The New Forest's status as a national park is helping to pull in over seven million visitors a year, yet many arrive by car and add to the pollution and congestion in and around the ancient woodland. The Cottage Lodge is a restored 16th-century B&B five minutes' walk from Brockenhurst train station in the heart of the park.
The lodge's ample car park must have impressed the AA's inspectors who have rated the lodge the best B&B in the New Forest, yet there's free tea and scones if you arrive by train and if you do come by car you're encouraged to leave it in the car park while you explore the forest on foot, by bike or on horseback. The snug sitting room is supported by beams from an old boat, there's thick insulation throughout the rooms and kitchen waste is recycled.
I stayed in one of the large, en suite modern rooms on the ground floor; though the low-ceiling rooms in the old part of the cottage have more character. In the morning I was served a "New Forest breakfast" with all ingredients sourced from within 10 miles of the lodge, including free range eggs from Ashley, mushrooms from Cowsfield, and sausages from pigs reared in the forest.
Maps and detailed instructions are provided on the many circular walks from the lodge and there's cycle hire in the village from where you can explore over 100 miles of off-road cycle tracks.
· cottagelodge.co.uk, 01590 622296, rooms from £50 B&B.