Activities
Beachcomber Café
BH25 7DU
Perched on the cliff tops above Barton on Sea (a beach where dog restrictions apply) this café gives canine guests a very warm welcome, and the cliffs around provide excellent walks.
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
SO45 1AZ
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway 200 acres of earthly paradise offer a riot of colour in spring, an oasis of tranquillity in summer followed by a splendid show as the leaves change in the autumn. The famous Steam Railway runs every day the Gardens are open, with trains departing Exbury Central Station at regular intervals for 20 minute rides.
Milford on Sea
S041 0PY
A beautiful shingle beach with pretty painted beach huts, plenty of parking, and excellent coastal walks along Hurst spit to Hurst Castle with clear views of the Isle of Wight and needles. The superb Marine Bar and Restaurant is worth a visit with its Art deco style and roof terrace. You can also walk across the wildlife marshes to Keyhaven harbour and (in season) take the boat to Hurst Castle or the Isle of Wight.
Moors Valley Country Park
BH24 2ET
Enjoy a peaceful walk together through the Forest, and if you have other family members to entertain, there’s an extensive selection of wooden climbing frames, tunnels and castles to explore, as well as the tree top high wire adventure experience, Go Ape.
New Forest Centre
SO43 7NY
There is so much that makes the New Forest a special place to visit. The New Forest Centre runs an exciting programme of New Forest themed exhibitions and events throughout the year which explain the New Forest in a nutshell. There’s something for all ages, which will help you make the most of your time in the Forest
Rosie Lea's Tea House, Brockenhurst
SO42 7RA
Lovely tearooms on Brockenhurst High Street, serving delicious homemade cakes beautifully presented on vintage china. You can sit outside and watch the cars splashing through the ford – they provide blankets and hot water bottles when it's cold – or at one of cosy tables inside. Dogs welcome.
The Foresters Arms, Fordingbridge
SP6 2JA
The Foresters Arms , known locally as the 'Donkey pub' for the donkeys that often cluster outside, is a welcoming place to stop for a pint and maybe something nice to eat, especially if you are refuelling during a Forest walk. Dogs are welcome and there’s a lovely garden to enjoy in summer, and a cosy woodburner for the cooler months.
The Horse & Groom
SP6 2AS
The Horse and Groom at Woodgreen welcomes dogs in all areas (nice wooden floors all rooms so easy to sweep the New Forest mud up!) The food is excellent, the atmosphere is warm and friendly and the village also has a lovely shop.
The Rockingham Arms
SO51 6DE
Dogs are very welcome here and dog and owner can enjoy locally sourced food and wonderful real ales, and then walk it off across Canada Common which is a bit further up the road and is a beautiful part of the New Forest to explore. The Rockingham Arms
The Royal Oak, Fritham
SO43 7HJ
Right in the heart of the New Forest with lots of lovely walks all around and good, well priced food. If you head down towards Eyeworth Pond you'll encounter mud during winter but if you head off south from the main car park the track stays reasonably easy to walk as its gravel. The Royal Oak expect dogs to be muddy and owners to have muddy boots too.
Hurst Castle
SO41 0TP
Come and discover this artillery fortress built by Henry VIII at the seaward end of a spit. Commanding the entrance to the Solent, Hurst Castle offers one of the best views in England. It played a part in the imprisonment of Charles I in the 17th century and defended England from invasion threats in the 19th and 20th centuries. With plenty of open space for children to explore and fantastic views of the Isle of the Wight from the top of the Tudor keep, Hurst Castle is a great day out for the whole family: Hurst Castle.