Where can you fuel your adrenaline and find peace? Both are possible in the New Forest

We had come in search of both. Heavy work schedules had left my husband and me in need of some serious relaxation. But with three growing boys in tow, there was also their excess energy to consider.

Stay: Oak Tree Cottage, Burley sleeps five in three bedrooms. Or choose another of the 130 properties in the New Forest Cottages collection www.newforestcottages.co.uk Hire bikes: tagalongs, kids’ seats and trailers. There are several leisurely cycle routes you could pick from the 100 miles of cycle tracks in the New Forest. The hire charge for a full day bike hire is £18 and half day, £12. The fee includes: helmets, rucksack, spare inner tubes, puncture repair kit, pump and lock. Family Archery: Price: family ticket (two adults, two children), £68; adults (16+), £22, child (8-16 years), £17 www.newforestactivities.co.uk

Stress levels instantly fall outside the M25, then all but evaporate once you hit the New Forest. Confusingly, great swathes of the "forest" are taken up by wild and open moorlands, which are home to 3,000 wild ponies.

Our homely cottage, Oak Tree Cottage in Burley, was located on a quiet country lane, dotted with the evidence of the forest's four-legged residence. Dodging them was sport enough, though there was also the option of horse riding from our bolthole in Burley village, location in the south-west of the New Forest before relaxing by the log burner.

For us, however, this pretty village was more about the respite from the frenetic activity served up in Beaulieu, home to the National Motor Museum and its World of Top Gear attraction.

That said, it was vehicles of the two-wheeled variety that attracted us. The forest has more than 100 miles of cycle paths, which range from smooth tarmac to cobblestones, and we were keen to have a go.

It was our maiden cycling voyage en famille. With three boys close in age, we've previously had to account for stabilisers and cumbersome buggies. Now we could tackle the open road together.

Almost. Despite his insistence to the contrary, we were unsure about the stamina of our youngest son Nathan. Being a tenacious third child, he was determined to prove himself - but with limited success. A brief trial in the courtyard of the hire company could have ended in tears, had it not been for the enticing alternative: a tagalong.

In one fell swoop, Nathan went from the butt of his brothers' jokes to the focus of their envy. Sitting proudly at the back, he pedalled hard and steady, egging his father to go faster.

Staff at New Forest Activities, who rent out the bikes and organise other outdoor pursuits, armed us with puncture-repair kits and maps and sent us on our way. We powered through crisp woodland and green meadows, stopping every so often for a family selfie or the chance to climb a tree. Loose stones and twigs made the ride somewhat bumpy, though not even Nathan - whose proximity to the ground meant he got splattered in mud - complained.

Ultimately, we were aiming for Buckler's Hard, a historical gem on the banks of the Beaulieu River. Here you can explore the maritime museum or take a living history tour of this 18th century shipbuilding village.

The sparkling river was an irresistible temptation, so we booked ourselves onto a family canoe session. Our knowledgeable instructor spent two hours guiding us along the river, the banks of which are studded with the homes of the wealthy and well-known, as well as rich flora and fauna. An occasional splash proved the water was icy, but the effort of paddling kept the cold at bay.

Back on dry land, we considered our options. These are almost endless, meaning a weekend visit is inevitably too short. New Forest Activities, based in the heart of Beaulieu, also offers canoeing, raft-building, bushcraft, high ropes and combat games.

With just one day to go, we opted for archery. Teamed up, we took on the might of another adventurous family and a couple on an unconventional date. The boys - not least my husband - were determined to prove their alpha male credentials, though a series of embarrassing misses convinced me to bow out quietly.

Pedalling, paddling and shooting make for hungry work, so it's just as well there are plenty of country pubs. The Michelin-starred restaurant of the Montagu Arms Hotel is a stunning building and a must-do photo opportunity, though we weren't convinced it would welcome our loud and muddy brood.

Not far from our cottage in Burley, The Three Tuns in Bransgore has won its own awards but is more laid back, welcoming children and dogs. However if you'd rather dine in the comfort of your cottage, there is another alternative.

Over in Brockenhurst, there is the delightful Setley Ridge Farm Shop, where you can buy freshly prepared gourmet dishes and local delicacies.

Three days was simply too short to really make the most of our fantastic surroundings. Yet with the long summer holidays stretching out ahead of us, we'll certainly be heading back for more.