Whether it’s a long weekend or a summer holiday, the luxurious treehouses at Chewton Glen reveal a magical world - and breathtaking views - of this unique corner of Hampshire

One of the best ways to spend a birthday has got to be sipping champagne on the deck of your very own private treehouse while the hot tub bubbles away in the background and the call of an owl signifies the gradual setting of the sun behind the trees. Where in the world have I gone to receive this kind of treatment you ask? No not a game reserve in South Africa but Chewton Glen Hotel in New Milton, Hampshire.

On the way up to the already spectacular five star hotel, you can just about see these wonderful wooden structures peeping through the trees of the peaceful and tranquil New Forest, but it isn’t until you step inside that you realise their true majesty.

Our overnight stay started with a relaxing afternoon ‘chilling’ in the spa after a bite to eat from the delicious buffet served in the bar area overlooking the roman villa styled swimming pool. A glass of bubbly went down extremely well (it was my birthday after all) and following a dip in the hydrotherapy pool we were soon snoozing it off on the heated loungers. Not wanting to miss our treatments we headed up to the relaxation area where we were greeted by our therapists who indulged us with an hours worth of massage therapy leaving us feeling like we’d just had a two week long holiday. Dragging yourself away from the spa is easy to do when you’re on your way to check in to one of the most unique venues in the South. We caught a buggy up to our family sized abode and marvelled at the luxurious entrance before being blown away by the view from the balcony. These works of art are like nothing I have ever experienced before; everything is catered to your every need. We’re shown how to use the state of the art coffee maker with selection of beans, as well as original tea blends and a fridge full of juices, champagne and local ales.

The entertainment system includes flat screen TV, tablet, etc and the whole treehouse has under floor heating, although it’s much more fun to fire up the wood burner. All this just pales in to insignificance though as for all the mod cons, these private pods are all about switching off. Reclining back on the country-look tweed sofa or on your giant, king size bed with the double doors thrown open to the joys of the forest is what this experience is geared towards. You may be in ultimate luxury with your wildest desires just a phone call away, but you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere and that is truly unique.

After a dip in the hot tub to watch the sun go down we took a buggy ride back to the hotel to dine at Vetiver, the hotel’s stunning restaurant. A varied menu full of local flavours is matched perfectly with the extensive wine list by attentive staff who really know their stuff. Belly’s full, we retired to the lounge area to enjoy a personalised after dinner cocktail for me and a nice Balvenie for him before ‘buggying’ it back to the treehouse for the night. It’s the added extras here that make this place so special. The blankets in the back of the buggy for when you realise you’ve left your coat behind. The little book with tales of Children of the New Forest left out for the kids as a bedtime story (the loft area in the family treehouse sleeps two and is the best den any child could wish for with giant beanbags, huge TV and a wall of books and games; you won’t ever hear a peep.) The hot water bottles in the bed after your turn down and the neatly stacked logs ready to be transformed in to a warm, flickering fire.

Cutlery and crockery is left for breakfast which arrives as a hamper of goodies straight in to the kitchen cupboard via a hatch the following morning. Despite our huge dinner the night before we manage to feast on pastries, fresh fruit salad, homemade bread and local jams. Fresh fruit juices are also provided as are cold meats and cereals. We were there on a fleeting visit but had we had more time we could have taken a stroll around the grounds, played a spot of tennis or golf, gone on a clay pigeon shoot or taken out a mountain bike for a bit of forest adventuring. Or you could just marvel at your surroundings from the comfort of your tree dwellings and watch the world go by; I know what I’d rather do.

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Need to know:

Prices start from £600 per night for a studio suite and £800 per night for a loft suite or from £970 per night including full use of the spa plus a 90 minute treatment in your treehouse, lunch in the pool bar and complimentary sessions in the dance and aerobic studio based on two people sharing.

To book call the reservations team on 01425 282212, email reservations@chewtonglen.com or visit www.chewtonglen.com