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

Welcome home Alex

On Sunday, Sue, Mike and Melissa held a surprise welcome home party for Alex on his return from Australia.

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and we really enjoyed ourselves.

Welcome home Alex. 

      

Wonderful holiday with the Grandchildren

We stayed in a beautiful villa overlooking the bay of Camp de Mar.

The terrace, with it's comfortable chairs, was one of the nicest parts of the villa.  Shady, hung with bougainvillaea and with a magnificent view down to the cliffs and sea.  Where better to pass away the time with a cool glass of Cava, a book and the sound of  happy children.

We self catered and Emmie and Chloe were so helpful and really enjoyed helping.  Thank you.

For Sunday lunch Phil prepared a seafood Paella.  One of the great dishes of the summer, his Paella was delicious and looked really impressive.  Emmie loved the squid rings (hula hoops).  Bon Apetit!!

Phil celebrated his birthday whilst, we were on holiday and very kindly treated us to lunch.  So we all got "dressed up"

and drove the short distance to the cosmopolitan and classy Port de Andratx.  We celebrated at Hotel Villa Italia, perched on the side of the hill overlooking Port d'Andratx and the Sierra de Tramontana.  The food and service were excellent not to mention the stunning view of the Port from the floor to ceiling glass walls of  the restaurant.  A real gem, the setting was sublime.

Then it was back to the villa for a delicious birthday cake.

Happy Birthday Grandad.

The lovely beach at Camp de Mar is a ten minute walk away.  Grandad and Jamie (note matching T shirt).

This beach is family oriented and has the unusual sight of a restaurant on an island accessed by a wooden bridge.

We call it "Ice Cream Island" because at 4 p.m. we visited it for an ice-cream, stopping en route on the b ridge to feed hundreds of fish with our stale bread.

Followed by a visit to the beach to build a sandcastle.

 

and then tea on the beach for the girls.

 

 

We also enjoyed a visit to Palma.  A former Moorish casbah, or walled city, Palma's Old Town is an appealing maze of  narrow streets that are a delight to explore on foot and architecturally stunning.

 

    

The massive Gothic cathedral, La Seu, is the signature building of the city and is a remarkable sight.

 

 

 

Back at Biniorella Emmie and Chloe loved exploring with Nanna and were fascinated by the Orange trees.

 

 

 

 

and the Tree Rabbit.

 

 

They also loved playing Chess

 

 

and Tennis.

 

 

 

 

Not to mention the daily visits to the Swing Park

 

 

 

Whilst Dad checked his e'mails in "the office".

 

 

Thank you for a wonderful family holiday in Mallorca.  The memories of which I shall always cherish.