The New Forest is one of the most dog-friendly holiday destinations in England. It’s a magical, natural playground for them to run, jump and romp through 193,000 acres of ancient woods and heathlands and beautiful surrounding coastline of beaches and clifftops. If that’s not enough, the New Forest National Park and the surrounding area has fantastic dog-friendly attractions.
To help you plan your trip, here are some fantastic days out you can take your dog…
Hurst Castle welcomes dogs on leads both in the castle grounds and inside the buildings. It’s a great walk out to the castle and Hurst Lighthouse along a one and a half mile pebble spit, with fabulous views across to the Isle of Wight. If you don’t fancy the walk back, dogs are also allowed on the little ferryboat (seasonal) which runs from Keyhaven harbour, which is just a ten-minute walk back to Milford on Sea.
Well behaved pooches on leads are welcome at the New Forest Heritage Centre and Museum which you can find in the main car park, just off the high street in Lyndhurst. The centre is packed with information about the area, its history and what’s on. The centre’s Tip, Leaf & Bean Café also welcomes dogs.
Your four-legged friends are welcome with open arms at the stunningly beautiful 200-acre Exbury Gardens, world-famous for the Rothschild Collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and rare trees and shrubs. There are over 22 miles of paths to explore and a miniature steam train that dogs can ride with their owners. Stop off at the café for a coffee and bite to eat and treat your hound to a doggie ice-cream as a special holiday treat!
Head over to Buckler’s Hard, a historic and picturesque shipbuilding village on the banks of the tidal Beaulieu River where dogs are welcome to wander with you. The village is fascinating, with exhibitions about the shipyard, houses and homes, depicting how the ships – which included those for Nelson’s Navy – were built. During the holidays, staff in period costumes head up tours and talks explaining the roles of their characters back in the 18th Century. Make a full day out and stroll along the path on the banks of Beaulieu River, past vibrant wildlife to Beaulieu village – said to be the prettiest in the New Forest National Park. You’ll find a posse of gift shops lining the cobbled high street and bike hire with trailers suitable for dogs.
Your pooch will love the outdoor space at Lepe Country Park, where you’ll enjoy magnificent views across the busy shipping lanes of the Solent and the Isle of Wight. There are memorials and information plaques explaining the WWII remains that can still be seen and how the beaches and surrounding area were used as debarkation points for D-Day. Take a picnic to eat on the lush grassy banks or grab an outside table at the café where you’ll find plenty of dog water bowls.
Dogs love a sniff and stroll at Moors Valley Country Park, near Ringwood. There are 1000 acres of woods to explore with signposted trails, a narrow-gauge steam train, Go Ape, Segway’s, fishing, cycling and more. It’s all very dog friendly, with plenty of picnic tables, café seating and a gated dog park located just outside the restaurant doors.
If your pup’s a paddler, take them down the beach! The coastal walks and beaches to the south of the forest between Steamer Point and Milford on Sea are super dog-friendly all year round. For the most part, the beach is pebbly, but from Highcliffe towards Steamer Point, it’s interspersed with large areas of gorgeously soft, fine golden sand. For a day of doggy delights, go down and join the sun worshippers and swimmers mingling with pups and hounds of all shapes and sizes. This part of the coastline hasn’t been commercialised and remains completely natural, so bring your own drinks and a picnic.
Another of our favourite things to do with dogs is to head over to the Purbecks and spend a day exploring the village of Corfe and ruins of mighty Corfe Castle. This once impressive castle crowns a steep (almost vertical) natural hill which was partially destroyed in the English Civil War. To get an idea of how the castle and village looked before 1645, stop by at the dog-friendly Corfe Castle Model Village. Corfe is ridiculously old and super quaint with dog-friendly tearooms and cute gift shops – well worth the hour’s drive.
Take a look at our large collection of our dog-friendly New Forest cottages here.