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Hampshire's Highlights

Hampshire is a unique county of rolling green hills, tranquil 'chocolate box' villages and ancient forests, combined with the vibrant cities of Winchester, Portsmouth and Southampton.

A rich cultural heritage, varied coastline and unspoilt countryside make Hampshire an ideal day out or short break destination.

www.visit-hampshire.co.uk

www.hampshirescountryside.co.uk

To the north are Winchester, a lovely cathedral city, and Romsey with its Norman abbey and Broadlands the Palladian mansion home of Lord Palmerston and more recently, Lord Mountbatten of Burma.

New Forest Go west out of Southampton and you immediately enter the New Forest. This ancient forest consists of 145 square miles of open heath and woodland, a natural habitat for its famous wild ponies for hundreds of years, and fantastic terrain for walking, biking, horse riding and camping. On the northern edge of the forest is Paultons Park, a leisure park with fun rides and attractions for all the family. Exbury Gardens is world famous for the Rothschild collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias and its steam railway.

At the southern edge of the forest is Beaulieu, the famous stately home of the Montagu family, with its abbey ruins dating from 1204 and the National Motor Museum. Nearby is Bucklers Hard an unchanged 18th century village where wooden warships were built for the Royal Navy.

Travelling east from Southampton, just beyond Eastleigh you will find Marwell Zoo, a fantastic animal park covering 100 acres with 200 species of rare animals. Go east along Southampton Water and just four miles away in a secluded Victoria Country Park Netley valley you can explore the ruins of Netley Abbey, a massive Cistercian abbey founded in 1239. Jane Austen regularly boated up here for picnics and the painter John Constable spent his honeymoon here. Nearby is the boating village of Hamble, which was featured in the TV series Howard's Way.

Further to the east is Gosport with its Submarine Museum and Portsmouth whose Historic Dockyard is now home to Nelson's flagship Victory as well as HMS Warrior and the remains of Henry VIII's ill-fated Mary Rose.

South, across the Solent is the picturesque Isle of Wight, and Red Funnel Ferries provide regular ferry services from Town Quay for both cars and foot passengers. The Isle of Wight has been a holiday destination since Victorian times and there are numerous attractions from Carisbrooke Castle, where Charles 1 was imprisoned, to Osborne House, home to Queen Victoria. Why not pop over for the day?

There are several markets in the Hampshire area that you may like to visit.

Visitors wishing to enjoy the tranquil surroundings of Hampshire's Countryside can enjoy a county for all seasons, tastes and ages.

For those visitors who wish to pursue their hobbies you will find ideas in the Country Pursuits in Hampshire brochure which can be downloaded for information.

Country Pursuits in Hampshire

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