Lime Wood, New Forest hotel review

Harriet Brewis checks in. Nestled into the New Forest, in the picturesque village of Lyndhurst, Lime Wood is a pleasant 20-minute drive from England’s south coast and an hour-and-a-half from London. Exit the M27 and motorways soon seem a distant memory as you watch ponies and cows roaming the lush grass skirting the country roads. The railway stations of Brockenhurst and Southampton Central are a short taxi ride away.

The hotel is set in 17 acres of its own landscaped grounds, neatly separating it from the region’s touristic hubbub. The 33-bedroom house itself is a former 19th-century home which, in the mid 2000s, underwent five years of intensive renovation to become the Lime Wood we see today. Its immaculate lawns are studded with animal sculptures – most notably a bronze of two boxing hares by sculptor Hamish Mackie that stands at almost 12 feet tall – and feature a peaceful lake whose waterside cabin has been converted into a guest lodge. Take a stroll and you’ll soon spot the “Hideout” – a clear-walled outdoor yoga studio overlooking the lake and fields. But the highlight of the place is the Herb House spa, whose three storeys are topped by a tranquil herb garden, bordering a state-of-the-art rooftop gym. Meanwhile, the main house is bright and airy. Its centrepiece is the glass-roofed courtyard bar that spills onto a terrace overlooking the grounds. It is the perfect spot for an afternoon drink and some complimentary nibbles.

The service is exemplary. All the staff are warm and quick to go out of their way to help and accommodate the entire family – when my two-year-old daughter suffered a nasty toe stub in our room and I called reception to ask if they had a first-aid kit, the responder must have sprinted like an Olympic athlete to our door because we were presented with wipes and plasters within seconds. Read more: Isle of Wight travel guide – where to eat, drink, walk and stay on England’s biggest island.

Lime Wood’s 33 rooms are a showcase of tasteful, muted tones, evoking the natural beauty of the hotel’s surroundings. All rooms offer views of the lawns, fields, gardens or forest, and come equipped with a super king-size bed, a well-stocked pantry and, in an interesting throw-back, a DVD player, with titles available to borrow from reception (there are all the usual TV channels, too). In the standard rooms, the bathrooms have fitted tubs with overhead showers, while the other categories have a separate bath and walk-in shower. There are two Forest Cottages, a pair of fairy tale-style lodges clad in dark oak. Surrounded by meadows and woodland, they are self-contained, with their own kitchenette, dining and living areas, log fireplace and outdoor terrace. The shelves of the sitting room are neatly stacked with books and board games, meaning guests can easily cosy up by the fire and spend an entire stay in the cottage.

Read more: Where can you discover the best natural beauty in the UK?. There are two dining spots at Lime Wood. The main restaurant, Hartnett Holder & Co, and Raw & Cured, the Herb House’s healthy eating spot. The latter is open for breakfast and lunch each day, serving nutritious, plant-focused dishes, including a salad of home-fermented cabbage and beetroot with Somerset feta, and Cornish bream ceviche with Yorkshire rhubarb and ginger. Meat lovers, fear not: you can add chicken to your meal, or treat yourself to eggs sourced from a New Forest farm, just a stone’s throw from the hotel.

Over in the main house, Hartnett Holder & Co (or HH&Co) is similarly airy and relaxed – there’s no dress code in either restaurant. Chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder create locally sourced, Italian-inspired dishes, such as Amalfi lemon risotto with aged parmesan and mint, and English rose veal with Coco di Paimpol beans. The restaurant is also known for its crisp and pillowy focaccia, a complimentary basket of which is served at the start of lunch and dinner. There are also dedicated vegan and children’s menus, as well as a selection of lighter and simpler bites, such as the house burger and fries, and a Greek-style tomato and feta salad.

The breakfast menu at HH&Co doesn’t disappoint, with offerings including a classic – but elegantly presented – fry-up, alongside the likes of buckwheat crepes with kefir and caramelised apples. Meanwhile, anyone opting for the £21 ‘scullery breakfast’ buffet is spoiled for choice, with three tables heaving with pastries, homemade cakes and muffins, cereals, yoghurts and fresh and dried fruits. HH&Co is also a local hotspot for afternoon tea, which is served between 2pm and 4pm daily at a cost of £45 a head. The menu features all the usual suspects: finger sandwiches, scones, buns and cakes, with vegan and vegetarian options available.

Read more: From eco houses to cosy inns, these are the best places to stay on top UK walking routes. This is very much a destination spa hotel – you could happily spend an entire day in the Herb House. Designed over three levels, the spa features a sauna and indoor hydro pool with views of the surrounding forest, plus a steaming outdoor hot pool and a 16-metre indoor pool with glass doors overlooking the garden. There is also the rooftop gym, and a workout studio offering a range of complimentary fitness classes which can be booked up to eight days in advance of check-in. The pregnancy massage in one of the eight treatment rooms was so relaxing that I can’t remember a thing about it.