Sometimes we fail to fully appreciate things that are right on our doorsteps.

Every year Britons choose to fly abroad for their holidays or, if they opt to stay at home, head for the beaches of Cornwall or the countryside of the Lake District.

All have their relative merits, of course, but you do not have to travel as far to find yourself in an ideal location for a family break.

The New Forest is often overlooked despite its proximity (we were travelling from Sussex) but has it all – stunning coastline, beautiful countryside and a wide variety of things to do.

I’ll admit I had been as guilty as anyone in taking the charms of the national park for granted but have fallen back in love with it in recent years.

As both sets of grandparents lived in the forest I used to relate it to long car journeys for our regular visits when I’d rather be at home playing football.

It is only since starting my own family that I have rediscovered the delights of an area spanning 566 square kilometres and which was given its name by William the Conqueror nearly 1,000 years ago.

The plethora of campsites dotted around the forest means we usually stay under canvas which has the added advantage of forcing the kids to ditch their electronic paraphernalia and interact with the great outdoors instead.

On this occasion we swapped our blow up beds for a bit of extra comfort at the delightful Cottage Lodge hotel in Brockenhurst.

Sometimes it is worth pushing the boat out a little bit and Cottage Lodge was the perfect base to explore the surrounding area while still getting a good night’s sleep and a tasty breakfast in the excellent Fallen Tree restaurant which adjoins it.

We only stayed one night – in a beautifully converted stable to keep the back-to-nature theme going - but the fact the New Forest is just down the road meant we were still able to pack loads in.

With so much to choose from we had to be selective about what to do but opted for a visit to Liberty’s Owl and Raptor Centre near Ringwood which featured excellent birds of prey and reptile shows.

But the unique advantage of the New Forest is that getting around it is not a chore – it’s part of the enjoyment.

My daughters usually moan the minute we set off in the car but love spotting the famous ponies which freely roam the area. As we went in June there was the added excitement of seeing new-born foals (we spotted six in a 30 minute journey).

We also bumped into a couple of donkeys casually walking down the high street in Brockenhurst and where else in the world could you do that?

The very informative proprietor of Cottage Lodge also told us that at in autumn pigs are released into the forest to forage for acorns and chestnuts which can be poisonous to cattle and ponies.

It is no surprise that many visitors come to the New Forest on walking holidays but if you want to be more active there are a multitude of ways to work up a sweat.

Cyclists are attracted in huge numbers now – both those clad in lycra who stick to the roads and the mountain bikers taking advantage of the network of tracks which criss-cross the region.

There are also a wide range of places that offer horse riding, canoeing on the three rivers (Lymington River, Beaulieu River and Avon Water) plus other watersports.

Or you could simply head to the excellent beaches at Lepe, Barton-on-Sea and Mudeford while not far down the road is Bournemouth.

Unfortunately as a parent you have to make many sacrifices so we spent our second day at Paulton’s Park.

Having girls aged six and nine means we are no strangers to the place but I have to admit it does offer a fun day out for kids and big kids alike.

From there it was less than 90 minutes drive home meaning we were back at a reasonable hour having crammed in so much in less than two days.

That highlights how convenient the New Forest is for a short break but there is also so much more to do if you want to stay longer.

And if you give it a try I have no doubt you’ll return for more.

Stephen Hollis and family stayed as guests of Cottage Lodge hotel in Brockenhurst, which offers double rooms between Sunday and Thursday for the months of September and October from £30 per person per night (two sharing) on a B&B basis.

From 1 November 2016 to 16 March 2017 double rooms between Sunday and Thursday cost from just £20 per person per night (two sharing), also on a B&B basis. (excludes school holidays and Valentines). Supplement for weekend stays.

Call 01590 622 296 (www.cottagelodge.co.uk).

A ticket for a family of four for Paultons Park costs £99 when booked online (www.paultonspark.co.uk) or £116 on the day. A new themed area called The Lost Kingdom opened in Spring 2016 featuring new rollercoasters The Flight of the Pterosaur and Velociraptor.