A pre-planned accessible holiday in the New Forest

A Week (or Two) in the New Forest

One of our guests challenged us to plan a week’s holiday in the New Forest. We honestly told them you need more than a week here, as there is so much to see and do, but we thought we would start by sharing some of our favourite locations and activities. We know everyone is different and not every idea will be accessible to everyone. If we were guiding you around the forest for a few days, these are the spots we think you should include.

Not every place has a postcode, so we share locations using what3words. You can download the app on Apple and Android and navigate to the points we’ve highlighted. It’s also useful in emergencies, as most emergency services can locate you with this app.

Day one — treats on Friday

If you arrive at the cottage early and we’re not quite ready for you, stop for a cup of tea at Shallowmead Nursery. It’s home to Mabel’s, a fantastic independent coffee shop. If the weather is kind, enjoy the landscaped courtyard garden — they also serve a great breakfast. Another option is Daisy Tea Garden with a neighbouring farm shop. Or pop into Lyndhurst for the New Forest Museum and a choice of coffee shops along the High Street.

• Mabel’s at Shallowmead Nursery — landscaped courtyard and great breakfasts. Open in what3words
• Daisy Tea Garden — independent tea garden with farm shop. Open in what3words
• Lyndhurst village — New Forest Museum and plenty of cafés on the High Street.

Day two — Beaulieu & Hatchet Pond

Beaulieu is home to the National Motor Museum and Palace House. Explore vintage cars, the Victorian house, gardens and the abbey. In the village, watch the ponies by the mill pond looking towards Palace House. Stroll through the traditional High Street, try Beaulieu’s homemade chocolates, or stop at the coffee shop or garden centre.

Just outside the village, Buckler’s Hard is a historic maritime village. There’s a level riverside path between Beaulieu and Buckler’s Hard (about 2.5 miles each way) — download the walk map — or you can drive and park there.

Finish the day at Hatchet Pond. Park beside the water, enjoy a picnic and, with luck, a sunset — a favourite with photographers.

• Beaulieu Motor Museum — Open in what3words
• Buckler’s Hard — Open in what3words
• Beaulieu village — Open in what3words
• Start of Beaulieu river walk — Open in what3words
• Hatchet Pond — Open in what3words

Day three — Christchurch

Christchurch is around 11 miles from the cottages. Enjoy riverside walks, the historic Priory and a lively quay with swans and events through the year. There are lots of spots for coffee or lunch, and families often hire a small boat to explore the river.

• Christchurch Quay and The Quomps — cafés and picnic spots. Open in what3words. Try the Ducking Stool for hot chocolate and milkshakes.
• Christchurch river walk — Open in what3words
• Christchurch Priory — Open in what3words
• Town centre — Monday market day. Open in what3words

Day four — Exbury & Lepe

Exbury Gardens offers tarmac paths and trails, a steam railway and a café. The collections span woodland, herbaceous, contemporary, formal and wildflower areas. It’s easy to enjoy whether you want quiet space, a ride on the railway or to hire a Tramper.

Lepe Country Park has parking beside the beach and sweeping views of Southampton Water. There’s a Changing Places facility and a beach wheelchair. Across the road you’ll find a sensory garden and boardwalk trail — accessible at the start, with some more challenging terrain further on. The café is on stilts with ramped access and panoramic views.

On the way back, the Walhampton Arms is a supportive, accessible local restaurant.

• Exbury Gardens — Open in what3words
• Lepe — Open in what3words
• Lepe sensory garden and boardwalk — Open in what3words
• Walhampton Arms — Open in what3words

Day five — Calshot, Ashlett Creek & Hythe

Continue around the Waterside and explore:

• Calshot Spit — beach parking and an activity centre with water and land-based options. Open in what3words
• Ashlett Creek — a tiny harbour with a timeless feel. Open in what3words
• Hythe — independent shops, a waterfront promenade and the world’s oldest electric pier train to the ferry for Southampton.
  • Hythe promenade — Open in what3words
  • Hythe Pier Railway — Open in what3words and the Hythe Ferry
  • Hythe Marina — Open in what3words

Day six — Avon Beach & Mudeford Quay

Avon Beach is our nearest sandy beach with seafront parking and a tarmac promenade. It’s quieter than Bournemouth and Boscombe. Walk the seafront to Mudeford Quay for crabbing and water sports. There’s also a ferry to Hengistbury Head if you prefer not to walk.

• Avon Beach car park — Open in what3words
• Beach Hut Café — usually quieter and worth the stroll. Open in what3words
• Mudeford Quay — Open in what3words
• Mudeford watersports area — Open in what3words

Day seven — Hengistbury Head

Hengistbury Head is a scenic, historic headland between Poole Harbour and Hurst Spit. A tarmac path runs from the car park and café to the beach huts. Another café sits near the end. Some paths are not wheelchair or pushchair friendly, so follow the accessible route. Start at the visitor centre for advice.

• Café — Open in what3words
• Visitor centre — Open in what3words
• Toilets on the headland — Open in what3words
• Coffee or lunch — Open in what3words

Day eight — a day in

Sometimes you just want a day in — time to enjoy birdsong in the garden, rest and recharge, and give the driver a break. Plan something special at the cottage:

• Crazy Creature Encounter — an educational, fun session with safe animal handling. From giant bugs to tortoises, lizards, snakes and owls. Find out more
• Guest photo session with Helen — at the cottage or nearby studio. Capture memories to treasure. Renouf Design
• Dine In Deluxe — 7th Wave Events can cook a three-course meal on site.

Day nine — Milford on Sea & Barton on Sea

Milford on Sea is around six miles from the cottages. Park on the seafront and watch the waves, or take the tarmac promenade. There’s sloped access to the roof of the beach huts. The Lighthouse restaurant often has live music. In the village car park you’ll find a Changing Places toilet.

Follow the cliff-top path for views to the Isle of Wight and The Needles. Drive on to Barton on Sea to watch paragliders, enjoy home-cooked food at the Beachcomber Café or head down the sloped coastal path.

• Milford car park — Open in what3words
• Lighthouse Restaurant — Open in what3words
• Milford Green — Open in what3words
• Cliff-top walk — Open in what3words
• Beachcomber Café — Open in what3words

Day ten — Highcliffe

Discover Highcliffe’s beach from the cliff top. The Cliffhanger Café hosts events and serves breakfast and lunch. There’s sloped access to the sea and several coastal paths. Head to the Zig-Zag Path to return to the cliff and visit Highcliffe Castle — a Grade I listed house and popular wedding venue — with a café in the grounds.

If you don’t want to walk from the cliff top, park at Highcliffe Castle (it can get busy). Afterwards, visit Steamer Point Nature Reserve — a step-free walk through quiet woodland with Solent views.

• Cliff-top parking and Cliffhanger Café — Open in what3words
• Sloped access to the sea — Open in what3words
• Zig-Zag Path — Open in what3words
• Highcliffe Castle — Open in what3words
• Steamer Point Nature Reserve — Open in what3words

Day eleven — Longslade Bottom & Wilverley

Sit back, watch the wildlife and enjoy the views along Longslade Bottom. Horseshoe Bottom View and other car parks offer open vistas. From Longslade you can join the old railway track for a level there-and-back walk.

Then head to Wilverley. Wilverley Plain is popular for picnics and watching ponies and cattle graze. In the enclosure there’s a circular walk on wide gravel paths. There are toilets and a BBQ area (check fire risk status).

• Longslade Bottom — Open in what3words
• Access to railway walk — Open in what3words
• Horseshoe Bottom — Open in what3words
• Wilverley — Open in what3words

Day twelve — Lyndhurst, New Forest Heritage Centre & Ashurst

Lyndhurst is often busy with traffic but full of character and surrounded by the National Park. Sample local produce, browse woodcraft and learn about the forest at the New Forest Heritage Centre just off the main car park.

Bolton’s Bench is a local landmark — climb to the yew trees for views to Lyndhurst church. It matters to us, as it’s where Roger proposed to Mary — the inspiration behind “Our Bench”.

In Ashurst, Longdown Activity Farm has a Changing Places toilet. The New Forest Wildlife Park is the one place you can see wild boar and wolves locally, as well as deer, otters, foxes and badgers.

• New Forest Heritage Centre — Open in what3words
• Bolton’s Bench — Open in what3words
• Longdown Activity Farm — Open in what3words
• New Forest Wildlife Park — Open in what3words

Day thirteen — Burley, Ringwood & Liberty’s

Burley is a traditional New Forest village where tales of witches, smuggling and dragons add to the character. Park behind the Queen’s Head and look for red deer in the field beyond. Try the tea room, browse gift shops and visit New Forest Cider.

On Wednesdays, Ringwood hosts a market. The town reflects its agricultural heritage. Ringwood Brewery offers tours (not wheelchair friendly) and tastings in the courtyard. Wildlife fans will enjoy Liberty’s Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre with flying sessions and photography days (book ahead).

• Burley deer — Open in what3words
• New Forest Cider — Open in what3words
• Ringwood Market Square — Open in what3words
• Ringwood Brewery — Open in what3words
• Liberty’s — Open in what3words

Day fourteen — Brockenhurst, Tall Trees Trail, Ober Water & the Deer Sanctuary

Pack a picnic and explore two nearby accessible trails — Ober Water and the Tall Trees Trail — both waymarked and different in feel. The Tall Trees is close to the road and handy with children. We’ve chosen car parks that often have an ice cream van and toilets.

Driving the Ornamental Drive, continue to the deer sanctuary where wild deer are fed on summer afternoons.

• Brockenhurst Bakehouse — picnic-friendly savouries and treats. Open in what3words
• Ober Water walk — car park. Open in what3words
• Tall Trees Trail — car park. Open in what3words
• Deer sanctuary — nearby car park. Open in what3words

Day fifteen — Moors Valley Country Park

Moors Valley offers signposted walks, a treetop trail, two play parks, a miniature railway, fishing lakes and paid activities like Go Ape, bike hire and Segway. You can easily spend a full day here and only pay for parking.

• Moors Valley Country Park — Open in what3words — parking fills quickly during holidays and weekends; check their Facebook page for updates.

Day sixteen — Hurst Castle

One of our favourite castles, managed by English Heritage, at the end of a long shingle bank. Ferries run from Keyhaven — a lovely river trip to the castle — but you need to step into the boat, so it’s not accessible for everyone. Once there, explore the rooms, enjoy Solent views and watch yachts passing. It’s a brilliant day out for families.

• Keyhaven Ferries — Open in what3words
• Nearest parking for walking the shingle — Open in what3words
• Nearest parking for the ferry — Open in what3words
• Best spot for crabbing — Open in what3words — crabbing lines, buckets and nets are available at the cottage to borrow.

And still to explore

Head north in the New Forest, take a day trip to the Isle of Wight from Lymington to Yarmouth, or visit the World Heritage Site at Stonehenge with Salisbury close by — both around an hour by car.

See more ideas on our New Forest pages, Lymington pages, and day trips, plus inspiration in our photo gallery. Guests can also book a free photo shoot. Check what’s on for seasonal events — we share lots on our Facebook page.

Have you booked a long enough stay — or is it time to plan your next visit?