Things to do and Visit around La Fosse

Shaftesbury - www.shaftesburydorset.com
Shaftesbury is one of the oldest and highest towns in England and dominates what Hardy called the ‘engirdled and secluded’ Blackmore Vale. The beauty of the surrounding countryside is complemented by the collection of fine, historical buildings.

Salisbury – www.visitsalisburyuk.com

Salisbury has Britain's finest medieval Cathedral, boasts England's tallest (123m) spire, best preserved original Magna Carta, largest Cathedral. Medieval city for 'Britain's Best View,' its Cathedral, museums, historic houses and great range of shops.

Kingston Lacy - www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Home of the Bankes family for over 300 years, having replaced the ruined family seat at Corfe Castle, this 17th-century house was radically altered in the 19th century by Sir Charles Barry. The house contains the outstanding collection of paintings and other works of art accumulated by William Bankes. The house and garden are set in a wooded park with attractive walks. The surrounding estate is crossed by many paths and dominated by the Iron Age hill-fort of Badbury Rings.

Bath - www.visitbath.co.uk

Bath presents some of the finest architectural sights in Europe, such as the Roman Baths & Pump Room, the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and the Circus.

Stonehenge - Situated around 1 hour from the Hotel by car is Stonehenge. The great and ancient stone circle of Stonehenge is one of the wonders of the world. What visitors see today are the substantial remnants of the last in a sequence of such monuments erected between circa 3000BC and 1600BC. There has always been intense debate over quite what purpose Stonehenge served. Certainly, it was the focal point in a landscape filled with prehistoric ceremonial structures, now a World Heritage Site. Click here

Longleat – www.longleat.co.uk

Longleat offers a wonderland of attractions to suit all ages! Set in more than 900 acres of parkland with a further 8,000 acres of woodlands, lakes and farmland, Longleat combines the magic of the old with the marvels of the new. Home to the 7th Marquess of Bath, Longleat House is widely regarded as one of the best examples of high Elizabethan architecture in Brtiain and one of the most beautiful stately homes open to the public.

Dorset Coast

To go even further back into geological time, try the Jurassic Coast, a 95-mile stretch of heritage coastline. Chesil Beach (a ruler-straight, 18-mile stretch of shingle), Abbotsbury Swannery, Durdle Door (a natural cliff arch, pictured top), and Lulworth Cove.

For a glimpse into Dorset's ancient past, see the famous Cerne Abbas Giant, a potent symbol cut into the chalk downland, and the breathtakingly vast Maiden Castle, an Iron Age hill fort. For the more adventurous full day excursions drive to the Sandbanks Ferry which crosses the narrow Poole Harbor, the second largest natural harbor in the world. From the far side the pretty village of Studland is a few minutes away and provides and ideal place to park before a gentle stroll out to Old Harry Rocks and the wonderful views of Dorset Coast. Amble back to the Banks Inn for lunch before continuing on to stunning Corfe Castle, perhaps the most impressive ruin in England, which completely dominates the town.

Explore The New Forest, A National Park

The New Forest ancient woodlands and wilderness heaths remain largely intact, earning the area national and international status; entering parts of the Forest today is like taking a step back in time - the atmosphere and landscape are unique and traditions exist here which have not changed since medieval times.

In the Forest there is a living and working community where ponies and cattle have the right of way as they freely graze the land. Each of the famous ponies is owned by a commoner and must be marked with an individual brand before left to wander. A 'commoner' has rights of 'common' attached to a property or plot of land he or she owns. The New Forest is dotted with attractive and spacious villages, Lyndhurst being the acknowledged centre.

Visit the Official New Forest Tourism Website >>

A particular good way to see the New Forest is to drive through Brockenhurst to the ornamental drive leading to Rhinefield area. There are plenty of places to park and take a leisurely stroll on well-marked paths.

Theological Buildings

Salisbury Cathedral - For more information Click here

Wimborne Minster - For more information Click here

Winchester Cathedral - For more information Click here

Historic Houses

Kingston Lacy - This Elegant country mansion with important collections, set in attractive formal gardens and extensive parkland is a National Trust Property. For more information on Kingston Lacey: Click Here

Osborne House - Isle of Wight, - Queen Victoria knew and liked the Isle of Wight after visiting as a child, and she and the Prince Consort were both determined to buy a property there. In 1845 the royal couple purchased the property with an estate of 342 acres, plus the adjacent Barton Manor to house equerries and grooms and to serve as the home farm. Click here

Beaulieu Abbey - Beaulieu Abbey was founded in 1204 by Cistercian monks on land given to them by King John. Although much was destroyed at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries during the reign of Henry VIII, there is still much for visitors to see today. Click here

Breamore House - The magnificent Manor House is set above the picturesque village of Breamore, overlooking the Avon Valley on the edge of the New Forest just north of Fordingbridge.

The House was completed in 1583 by the Dodington family, five years prior to the Spanish Armada. It was purchased in the early 18th century by Sir Edward Hulse, Baronet, M.D.,F.R.C.P., Physician in Ordinary at the Court of Queen Anne, King George I and George II. Click Here