna, steam room and more
- Accommodation includes 33 rooms across the main house, coach house, pavilion, garden lodges (where you can even bring your dog), the forest cabin and the lake cabin.
- All rooms feature cosy king-sized beds, complimentary wifi, a spacious bathroom, fluffy bathrobes and slippers
- Situated an hour and a half from London, 20 minutes from the coast and down the road from charming New Forest villages including Lyndhurst, Beaulieu and Brockenhurst.
Nestled in nature, with giant tree canopies for protection, from the moment you turn off down the winding drive, the Lime Wood offers a refuge of peace, calm and tranquility.
The location
The hotel itself overlooks pretty manicured grounds and out into the surrounding woodland. If you want to stay close, you can borrow some wellies and one of the hotel's complimentary bicycles and take in the nearby scenery with a trudge through the woods or past the lake.
If you want to head to one of the local villages, you can get to the pretty chocolate box village of Lyndhurst in 6 minutes by car, with its traditional pubs and the nearby Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, where you can head for a walk through the nature reserve where deer roam freely. A fifteen minute drive in the opposite direction will take you to Brockenhurst, home to The Pig (where you can stop for lunch or dinner). Likewise, you can also reach Beaulieu within a quarter of an hour. Named the fifth most beautiful village in the UK and Ireland, its pretty lanes and serene landscapes welcome tourists and bird watchers. You can stop for afternoon tea, explore the ancient Palace House and grounds or visit the National Motor Museum.
For ocean lovers, a drive due south will get you to Highcliffe Castle and its golden sandy beach below in 30 minutes, or nearby Mudeford for crabbing. Bournemouth beach is a 40 minute drive, or nature lovers can head south-east to the Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve. For the breathtaking Jurassic coastline head south-west for an hour and a half toward picturesque Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.
The room
We stayed in one of the hotels' Forest Suites in the main house, overlooking the pretty pond, garden and pavilion. Complete with a sitting room, where classical music played out of a Roberts radio, a fully stocked pantry with a choice of teas, a luxurious marble bathroom with a separate power shower and stunning traditional interior touches blended with modern comforts, it was the perfect refuge to take in the views and unwind. I'd notified the hotel that I was pregnant, and they even left a pregnancy pillow on the bed to ensure I was as comfortable as possible.
The spa
Before we even touch on treatments, you could spend a whole day in the newly renovated spa, enjoying all of the facilities. There's a gift shop on arrival stocked with deliciously-scented candles and covetable interiors. There's the Raw & Cured cafe where you can fuel up on a healthy lunch, smoothies or even visit for a glass of fizz after a swim. The main lap pool looks out onto a heated plunge pool outside (which even in winter temperatures offers endless relaxation). Next door there's the hydro pool, sauna and steam room which each offer a panoramic view of the forest beyond. Then there's eight spacious single treatment rooms and two double treatment rooms for some dedicated therapy.
I booked in for a 60-minute Ayurvedic Abhyanga treatment which was carefully tailored to my pregnancy – with gentler pressure and adapted positions where I laid on my side. Warm oil is poured onto the entire body in long continual strokes designed to increase circulation and energy levels while deeply calm and rebalancing. Myself and bump felt so taken care of that by the end, I felt quite emotional – alongside feeling thoroughly relaxed.
If you're more into fitness, there's a state-of-the-art gym and endless classes including morning yoga, pilates, body sculpt and more, or for an extra helping of wellness you can book in for some mindful meditation.
Food & drink
The hotel's Italian restaurant, Hartnett Holder & Co is helmed by Michelin-starred chef, Angela Hartnett and chef-director, Luke Holder, who together bring together their considerable experience into a laidback but hearty menu that includes dishes like venison lasagne, lobster linguine, saddle back pork fillet and velvet crab risotto. The drinks menu is equally impressive with bespoke cocktails, a vast wine menu and experimental alcohol-free options.
My verdict
If you want to emerge from your stay feeling calmer, rebooted and utterly looked after, the Lime Wood Hotel is the place. It's the perfect jumping-off point to explore one of the prettiest parts of the UK, but equally you can down tools and stay put since everything you really need is there.
For more from GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk
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