Travel review: New Forest, Southern England

Within a minute of entering our Bell Hotel room; bed-size, furnishings, elegance and extras admired, I could not help but sing out an almighty excited 'Ooh, just come and see' from the bathroom.

A spa-bath wondered my other half, carpets an inch-deep, scented candles and fresh flowers? Nothing of the sort – it was ponies under the window. Actual real-life New Forest Ponies, gently grazing, ambling along, happy to swish their tails and hold up holiday traffic.

They were followed a short time later by a herd of cattle, nosing the meadowsweet and nuzzling clover under the thatched cottages.

Despite having spent my childhood in the neighbouring county of Wiltshire it came as a bit of a surprise to find these curious creatures roaming free in the picture-postcard perfect lanes, and not corralled in paddocks. I was fascinated, and kept rushing to any available window for another look.

But whether you enjoy the draw of the ponies or not, this family hotel is perfect for just slipping into the lushness of the Hampshire countryside, and enjoying peace, quiet and cosetting.

The Bell has been in the same family since 1782, and with a sympathetic side extension offers guests 27 rooms as well as two 18-hole golf courses, picturesque touches of flagstones and window seats and space inside and out for families and dog owners alike to feel welcome. To keep the New Forest theme going there were even pictures of deer on the shower curtains. There is also a wide menu, which we enjoyed once dusk had bedded down the horses.

Attentive staff took us through the menu which makes good use of local produce and adds a cosmopolitan twist.

To start, Ian chose fillets of lightly smoked mackerel, which came with sliced pickled herring and roasted garlic puree and garlic oil, which was voted delicious and suitably tangy.

I turned artisan and plumped for The Bell Inn Scotch egg – Hampshire sausage meat encasing a softly-boiled egg, served with home-made spiced ketchup and crushed peas. The saltiness of the sausage was a fitting foil for the delicate egg and not too rich.

For our main courses we picked rump of Hampshire lamb, with garlic and thyme fondant potato, buttered spring greens and red wine sauce nicoise, which was beautifully cooked and alluringly presented.

I went for oven roasted fillet of cornish hake, with sauteed new potatoes, roasted prawn bisque, cherry tomatoes, mussels and grilled prawns. Again, the presentation was a delight as was my selection. I was wrong-footed when it came to desserts. The Bell Inn assiette banoffee, with caramelised banana, chocolate and caramel crumb with a chocolate shell had an odd texture and had nothing on Ian's golden syrup sponge, especially served in a syrup tin. To wash the festivities down we chose a Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley.

After a refreshing sleep in our beautifully roomy bed, we decided next day to visit the National Motor Museum at beaulieu. I had been before and loved it, but Ian hadn't so part of the thrill of the place this time, was seeing him view it for the first time. It really is spectacular. It may have 250 vehicles telling the story of British motoring, but it also has a monorail (last seen by me on a school trip in 1976), abbey ruins, grounds, gardens, cafe restaurant and a veteran bus. It also bears testament to our region's importance in the world of cars and bikes with its displays of Wolverhampton Sunbeams, Redditch's Royal Enfields and Alvechurch's Dallows.

• For details regarding Bell Hotel, New Forest, see www.bellinnbramshaw.co.uk

• Information on Beaulieu Motor Museum is found via www.beaulieu.co.uk

• See buckler’shard.co.uk for details on Buckler’s Hard Maritime Museum

Next, Bucklers Hard, a village just down the road, which is famous for the merchant and military ships it built, including Nelson's HMS Agamemnon. It has a maritime museum, a shipwright school and splendid views of the river. Two rows of timeless cottages, alongside swathes of grass lead to the water, from where regular cruises run. A quick half-hour with the wind in your face as you hear tales of history, heroes and mishaps is a must. Visitors can also enjoy the flatness of the area, ditch their cars and take to the bike.

Our Hampshire idyll ended where it began where it started – with The Bell and the call of the large garden filled with games and cushioned benches.

A local enjoying the sunshine told us the story of the ponies – they're not wild at all – each one is owned by people in the area who use an individual branding to tell them apart. Each year animals are rounded up for medical checks, but apart from that are free to wander wherever cattle grids allow. He told of the family who arrived with a bag of animal feed, and had to beat a hasty retreat as horses near and far began to surround them. New Forest – you've got to love it – but be careful.