Mr & Mrs Smith

Take advantage of the Pig's location near fantastic fly fishing: the hotel works with Upstream Dry Fly (www.upstreamdryfly.com) to provide a day of tuition on a private estate lake, including a picnic prepared by the Pig's chef, for £240. (A day's fishing without tuition costs £120.) Get out into the country air for a spot of horse riding, archery, falconry, tennis, cycling or rambling. The hotel can also arrange for the forager to take you out. Stock up on seasonal fruit and veg at Warborne Farm (www.warbornefarm.co.uk), a mile and a half east of Lymington. Visit the vintage cars at the Motor Museum in Beaulieu (www.beaulieu.co.uk) then walk along the river to Buckler’s Hard (lovely at high tide). Take the ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, then hop on an open-top bus to see the Needles.

Call in at sister property Lime Wood on Beaulieu Road for a choice of two dining options: the whitewashed Scullery, and the more formal Dining Room (+44 (0)2380 287177) – the food at either won’t disappoint. At Beaulieu, tryThe Master Builder’s at Buckler’s Hard for lunch or dinner – this elegant rustic pub makes the most of the excellent local produce, turning a recent shoot’s venison into sausages and cooking up comforting Sunday roasts (+44 (0)1590 616253; www.themasterbuilders.co.uk). More locally sourced fare awaits at the Oak Inn on Pinkney Lane in Bank – seafood from Lymington in summer and game from within a five-mile radius in winter (+44 (0)23 8028 2350). For something more Continental, head to Franoi on the high street in Lyndhurst (+44 (0)23 8028 2745; www.franoi.co.uk), an Italian trattoria serving up authentic delights from Emilia Romagna.