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All you need to know
The enchanting village of Burley, with its mystical history of witches and dragons, is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Surrounded by stunning ancient forest, don’t be surprised to see the New Forest’s famous ponies and free roaming cattle strolling past your front door.
Tucked in the lee of a leafy hill lies the charming village of Burley where cattle and ponies still roam freely under commoner’s rights.
Burley is full of endearing traits, from the cattle grid at the entrance to the local fire station (thought to be the only one in the country), to the secret smugglers’ cellar full of coins and pistols discovered beneath the bar at the 16th century Queen’s Head inn. Its history can be traced back to a prehistoric era and the Bronze Age burials mounds and Iron Age hillfort on the western fringe of the village. The name ‘Burley’ is of Saxon origin and means fortified place (burgh) and open meadow or clearing (leah).
Burley is renowned for its long association with witches, the most famous being Sybil Leek, a self-styled white witch who, during the 1950s, walked around the village in a long black cloak with her pet jackdaw on her shoulder. As a result, you’ll see plenty of witchy gifts and ornaments for sale in the village’s novelty shops, in fact, one of the shops has a portrait of Sybil Leek hanging up above the old Jacobean fireplace inside.
If you possess a penchant for popular folklore, Burley Beacon is bound to capture your imagination; the supposed lair of a once fearsome dragon that was slain by Sir Berkeley ‘The Valiant’ on Bolton’s Bench Hill after a battle that raged through the forest for thirty days and thirty nights.
There’s so much to see and do when you holiday in Burley. If you want to discover Hampshire’s great outdoors, you’ll find endless tracks and trails beneath the mighty oaks and giant redwoods of the New Forest. In the heart of Burley, you’ll find Forest Leisure Cycling where you can hire mountain bikes, comfort hybrids and electric bikes, plus family-friendly accessories such as child seats, trailers, tag-a-longs and tandems.
Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the New Forest Deer Safari at Burley Park where you’ll have the chance to learn all about these ancient forest dwellers and see them in their natural habitat. Enjoy the leisurely roll of a Burley Wagon as it takes you on a gentle tour in the dappled shade of Primrose hedgerows and Hoof-worn byways, a delightful way to discover this historic parish. If you’re looking for a truly mindful experience, then The Horse Raft offers you the unique opportunity to spend one-to-one time with horses while exploring and learning about their woodland home. The Burley Murder Mystery trail is definitely one for the super-sleuths as you endeavour to solve the riddles and clues found on the village’s prominent features and monuments. The trail reveals the village’s history of witchcraft and smuggling, while also introducing you to some of the New Forest’s most colourful characters, including legendry snake catcher and woodsman, Harry ‘Brusher’ Mills. Other popular excursions include the Beeches Brook Fishery, The Burley Food Trail, Brockenhurst Riding Stables and Burley Golf Club.
If you’re in the mood for something a little more sedate, why not take advantage of Burley’s wonderful hospitality, from cosy tearooms to pretty pub gardens, you’ll have no problem finding a quiet corner, a scenic view and a tempting menu. For the sweet-toothed among you, a visit to Burley Fudge Shop is a must, and for those keen to sample a drop of the local moonshine, a detour to the brewing house at New Forest Cider could easily help fill an afternoon.
Our impressive list of Burley Holiday Cottages is awaiting your perusal…
The home of cycling in the New Forest National Park, Forest Leisure Cycle Hire has everything you need to explore this natural wonder of the world on two wheels. It is conveniently located close to the huge network of trails that you can take advantage of with free entry to the park, and catering to all ages and abilities.
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Great day out, great service from polite and helpful staff. A must if you are staying in the new forest.
August 2017
Excellent! Very friendly service
February 2018
Brilliant service and very efficient. Great value for money and the cycle routs provided suit all levels.
June 2018
Friendly staff very helpful
October 2019
We hired bikes for the day, and were very impressed with the service. Bike hire included helmets, pump, puncture repair kit and a padlock, and we followed one of the recommended trails. All went very smoothly, and we would definitely recommend others to hire bikes from here.
September 2020
Great service.
April 2021
Excellent bikes; very swift and efficient hiring process; super-friendly staff. Very impressed indeed
May 2021
Fantastic way to explore the Forrest. Easy hire and good bikes.
June 2021
Excellent service and suggested local trails.
July 2021
Really enjoyed our day on the hired bikes. Bikes in great condition and team very friendly and helpful advising on the best routes to take.
July 2021
Online booking completed very helpful people to guide us to the right cycle route for children enjoyed our cycle around the new forest
August 2021
Excellent choice of bikes and routes to follow
September 2021
Easy to book; great bikes and miles of cycle routes right from the bike hire shop.
April 2022
See the New Forest at a leisurely pace on a horse and cart or wagon ride! Get a glimpse of times gone by as you potter down quiet lanes and through villages for 20 minutes, half an hour or an hour. Longer trails take you into forest and woodland, meeting wild ponies, cattle and the two village donkeys!
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Fabulous carriage ride through Burley. Book in advance as super busy
August 2021
Few things are as magic as seeing the majestic deer in its natural habitat, and the New Forest Deer Safari brings you exactly that. On a unique 30 minute safari ride by tractor and trailer through Burley Park, you can see the Red Deer and their calves at close range - learn and be inspired.
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Amazing experience!! We were a group of four adults and three young children looking for something to do on a rainy Sunday. We found the Deer Safari and thought it looked incredible... it did not disappoint. Our guide was so knowledgeable and put in so much effort even though no one else turned up for the safari. We got to hand feed the deer from the trailer and see one of the stags swimming across the lake! I cannot recommend this enough. Beautiful.
September 2019
An outdoor activity centre that gets kids and young adults active, Avon Tyrell Outdoor Activity Centre is a chance to experience, learn and develop, whilst having fun at the same time. fly down a zip wire or learn about conservation, the great outdoors is your classroom as you learn about the wonders of our world.
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Get up close to owls, reptiles and all sorts of creepy crawlies at Liberty’s. Highlights include a wide range of birds of prey on display, daily flying displays in the all-weather indoor flying area or outdoor field, a reptile house with snakes, lizards, and much more! Plus a large free car park, and a café and gift shop.
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Despite the weather had a terrific outing. Wonderful birds, knowledgeable staff.
August 2020
Plenty of birds to see , look well kept . Good bird display , told you a lot about the birds that he flew. Interesting reptile centre. Had a nice Tea and lemon drizzle cake. Well worth a visit
June 2022
We took the grandchildren here and had a great morning with them. There was lots to see, there was plenty of accessible information for the girls and the flying display was great!
June 2022
This spacious yet cosy pub overlooking the pretty village of Burley provides the perfect place to relax and sample some of the fine Ringwood ales and ciders, accompanied by a good-value traditional pub meal.
The Burley Inn (T: 01425 403448) Ringwood BH24 4AA
Friendly and welcoming with an area we could take our dogs in and get a meal. Enjoyed our dinner, quite a good, varied menu to choose from. Very well located in the village.
September 2017
We always have at least one meal here when staying in Burley. Very good value .
September 2019
Quality of food excellent.
September 2019
Staff were fantastic nice place for some good food and a pint
October 2019
Had a meal here one evening. Good, honest pub grub. And Covid19 restrictions well adhered to.
September 2020
Beer and location were excellent.
September 2020
Hearty meals together with great beer and friendly service.
December 2020
Great service. Friendly staff
April 2021
Good food, good service
July 2021
The food is traditional pub fare but we had a great meal here. It was very reasonably priced and the staff were attentive and friendly.
April 2022
Well organised. Okay food. Allows dogs in all places
May 2022
Staff very friendly and the food was delicious and they are dog friendly.
May 2022
Enjoyed meal whilst on holiday in Burley, food and service excellent
May 2022
Basic menu but well prepared. Staff friendly and accommodating and make you feel at home. Felt like a local pub and we were treated like locals.
August 2022
One of the places we enjoyed eating at. Slightly cheaper than others we tried but still good.
October 2022
Lovely pub with good food and selection of beer. Staff are friendly and attentive and you leave the pub full and contented !!
March 2023
Nice atmosphere with Christmas decorations and log fire
December 2023
The pub was friendly and welcoming, with a great choice of food which was cooked fresh.
April 2024
Lovely bar, wonderful friendly staff, good pub food and dog friendly. Best pub in Burley by far
April 2024
If you’re looking for hearty portions of good, honest pub food at reasonable prices, the Queens Head fits the bill. Located in the centre of the village with plenty of parking, the pub is open for breakfasts and meals throughout the day – they also offer a good selection of dishes for vegetarians and vegans. This characterful olde worlde pub is steeped in history and atmosphere with regular live music. There are roaring log fires in the winter months, providing a welcome retreat to warm up after a walk in the forest. Outside there’s plenty of seating for the warmer months. If you’ve brought your dog on holiday, they’ll love this pub’s dedicated dog area with water bowls and doggie biscuits.
Queen's Head, (T: 01425 403423) The Cross, Burley, BH24 4AB
Good food...nothing wow however service and staff could not have been nicer.
August 2017
A lovely pub with good food
September 2017
A great pub. Food and service were excellent. Staff friendly and helpful. Mixed grill is superb.
October 2017
Food good but service still far too slow, even when not particularly busy - 30+ minutes (and no dog water bowls or biscuits evident!)
October 2017
Food good, service appalling
October 2017
This was poor - now a Chef and Brewer and not well run (and clearly some dishes just heatde up from frozen) . A very long wait as the owers had underestimated demand for half term lunch - did provide a free round of drinks when we complained though
February 2018
Very nice pub. Good for kids. Great food
April 2018
Excellent meal, but out of some parts of our meals and did tell us when ordering, felt sorry for them seemed very short staffed but they done well. The property overall needs refurbishment
September 2018
When we stay in Burley this is always our first 'meal out'.
September 2019
A very friendly, welcoming pub. Nicely furnished, friendly staff. Food was nicely presented, of good quality at a great price. Special offers on certain days. Eg. Pie Wednesday's. Would highly recommend. Dogs welcome.
October 2019
Good food & all the staff are fantastic
October 2019
We had an early evening drink here, sitting in the garden. Very pleasant, and Covid19 restrictions were well adhered to.
September 2020
Food and service were good and Covid restrictions adhered to. Dogs allowed but no water available.
September 2020
Fantastic Sunday Roast dinner. Fairly standard pub grub available mid week.
June 2021
Lovely food
June 2021
Great food and service
June 2021
Good food, service was average
July 2021
Local pub with extensive menu. More convenient than enjoyable and overpriced.
August 2021
Great food very accommodating for larger group visited a couple of times during our stay in the new forest
August 2021
Lovely food and drink in a peaceful and quirky setting
August 2021
The majority of the staff were unfriendly and the manager seemed as if he was doing us a favour by serving us.
September 2021
Great food, with good menu choices
November 2021
Excellent meals at a reasonable price. Convivial atmosphere and good service.
November 2021
Great food and drinks. No food served outside. We had to sit inside with the dogs.
May 2022
Ate several times during our recent stay in Burley. Food and service excellent on each occasion. Lovely pub and beer garden
May 2022
What a super pub, the staff were amazing and helpful, the food I had which was a "special" was delicious (Peri peri chicken 2 ways!), unfortunately my partners beef and ale pie was all pastry (much tooooo thick)! Ale's and wine super, altogether a super evening. As I said staff were super and made our evening.
May 2022
We were disappointed with the quality of the food - they also had a limited menu as some of the kitchen equipment was out of action. But the staff were friendly and attentive.
June 2022
We would have loved to have eaten here but the website was rather misleading and that it said we could turn up without booking and eat in the beer garden. Unfortunately when we arrived, we were told that food was only being served inside and that all tables had to be booked. We got a lovely meal at the pub across the road instead.
August 2022
Nice pub but unable to book successfully for a meal. It appears the chef decides how many people are allowed to eat rather than the manager. Tried to book and the manager said we could be accommodated only to be told that the ‘chef said no’. Didn’t bother going back after that! Clearly happier with empty seats than being busy!
August 2022
Very friendly staff but maybe a little under staffed on our visit. Seemed to have run out of some items on the menu and some of the beers on tap. Still what we had was good enough.
October 2022
Pleasant atmosphere, staff friendly, average food
May 2023
We booked for Sunday Dinner best to book as they get really busy. Food & service good
August 2023
We had two meals here and enjoyed them both. Great vegetarian and vegan options and a good choice of beers. In the centre of Burley and easy to park too.
September 2023
Average food
December 2023
Very poor, staff not at all friendly. There was a broken glass in the beer garden, I notified a member of staff, who just walked off. It was still there 6 days later!! Loud music blaring in the garden even when it was raining. Not sure how the neighbours stand it.
April 2024
Idyllic rural café complete with pigs, cider presses and geese. The menu features a range of tasty lunchtime options, cream teas, and cakes. Visit the shop inside a former cowshed where you can buy apple juice, preserves, chutneys, brandies and of course homemade cider straight from the barrel.
The Cider Pantry (T: 01425 403589) Burley, Ringwood BH24 4ED
We had a very nice brunch here, the food was delicious, would definitely recommend and return if in the area.
June 2017
Had a huge cooked breakfast here with amazing cider sausages, thick cut bacon and all the trimmings. Would definitely recommend!
September 2019
Fantastic outdoor seating areas, great food, loved the outdoor serving pod too.
July 2021
Enjoyed breakfast whilst on holiday in Burley. Food was lovely as was service. Really enjoyed sitting in garden whilst eating, Guinea Fowl strolling around whilst we ate was lovely to see.
May 2022
Only had a snack here but enjoyed it Would visit again.
October 2022
A wonderful pub serving imaginative, well cooked food wit a fast, friendly service. The pub has the décor and ambience of a large country lodge, compete with log fires through the winter months. Huge windows offer views out to a large and beautiful beer garden and terrace. Plenty of space for children to let off steam, and they’ll love the little woodland walk through the trees. Food at The White Buck is beautifully cooked, delicious and creative; and the bar stocks a good selection of beers, ales and wine.
The White Buck, (T: 01425 402264) Burley BH24 4AZ
A great pub serving lovely food complimented by friendly staff. Dogs are welcome and you can also tether your horse up in the car park too! Really delightful setting with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating.
August 2018
We had a lovely lunch here in the gardens. Most of our group were on a cycling day and we all met up here for lunch. Lovely climbing area for the children too.
September 2019
Such a lovely place to have a drink in comfortable, grand surroundings. Staff very friendly.
October 2019
The White Buck managed to squeeze us in as a late booking. Lovely setting. Food was good, service wasn't quite as attentive as we would have liked, but nothing we would complain about.
September 2020
So good we went back twice.
July 2021
This was so good that we ate there 3 days in a row
October 2021
Good standard of food here. Lovely beer garden and good service.
July 2022
Friendly staff, dog friendly, good food at reasonable prices, all in all one the best eateries we tried.
October 2022
Reasonable quality food, but small portions and pricey. The setting and ambiance is superb, but better to visit for a glass or two of wine rather than to eat.
March 2023
Lovely bar, beautiful gardens, very friendly staff and dog friendly. Food was very good, burgers in particular were excellent. Just avoid the sweet potato and green bean curry, it was undercooked and only had sweet potato’s and one green bean! The other starters and mains we had were excellent.
April 2024
The perfect stop when out for a walk or destination out in the forest for some scrumptious food and drink. Set on the old station line when steam trains used to ferry passengers between Sway and Burley, these tearooms have a new lease of life. Serving hearty portions of well cooked food and deliciously naughty cakes and cream teas. There’s plenty of seating inside and out on the patios.
Old Station Tea Rooms (T: 01425 402468) Station Road, Holmsley BH24 4HY
Great place, good excellent and staff lovely
April 2019
A lovely place to have breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. Cakes are delicious. Individual Lemon meringue cakes the biggest I've seen! Staff very welcoming and dogs allowed. There is currently scaffolding around the building which obviously spoils the look of the place but this is only temporary so don't let it put you off.
October 2019
Perfect stop for a cream tea when out cycling. Lovely place
August 2020
Great cafe with very nice cheese scones and breakfast options.
September 2020
An excellent cream tea although my wife's coffee could have been hotter.
December 2020
Excellent food & patient staff.
June 2021
lovely cycling stop for youngsters
September 2021
Lovely walk from Burley before enjoying food and drink. Lots of outside seating which suited us as we have dogs. Food and service were first class
May 2022
Lovely tea rooms on our walk, they suggest booking in advance but was able to walk in off of our walk, sat outside, nice sandwiches & good cup of tea. Hot food also served, good service would call again
August 2023
Excellent to see a bit of the old railway still in evidence and put to such good and popular use. Even in early March the tea rooms were packed, but service still good. Would highly recommend a visit.
March 2024
Highcliffe beach, beneath the popular Cliffhanger Restaurant is a part sandy, part pebble beach. The beach has sloping access as well as steps down to the shore from the pay and display clifftop car park. To the east, Highcliffe beach towards Barton on Sea is a part sandy beach at the foot of the second most eroded cliff in England. This side of the beach is dog-friendly all year. However do check the tide times as high tide can make it difficult to walk along the beach.
To the west towards Highcliffe Castle beach, the promenade leads across the top of the small beaches inbetween the groynes with views across Christchurch Bay and Hengistbury Head. Groynes 4-8 have dog restrictions as does the promenade during the summer months, May-September.
A picturesque, tree-lined beach of shingle, and sand at low tide. Good facilities on the cliff top including an excellent tea room, public toilets, baby change and a children’s play area in the Castle gardens. Plenty of parking and sloping access down to the beach. Highcliffe Castle beach is dog-friendly all year round.
Lovely clean sandy beach and a really i would highly recommend this spot for your car to break down takes the ouch out of waiting for the recovery truck
April 2017
Lovely
April 2019
Very picturesque beach with great access, looks good for a beach day
October 2021
A stony beach with sandy areas as the tide goes out, and a great spot to do some fossil hunting. The cliffs are subject to considerable coastal erosion and at times parts of the beach can be cordoned off. The Beachcomber Café on the cliff top is one of the most popular cafés in the region. Plenty of parking in car parks along the cliff top as well as on-road parking.
Super walk, nice and easy and great place for a meal or tea and cake by the car park.
April 2019
A pleasant walk along the cliff top and along the beach. There was less cliff than last time we went to the New Forest.
June 2023
A family friendly beach close to Mudeford and Christchurch Harbour with plenty to do for all. For those with disabilities or small children there is a beach level carpark, and to keep everyone safe there is a designated bathing area and a seperate area allocated for watersports, all overseen by lifeguards in the summer months. This pretty sand and shingle beach is backed by trees and countryside and if you fancy some fresh local seafood or simply a coffee, ice cream or a cold drink, the beach is home to the excellent Noisy Lobster, serving breakfast, lunch and supper all year round.
Beautiful beach, lots of sand for youngsters- definitely been high on our favourites list, for more than 30 years and still is now the 'children' are nearly 30! - well worth the drive from New Forest. The Noisy Lobster is great and now has an 'outdoor upstairs' too. The Beach Cafe, half-way along, is excellent too- used to do very good carrot cake! The connecting beach towards Steamer Point is dog-friendly all year which is a bonus. Walking to the quay end, you can catch the ferry to Hengistbury Head which is beautiful beach too and often quieter (top favourite!) Even this last week (JULY 2021) the 'kids' wanted to crab-fish from Mudeford Quay!!
August 2021
Nice beach with good facilities
April 2023
This is one of the most scenic of New Forest beaches. Lined with some of the most picturesque and expensive beach huts in the country! There’s no parking next to the beach, as it’s a traffic-free zone, but there’s pay and display parking at Hengistbury Head from where you can catch a little train to the sandbank, and Mudeford Quay which runs a small ferry (5 mins) over to the sandbank. Can also be reached on foot and by bicycle.
Beautiful place, our favourite beach in south of England. It feels like an island, when you go over on the ferry and at times (off-season!) on sunny days it can feel like a little piece of Heaven, it's so peaceful and beautiful- bit of a sense of New England. There's a super little 'restaurant', the Beach Hut, which does great breakfasts, meals all day and some evenings. Also takeaway eg pizzas, you can eat on the beach. Very simple surroundings, with a sheltered veranda that can be uncovered in fine weather, and amazing views. Quite pricey and often very busy (and you are best to ring and check opening times and book since often weather and ferry-dependant) but the quality of the food and those stunning views make it more than worthwhile!
March 2018
As usual, stunning. 4 ferries but sadly the Land train not running although according to their web site they were. Always visit when in the area
September 2020
This is a holiday must. A short ferry out to amazing beach makes for a great day out.
September 2022