| The southern English county of Hampshire is only | | | | adder. All the town's stock antidote these days |
| two hours from London by car or by frequent rail | | | | and deaths are unheard of, but an adder bite can |
| services. The county has much to offer | | | | still inflict nasty pain. Bites are very rare, adders |
| regardless whether you seek fast moving cities, | | | | are small snakes that rush off into the |
| rural open countryside, or beaches and boat trips. | | | | undergrowth, but just in case you should stand on |
| On the coast you will find the bustling fierce rival | | | | one, good shoes are a must. |
| city ports of Portsmouth, (fighting ships), and | | | | Check out Lyndhurst in the centre of the forest, |
| Southampton, (merchant and cruise liners). In | | | | Burley for the witches, I kid you not, |
| Portsmouth you must visit the historic dockyard. | | | | Brockenhurst for the ponies, restaurants, hotels, |
| Go on board Horatio Nelson's flagship "Victory", | | | | and main line quick rail links, and lastly Lymington |
| check out the "Warrior" and Henry the eighth's | | | | for sailing and interesting shops and antiques. To |
| "Mary Rose" which is still undergoing restoration | | | | the north east of the county you will find |
| after being raised from the seabed. Take an | | | | Winchester, Hampshire's third city and the county |
| hour's cruise to the Isle of Wight and see Britain's | | | | town. This is a smaller ancient city boasting an |
| biggest yachting extravaganza at Cowes week. | | | | impressive Cathedral, burial place of Jane Austen, |
| Southampton is the traditional homes of the | | | | as well as the monument to King Alfred, he of |
| Cunarder Queen liners. It still is, and fabulous | | | | the burning of the cakes fame, Wessex's own |
| views can be had of the spectacular liners coming | | | | ancient king. |
| and going up Southampton water from Calshot | | | | There are ample opportunities for golf, sailing, and |
| beach in the south of the county. | | | | riding, and fly fishing too on the three majestic |
| To the west of Southampton lies the tranquillity | | | | rivers, Itchen, Test and Avon. They can provide |
| of the New Forest. The New Forest was | | | | fishing on rivers as beautiful as you will find |
| established in the eleventh century by William the | | | | anywhere. If sea fishing is your thing check out |
| first as his personal hunting grounds. Thousands of | | | | Lymington where boat trips are to be had all year |
| wild ponies, deer, cattle, donkeys, and at certain | | | | round. Hampshire is unquestionably one of |
| times of the year pigs can be seen all over the | | | | England's most beautiful counties and a week |
| forest running free. Drive with care at all times! | | | | would never be enough to take in all it has to |
| Good months to visit are early May to take in | | | | offer. Why not stay for two? There is a wide |
| and photograph the foaling season, and | | | | variety of accommodation available from small |
| September, to see the roundup, known locally as | | | | inexpensive boarding houses to international |
| the drift, when all the ponies are rounded up and | | | | standard hotels, cottages to riverside marina |
| branded and checked for health problems. | | | | apartments. You can see thousands of cottages, |
| If you go walking in the forest, and you can go | | | | villas and apartments worldwide on my web site |
| just about anywhere and it costs nothing, ensure | | | | now at |
| you wear stout shoes as the Forest is the | | | | Have a good holiday! And take care. |
| stronghold of Britain's only poisonous snake, the | | | | |