Hotel Terravina

Stuart and Tina very kindly gave us a voucher to celebrate our birthdays at Hotel Terravina in the New Forest.  www.hotelterravina.co.uk.  So very generous and Terravina is a little gem.

Our bedroom was very spacious and a friendly little dog welcomed us.

The bathroom was also huge with a roll top bath, a separate shower, which was very powerful, and lots of fluffy white towels and a duck to welcome us.

After settling in we decided to go for a walk in the New Forest and headed to Busketts Lawn Inclosure which starts at Woodlands.  Terravina had wellies which we should have used because the grass paths had become very muddy in the recent wet weather.

After our 6 km walk we enjoyed afternoon tea on the large covered sun terrace.  Fortunately, the sun did shine.

After a glass of bubbles  we enjoyed a superb meal.  The food quality was excellent.
I had the ravioli starter with crab and scallops, followed by lemon sole with  brown shrimps.  Dessert was a delightful blackcurrant soufflé and ice cream.  Phil had the lamb which was also delicious.
The highlight of this hotel was the staff, every one of them that we came into contact with was attentive and friendly.  The Sommelier  is extremely knowledgable and helpful.  The wine list is extensive.  The open plan kitchen and the large windows into the winestore at the end of the restaurant make a statement about this hotel's emphasis on a fine dining experience.  Fabulous service and a lovely vibe about the place.  It was so special not to have to drive after the excellent wines.
Breakfast  was also excellent and the view in daylight from the dining room over the gardens is lovely.

After breakfast we decided we had to walk off some of the calories.  So we drove to  nearbyAshurst and parked close to The Happy Cheese Pub to do a 3 mile walk at Deerleap Inclosure.  It was an easy walk following gravel tracks and even suitable for prams so no wellies needed. Deerleap Inclosure is one of the loveliest in the Forest and we did glimpse a shy deer in the peaceful oak and beech woods.

With the pub on your left, turn left along a tarmac track.  On the right is the drive to Ashurst Hospital.  This hospital played its part in the Second World War, caring for the wounded from Dunkirk and victims of  the air raids on Portsmouth and Southampton.

The track becomes gravelled and turns right through a gate into the inclosure.  On the corner you pass a Cottage.  This brick cottage can have changed little since it was built in 1810 for the Keeper responsible for this area.  Follow the gravel track as it bears a little left and rises gently towards the corner of the inclosure.  The route now turns more sharply left but we made a short detour on this corner.  Leave the track to go through the gate on the right which opens onto heathland.  Bear right through a scattering of  trees to a bridge over the Southampton to Bournemouth railway.  The line's circuitous course winding through open Forest avoiding the great woods around Lyndhurst earned it the name of Castleman's Corkscrew!  You can also see  a tiny stream - the infant Beaulieu river.  Return to the gravel track and keep straight on.  The track rises gently to meet another crossing track.  Turn left here to walk through part of Deerleap Inclosure.  The name commemorates a leap of 18 yards once made here by a hunted stag.  This amazing feat is recorded by Gilpin in his Remarks on Forest Scenery.  Continue on down the gravel track to a T junction.  Turn right along the track you followed at the start of the walk and retrace your steps, turning left past the keeper's cottage and so
back to the Happy Cheese.

A delightful walk and an excellent visit to the New  Forest.

Thank you again Stuart and Tina x