31/05/2026
Bronte's Retreat — Our Story
I grew up near the New Forest, and even as a little girl, I knew there was something extraordinary about that place. The ancient energy of the trees. The freedom of the wild ponies, donkeys and cattle roaming as they please. The space, the beauty, the sense that time moves differently there. It never left me.
Fast forward to 2019. Darren and I had two of the most wonderful dogs — Bronte, our gorgeous cream Labradoodle, and Molly, our cheeky rescued Springer Spaniel. Life was full and joyful. We had the most incredible trip to Norway planned — husky sledging, adventure, magic.
Then, two weeks before we were due to leave, Bronte fell ill.
I rushed her to the vet, heart in my throat — and came home without her. There are no words for that kind of loss. She wasn't just a dog. She was our girl.
We cancelled Norway without a second thought. We couldn't leave Molly, who was utterly lost without her best friend. Instead, we found ourselves drawn back to the place that had always held something sacred for me — the New Forest.
That week changed everything.
We discovered Shorefield, fell completely in love with the area all over again, and made a decision that felt less like a choice and more like a calling. We bought a little van — later upgraded to the beautiful mini lodge we have now — and we dedicated it to her.
Bronte's Retreat. A home from home, held in her honor and filled with her memory.
We had precious time with Molly after that. But five months on, grief has a way of settling into fur and paws — and Molly was struggling. She needed a friend. We needed a friend.
And so Oscar arrived. A rescued Saluki Greyhound — all grace, gentleness and quiet soul. He didn't just fill a space in the house. He helped us all begin to heal.
He's been our boy for six and a half years now.
And Darren and I? Twenty-one years married, still choosing each other, still finding magic in the Forest.
Bronte's Retreat isn't just a place to stay. It's a love story.
This is our special place, and we come here as often as we possibly can. There is something about the Forest that resets the soul — and once it has you, it never really lets go.
But when we're not here, we don't want these walls to sit empty and this magic to go to waste. We want you to experience it. The ancient Forest with its roaming ponies and cathedral-like trees. The breathtaking beaches just a short drive away. The walks that clear your head and fill your heart. Everything we love about this extraordinary corner of the world.
We hope Bronte's Retreat gives you exactly what it has always given us — rest, joy, healing, and a little bit of wonder.
Welcome. Make yourself at home. She would have loved having you here.
If you'd like to experience the magic of the New Forest for yourself, we'd love to welcome you to Bronte's Retreat.
