Who let the pigs out? Porcine encounters of the safe kind. September 2010

For the quintessential country break away with your new Hunter Wellies, come down to the New Forest this autumn. Its like having your own country estate, with one hundred and forty  square miles of open landscape to enjoy, the deer and the ponies won’t mind sharing.

To entice you down to our neck of the woods, our Standby page will give you details of our late availability offers.

Now back to those pigs;
Autumn in the New Forest has long been associated with pigs. Towards the end of September, New Forest commoners exercise the medieval right of letting their pigs roam freely on the open forest for a few months to fatten up. Pannage, as this ancient practice is known, is not merely an old tradition - the New Forest depends on these porkers to hoover up fallen acorns which are extremely poisonous to the New Forest ponies and cattle. The pigs also eat beech mast, crab apples and anything else they can find. Busy, busy, busy.

Protocol  in the vicinity of a pig;. With or  without piglets in tow, pigs don’t like to be distracted from their main occupation, foraging. So as with all forest stock, try to avoid the element of surprise, give a wide berth and go quietly on. Dogs should definitely be kept on a lead close to pigs, if they give chase to piglets, Mrs. Pig won’t be very forgiving.

Here are New Forest Living's best holiday cottages for porcine encounters of the safe kind. The term Mast means; Right to turn your pigs out on the forest. Many of our cottages have ancient forest rights attached, but no pigs are required to book these lovely holiday cottages this Autumn.

Robins Bush Farm, yes located at Piglets Corner, Minstead. I wonderful mini farmstead with which to impress your friends and family. Sleeps up to 8, Autumn breaks from £825

Mast Cottage. Located in Burley Village. Great for a get togther,easy walking distance to village . hostelries. Sleeps up to 7. Autumn breaks from £595.

Careys Lane, Brockenhurst. Unlike the donkeys, pigs tend not go window shopping up Brockenhurst High Street of an afternoon, but they can be seen looking busy at the end of the lane. Sleeps up to 6. + designer doggie to compliment this designer holiday cottage. Autumn Breaks from £525

The Barn One of four super forest side bolt holes just for two, forest rambles aplenty from the gate. Sleeps just 2, The Tack Room also accepts a small dog, Autumn breaks from £326

Contact us now: 0845 680 0173 or info@newforestliving.co.uk