A Morning in Brockenhurst

Weekends in the New Forest are always relaxing yet adventurous, the perfect blend. Brockenhurst, where we spent our Saturday morning, is known as the gateway to the Forest and is probably most known for that very reason. Despite this, we’ve never really given it much thought, preferring our own little village of Burley and other towns like Lyndhurst and Lymington. Recently, however, we have discovered a newfound love for this place and plan to spend more time here. The bustling high street is lined with cute cafes, trinket shops, a beautiful florist and even its very own art gallery, so there’s plenty to explore in the very centre. There might even be a donkey or two wandering the streets.

We began our morning here with an iced coffee at the Rosie Lea tearoom, finding a shaded spot on the tiny terrace overlooking the high street. Our drinks were served in glass jars with the cutest paper straws and inside, the interior was decorated with pretty ornaments and handmade touches, the perfect decor for a tearoom in the middle of a village. There was even a grown-ups’ birthday party inside to add to the quintessential vintage atmosphere. We sipped our iced coffees and admired our surroundings, watching the village life go by in front of us.

Following our morning re-fuel, we browsed through the tiny stores along the high street, me falling in love with a delicate floral painting in the gallery, Dave having to subtly drag me away. I could have easily spent hours in these little stores if it wasn’t for the heat and the anxious reminder of my bank balance.

A few shops later, our parking ticket was nearing its end and it was time to head back, which was probably for the best as I was very close to purchasing a ceramic plant pot. On our way back to the car, we were bid farewell by a family of donkeys, including two very cute newborns who made it very difficult to leave. However, we had the second part of our Brockenhurst adventure coming up so we waved goodbye to the village centre, promising to return soon, and slowly made our way to our next destination.

Are you just as much in love with tiny villages like this as I am?

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