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All you need to know
The rural village of Sowley lies close to the lively Georgian port town of Lymington. Here, you can relax and enjoy fresh country air, endless walks through ancient woodland, and the dramatic Solent coast.
More an area than a village, Sowley is a great location for a New Forest holiday, surrounded by open woodland and heathland yet close to the bustling seaside town of Lymington and the Solent coast.
Pack a picnic of local produce and take in the surrounding views and wildlife at play at Sowley Pond, where donkeys are frequent visitors, happily posing for quirky photos! Holidays in Sowley should include some trusty walking shoes and a map to get out in the fresh air and explore the vast number of tracks, trails, rambles and paths. This part of the New Forest is particularly tranquil with only the odd sprinkling of homes and farms enveloped in woodland copses, heather plains, ponds and streams. If you’re a keen birdwatcher, head to Sowley Marsh where the New Forest meets the Solent and enjoy the fantastic views over the Isle of Wight.
Stock up on supplies in nearby Lymington and make a point of visiting The East End Arms, owned by Dire Straits guitarist John Illsley. It’s only a half hour walk from Sowley and is THE place locals go for great food and a delicious tipple.
Perfect as a gift for a special occasion or simply as a holiday treat, The Cut Flower Farm near Lymington offers a wide variety of beautiful, fragrant, seasonal cut flowers and foliage.
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A nine hole golf course in a tranquil New Forest setting, Walhampton Golf Course is an informal environment with a friendly clubhouse. The accessible links course welcomes all ages and abilities to take part on the course with green fees starting at £12.50 for visitors.
A vital summer attraction in this famous town, the Lymington Sea Water Baths have been welcoming visitors since 1833. These days the options are a little more varied with water sports including kayaking, paddle boarding, aqua jousting, zorbing and children’s splash pools all available. There is a cafe on site, all necessary facilities and entry prices depend on the activities you want to take part in.
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Great activity, kids loved it! Harder than it looks.
August 2021
Did paddle boarding here, a great safe place to give it a try.
August 2021
We had a great time on the inflatables one morning. My son loved it! Friendly staff and good to hire wet suits.
August 2021
Planning to go there as looked good with all the fun equipment you could hire but found the cost for a family of six (two adults, four children) too expensive so did not go after all.
August 2021
This is a must for everyone, especially for teenagers who love a challenge. We left our two on the assault course for 2 hours whilst we wandered the salt marshes on the Solent Way nearby. The ice cream kiosk next to the baths is value for money too and sells the local ice cream with generous portions.
August 2022
Brilliant place loved it although water was bracing
August 2023
We spent an afternoon there and the children enjoyed the inflatables. The weather was good. Changing rooms not clearly signed though.
August 2023
We swam here pretty much every morning of our stay that it was open. Good value for general swimming - the more expensive inflatables course looked like great fun but we didn't try it ourselves. Such a good way to start the day, and a great facility for the town as there's no beach. Would have been even better if it opened earlier or later in the day.
September 2023
Wonderful 1833 pool - I preferred the 20 degree temperature to the stifling 30 degree in the Leisure Centre. Very friendly staff. The most spacious pool I've swum in anywhere. Swam here most days £4.00 for two hours a bargain.
September 2023
Based in Lymington, beautiful Salamander is a 58 foot luxury sailing yacht available for private charter, an experience sure to be one of the highlights of any holiday in the area. Perfect for special celebrations, spectating sporting events on the water or simply to get away from it all, Salamander offers a range of trips to discover the beauty of the local coastline in style.
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Enjoy a 10% discount on regular boat trips for up to 12 guests during weekends
Enjoy a 15% discount on all regular boat trips for up to 12 guests midweek
Offering you a coastal experience from Lymington and Hamble, Hurst Point Yacht Charters give you a five star service on the Solent, navigating the marinas and quays and taking you to beautiful bays or creeks such as Newtown and Wootten - perfect for dropping anchor and sipping cocktails in the sun.
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A brilliant days sailing with Clive, we were able to be very hands on, he was great company and super informative. Loved dropping into The Hut for lunch, altogether one of the best days out ever. (Pre book The Hut though, it's very popular!).
July 2023
A really friendly pub bought by John Illsley, bass guitarist of Dire Straits in 1990. It’s still very much a local pub to pop in for a drink with the villagers. The pub wins well deserved rave reviews for its superb food, well-kept ales, wines and lovely staff.
East End Arms (T: 01590 626223) Main Road, East End, SO41 5SY
Friendly pub, always busy. Not so good if you have a dog - they are welcome but space is limited. Luckily we had good weather & sat in the garden. The food was excellent & staff friendly.
June 2017
Always excellent choice and calibre of food each time we have visited.
July 2017
Great lunchtime treat with reasonable kids menu and lovely grown up food. Home made ice cream went down very well too.
November 2017
Really good pub with pricing along metropolitan 'gastropub' lines - backed up by the quality of the food and surroundings. The weather for our stay was perfect so we could sit in the garden with our dog for our meals. On a rainy day it wouldn't have been so comfortable as the bar (the only other places dogs are allowed) is only tiny.
July 2018
Went in to book a table for a Sunday evening, but was told that they did not serve food on a Sunday evening, although their website seemed to think they did! The barmaid was talking to a customer when I first went in. The customer left the bar area to return to his seat and instead of her asking me what I wanted, decided to ignore me. Not very good customer service! I had to say excuse me and then she looked shocked that I was there! I wanted to give no stars, but had to pick one star!
May 2019
During our 2 week stay we dined at the East End Arms four times. Every meal was excellent, the menu seemed to vary a little each time which I assume was due to what fish or meat was locally available. The staff in the restaurant were friendly. Nice choice of wines.
September 2019
Excellent food provided , good service and a log fire.
November 2019
Enjjoyed a really excellent evening meal here. Good service, good atmosphere.
August 2020
Sat outside. Quite expensive for what we got. Waitress unable to say what specials came with and ended up with just a fish and salad garnish! Fish bit overcooked. So maybe other non fish meals are better but didn't feel inclined to go back even though 10 mins walk from cottage.
September 2020
Very disappointed that this pub in the forest does not allow dogs inside. We wanted to book at birthday meal with family, we were on holiday from Brighton, but as we had two dogs we could only sit outside under the tent which is not want you want to do on an evening in October.
October 2020
Excellent food and service well worth a visit
September 2021
Lovely pub with good food and if you like donkeys, you will be well away. They congregate outside the pub and are quite friendly.
March 2022
Beautiful food and great atmosphere- slightly pricey but well worth it.
August 2022
Great pub - very friendly staff and good selection of ales and wines by the glass. The wine always tasted as though it came from a recently opened bottle. We didn't eat there but have spoken to someone who had an 'exceptional' meal recently. Only one downside - the locals (whose pub it is after all) do like to make themselves heard!
September 2022
Very good food and pleasant ambience.
July 2023
We enjoyed a wonderful Sunday roast for 8 people and 4 dogs in the tent in the garden of the East End Arms. The staff were warm and engaging and the food was delicious and beautifully presented! Whilst on the pricey side, I would highly recommend a visit to the east end arms.
April 2024
A traditional New Forest pub with roaring fires in winter and with a large pub garden for the warmer months complete with children’s play area. Well known locally for serving up outstanding food at reasonable prices along with a good selection of real ales and other drinks. Dogs welcome.
The Turfcutters Arms (T: 01590 612331) East Boldre SO42 7WL
Great pub, friendly staff and in the heart of the New Forest. Make sure you plan a visit and enjoy the garden, food and a few drinks
April 2017
This is a lovely pub! The staff are very friendly, food is good honest pub food, with some lovely 'specials' available too. Very dog friendly!!! A must visit for anyone staying close by! Will visit again next time we're in the area.
June 2017
We had a lovely evening meal at the Turfcutters - proper home made food in a real country inn - brilliant!
August 2017
Great dog friendly pub. Staff / landlord were super accommodating and lovely atmosphere at weekend. Fish and chip takeaway was excellent value along with the other food on the menu.
October 2017
Excellent
January 2018
Excellent food a great pub and helpful staff.
March 2018
A good honest pub with good cider and a good range of meals on offer.
June 2018
A lovely 'local' with good food, great selection of ales and a friendly owner / manager and staff. They even had dog biscuits for our hound!
July 2018
What a gem of a pub! Lovely people, lovely food!
July 2018
We ate here on our first night in the New Forest. We booked in advance but it was not too busy. The menu is typical pub food but of a good standard. The vegetarian 'Homity' pie was appreciated by one of our party. Staff were friendly. The pub is an easy walk from the cottage.
August 2018
Was disappointed with the food and the lack of customer service behind the bar! Will not be going back!
May 2019
Visited during a recent beef festival weekend. Good family atmosphere and the food was good without a huge wait considering the garden was so busy. Plenty of different beers and ales to try along with the popular festival fizz. We will visit again.
August 2019
We had several great meals here during our stay. The staff worked hard to ensure everyone was safe and provided good service, drinks and food.
July 2020
Food great staff attentive and fully on board with Covid 19 restrictions etc.
September 2020
Great food staff attentive and dog friendly good Covid practise
September 2020
Excellent pub very dog and people friendly. Good honest food and good prices.
October 2020
This is a great pub with good beer and superb home cooked food.
October 2020
Another great meal accompanied by good beer and excellent service.
December 2020
Had a great lunch here, recommended.
May 2021
Excellent place to eat with a varied menu. Good pub grub & good value.
July 2021
Super dog friendly pub-restaurant. Food is simple but delicious and staff are helpful and welcoming. Great value will happily visit again when I’m in the area
July 2021
Good pub food and excellent service.
August 2021
Great made us very welcome
October 2021
We had a meal and a take-away fish and chips, both were excellent. Would highly recommend
November 2021
A bit run down and food quite basic
March 2022
A very busy and popular pub with pleasant staff and varied menu (just a 5 minute walk from our accommodation). We had a problem with our meals on our first visit which was dealt with promptly and without fuss. The second visit was 100% fine. We can recommend the 5 mile Turfcutters Arms circular walk.
April 2022
Really great pub with exceptionally friendly and helpful staff. We ate here twice during our holiday and the food was excellent. It's advisable to call up to reserve a table as they do get booked up.
April 2022
We thoroughly enjoyed eating out at the Turfcutters; staff were friendly and the meal was good value for money
May 2022
Really enjoyed our trips to the Turfcutters Arms when staying just down the road. Friendly landlord (and locals) welcoming to us and dog, fantastic sized garden with lots to do, play area and snooker table for kids, loads of space, pretty flower hedging; just a really nice place to while away a sunny afternoon. Didn't eat there but was busy at lunchtime so assuming pretty decent!
May 2022
Walked here from our cottage in East End. Warm welcome & delicious food - would definitely return & recommend.
May 2023
Very traditional forest pub. No gastronomy offerings but good pub grub. Garden needs a bit of a tidy up.
June 2023
Nice pub, good food and welcoming staff.
July 2023
Proper pub serving great food
October 2023
Lovely friendly pub, so nice to find a traditional pub. Food was great, portion size great too.
November 2023
The Ferryman is a stylish country pub situated on the far side of Lymington's harbour, on the edge of the New Forest, with a good choice of well-priced food served from either a fixed priced lunchtime menu or a la carte. Vegetarians will be glad to hear there’s also a menu just for them. Dogs welcome.
The Ferryman (T: 01590 672517) Lymington SO41 5SB
A lovely bar and a welcomed stop for refreshments following our IOW ferry trip.
April 2017
Do not go there if you have to be somewhere else to bewithin the hour as the service was very very slow (and that was on a quiet day). However, all off the staff were very friendly, and very helpful.
June 2018
We stayed in the Lymington area during August, and enjoyed our visits to the Ferryman. A couple of excellent meals, along with numerous visits for the odd G&T! Staff extremely friendly and helpful.
August 2018
Excellent food and very friendly staff
September 2021
A 2 minute walk from Island Point. Excellent food (especially Sunday lunch) and a warm welcome from Rob, the landlord.
November 2023
A big, bright and spacious free house serving a good selection of well-kept real ales, wines and spirits. A popular haunt for the locals, who gather for the notorious daily carvery. There’s a main menu with all the usual dishes, or pick from the Specials Board which showcases local produce.
Walhampton Arms (T: 01590 673113) Walhampton Hill, Lymington SO41 5RE
Very friendly staff. Child friendly. Large portions. Serve food all day. Have high chairs.
December 2017
Very friendly staff, good space. Food solid pub grub.
November 2018
We had an evening meal here including children. The food was very good and the staff most welcoming - we felt sorry that everything was so well prepared for safe distancing and so few people there. There was plenty of room for evceryone.
July 2020
Booked to eat here on a Thursday night and it was amazingly quiet for some reason. Good food and good service in a nice clean environment.
August 2020
This is a lovely friendly place to visit and either just have a drink or eat there as the staff and food are great Well worth a visit
June 2021
Lovely meal, great service and family friendly. Will definitely visit again.
April 2022
A large group of us staying in the area had a lovely evening meal for my husbands birthday and then returned for breakfast the next morning. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly and the food was delicious.
July 2022
Had a lovely meal here, all ten of us cleared our plates. The staff were polite and friendly.
April 2023
Overlooking the marina with panoramic views, plenty of seating and a sunny outdoor terrace, this is a great spot to enjoy a meal, a few drinks or just a coffee and watch the boats go by. Food served daily from 9am.
The Haven Bar & Restaurant (T: 01590 679971) Lymington SO41 3QD
We had a small salmon platter, really tasty and… our little dog was also welcome on the terrace and even inside. Friendly staff and fantastic views. Great!
July 2018
The food was excellent and the service was also first class. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone.
July 2019
Lovely restaurant. Very helpful waitress. Pears undercooked/unripe in starter.
September 2019
Good service and bar and terrace snacks very good, and great views
September 2019
The food was nice, the place was nice and the outlook nice. The greeting we had was a bit frosty "have you booked?" But we were found a table - and it wasnt that busy.
November 2019
Enjoyable meal friendly staff
January 2020
Delicious, fresh food
August 2020
Fantastic service, great view. Fish and chips like no other, you won’t be disappointed.
November 2020
absolutely gorgeous a definate must if your in the area
June 2021
Lovely breakfast. Good service.
June 2021
Food good and staff very attentive. Restaurant overlooks the marina. Outside bar terrace. A lovely place to go for a meal. They make good cocktails
June 2021
We had breakfast here twice. Excellent breakfast chef and the person who waits table outside is brilliant.
July 2021
Lovely situation staff very friendly
July 2021
Fabulous location for breakfast over looking the harbour.
August 2021
Enjoyed several visits here! Great cocktails, which we enjoyed sitting outside on the lovely terrace overlooking the Solent.
September 2021
Excellent food, lovely location and views
October 2021
Good food, lovely views
January 2022
Great views from outside and the restaurant but dog friendly area has no views and feels a bit neglected . Food is ok but expensive for what you get - The Lighthouse in Keyhaven/end of Hurst spit is much better and the people care much more!!
May 2022
Great food and great location
April 2023
Great location. Food very good but small menu and no specials.
May 2023
booked twice. lovely location, good food and friendly service
February 2024
Some of the best views of the Solent can be enjoyed from over a mile of beach and pine fringed cliffs. Historic D-Day remains, wildflower meadows and children's play area. Beach front car park.
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 Raft Rocks 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.
Lovely village, plenty of shops and places to eat - no post office though.
June 2017
Fantastic sea location with goods pubs, shops etc
November 2017
Great for a dog walk along the spit to Hurst Castle. Needles Eye cafe is a welcome break, quite good food but very busy and a bit basic.
December 2017
great walking area, small cafe-the needles, children climbing play park- crashing waves over stoned beach
March 2019
Love Milford on Sea so old fashioned hasn't changed much since I use go as a child in the 1960/70s
April 2019
Due to my husband breaking his leg we hired a mobility scooter for our holiday. It was a joy to ride along the front at Milford. Wonderful views of The Needles and lots of benches along the way too. Great access from the car parks. Would be great if the short path from Milford to Keyhaven could be the same good surface. We felt the rough stones would be too hard to ride on.
June 2019
Lovely village with adequate shops on a very pretty green.
September 2019
Good place to go if you have a buggy or wheelchair as there is a tarmac path along the top of the cliffs with great views of the Needles, plenty of parking and a kiosk serving refreshments.
September 2020
One of my favourite places
July 2021
A proper gem. Great location for the new forest. The village is great and was only a short walk from our house. Not too busy or full of holiday makers. We will be back.
October 2021
Beautiful beach with views to The Isle of Wight. Good for swimming, picnics and walking. Very good car parking and public toilets. Lots of good places to eat and drink either next to the beach or in the village, a short walk away
July 2022
Brilliant beach.
September 2022
Lovely quiet location for a beach walk. Great for watching the sea and waves without the crowds.
June 2023
Milford on Sea is a very quintessential English village which has retained all its charm. The seafront is a delight to stroll along and The Needles Eye Cafe produces lovely coffee and lunches which is well worth a visit. A walk around Sturt Pond is also enjoyable and through to the village.
June 2023
A lovely place to stay. So much to see and do locally and within easy reach.
August 2023
Lovely sea walk within 15 minutes of the cottage.
March 2024
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
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