The New Forest National Park ticks every box when planning the perfect holiday. Easy to reach? Check! It’s under 100 miles from London with excellent links to the M25 and the M3 to make the journey simple. Even better, for those who don’t want to drive, the area has eight train stations and trains run directly from handy locations such as London Waterloo Station, Southampton and Weymouth. Beautiful views? Check that one off the list as well! The New Forest has ancient woodlands, charming countryside and beautiful beaches and coastline, making it an ideal year-round destination for all types of travellers. Accommodation for all sizes and budgets? Absolutely! Visitors have an enormous choice of cottages to rent, ranging from listed thatched cottages to comfortable bungalows and contemporary barn conversions.
Tucked away in amongst it all is the pretty village of Burley, where New Forest ponies roam happily and the 16th Century pub hides a less-than-savoury secret. Read on to find out why staying in Burley should be the top of your list when planning a holiday in the New Forest. Read more
Perfectly located, this stylish barn is a popular 'bolt-hole' for couples and enjoys a peaceful position just a short stroll from the very heart of Burley and its shops and pubs. Being based right in the heart of the New Forest National Park allows you to explore the many attractions of the area, get active in the great outdoors or simply relax and unwind. This delightful holiday cottage is perfect for a weekend away or longer holiday.
Helmsdale is everything you could wish for in a New Forest holiday cottage. Postcard pretty, this welcoming self catering retreat is perfectly placed just a short walk from the heart of the popular village of Burley, with shops and pubs for a meal out. With miles of forest tracks and trails to explore by bike, foot or horse back and the many attractions of the forest all around, Helmsdale is a popular choice for a family holiday or time away with friends.
A stylish holiday retreat in a quiet spot, ideally located within three minutes walking distance of the centre of the popular New Forest village of Burley where ponies and cattle roam freely. Beautiful forest walks and bike rides on the doorstep as well as pubs and shops.
A comfy forest retreat in a quiet position just a short stroll from the centre of the picturesque village of Burley in the New Forest National Park. Pubs and shops on the doorstep, mainline rail access and the open forest with miles of walking and cycling on the doorstep. Oakapple Cottage is perfect for a short break or longer self-catering holiday at any time of the year.
Blackbirds is a detached family holiday home on the edge of the New Forest National Park. Located on a peaceful residential cul-de-sac in Bransgore, it sleeps six people in three bedrooms with a securely enclosed garden and off-street parking. The self-catering amenities are excellent, but there are three pubs and a cafe within a short walk if you'd prefer not to cook. The village also has a small supermarket with more amenities in nearby Burley and Ringwood. Blackbirds has wonderfully leafy views and is within an easy drive of the coast for days at the beach.
With a gorgeous garden for outside relaxing and socialising, a country-style kitchen and a cosy sitting room with log burner, Gardener's Retreat is an excellent choice for a holiday with family or friends. Sitting in an idyllic position just a short stroll from the Hampshire village of Burley in the New Forest National Park, this beautifully presented self-catering cottage is perfect whether you want to explore the areas many attractions or simply relax and unwind.
The New Forest National Park is the perfect family holiday destination. Not only is there a wealth of wonderful places to visit, from the Georgian market town of Lymington to the ancient Rufus Stone, but there is also a huge variety of activities to suit all ages. Keepers Cottage is only a few minutes' stroll from the centre of Burley, one of the most charming New Forest villages where there are great pubs like the Burley Inn. The holiday cottage comfortably accommodates six guests in three bedrooms and, depending on availability, can be booked together with the owner's other two properties close by to accommodate up to 14 people.
"Horseshoe Cottage" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire. New for 2021 Set within the grounds of the owners’ home, Horseshoe Cottage is a tranquil adults’ retreat. Remote, yet easily accessible along a mile long private drive, the recently renovated semi-detached cottage is...
"Church Cottage" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Hampshire. This traditional, detached holiday cottage on the edge of Burley is tucked away in a woodland setting next to the village church. It has a large kitchen/diner that looks out onto the garden and woodland, a lounge with open fire, a study and...
"Kingfisher Cottage" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. New for 2021 Set within the grounds of the owners’ home, Kingfisher Cottage is a tranquil adults’ retreat. Remote, yet easily accessible along a mile long private drive, the recently renovated semi-detached cottage is...
"Piglets" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. NEW FOR 2020 Set in a quiet residential area this attractive cottage offers fantastic holiday accommodation for up to four people. Carefully extended and refurbished the cottage exudes an ambiance of relaxation and welcome with comfortable...
"Gorselands Cottage" is a 4 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 8 guests in Hampshire. Newly appointed for this season, Gorselands Cottage is a fabulously located holiday home set right within the New Forest National Park. Positioned just a short distance from the quaint village of Burley, the property sits within a large...
"The White Buck" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire.
"Host & Stay - The Hayloft" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Bradford.
"The Burley Inn" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire.
"Burley Apartment" is a 2 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 4 guests in Bradford.
"Depho Estates Apartment 3" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Bradford.
"Depho Estates Apartment 4" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Bradford.
"Tipsy Cottage Charming 2 bedroom home." is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Bradford.
"Dale Cottage 3 Bedroom Ilkley" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Bradford.
"Moorhill House Bed & Breakfast" is a 1 bed holiday BandB sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire.
"Depho Estates Apartment 2" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Bradford.
"3 Bed in Burley 80475" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Hampshire.
"Private, Couples Forest Escape - Free Parking - Stunning & Stylish 1 Bedroom Coach house! - 5 Minute Walk to a great bistro pub! - Great Location - Netflix - Fast WiFi - Smart TV - Newly Refurbished! Direct New Forest access. Close to Burley" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire.
"Depho Estates Apartment 5" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Bradford.
"Bumble Bee Cottage" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire.
"Depho Estates Apartment 1" is a 2 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 4 guests in Bradford.
Popular towns in and around The New Forest:
BurleyFordingbridgeLymingtonLyndhurstNew MiltonSome local suggestions:
Dog friendly New Forest cottagesOr search further afield:
Search within South and South East England
1. Free-Roaming Ponies - Untethered, wandering ponies and cattle was once a daily sight around many parts of the New Forest. Known as “commoning”, Burley is one of the few villages where this still happens, and it gives the area a relaxing, traditional feel that is worlds away from modern cities and suburbs.
2. A Secret Underbelly - Burley was once an important, if secret, point on a smuggling route. The Queens Head pub on The Cross started life as a blacksmith forge in 1685, later becoming a watering hole favoured by smugglers and highwaymen. As you sip your pint, think about the secret cellar beneath your feet which held a trove of weapons, money and contraband alcohol hidden and forgotten for centuries.
3. Walking, Cycling and Horse riding - The New Forest is the ideal environment for being outdoors. Burley’s location is close to favourite footpaths, cycling routes and bridleways to make it easy and enjoyable to explore. Those who need to hire a bicycle can do so from Forest Leisure Cycling in the village centre, while the nearby Burley Villa Riding School offers horse riding lessons and guided rides for all abilities. A novel way to explore is in a horse-drawn wagon, with Burley Wagon Rides being a regular sight around the area.
4. An Ancient Landscape - Crossing the border into the New Forest is immediately apparent as it is like stepping back in time. Strict rules around development protect this unique environment which includes areas of ancient woodland, pasture and health. William the Conquerer loved it so much that he decided only royalty should be allowed to hunt there, with now-extinct wild boar being the prey of choice. Now, the forest is a haven for a plethora of birds and wildlife which thrive in the beautiful environment.
5. Bound for War - The trees in the New Forest do not only look and smell amazing. Their existence also provided timber to the Royal Navy. The enormous oak woodland so close to the sea was too good for shipbuilders to ignore, and New Forest oaks were felled for the navy from the mid-1600s until the mid-1800s. The hamlet of Buckler’s Hard, around half an hour’s drive from Burley, was the focus of shipbuilding in the New Forest and the entire village is now a Maritime Museum. Remnants of the role the New Forest played in Britain’s military past are at Hurst Castle, a privately run museum with incredible views over the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Closer to home are the remains of the Iron Age fort on Castle Hill just outside of Burley.
6. Eat, Drink and Shop - The fresh air and potential for hours of exercise lead to hearty appetites which visitors to Burley will find easy to satisfy. The Burley Food Trail is a walking and cycling loop passing New Forest Cider and the Cider Pantry Tearoom, The White Buck, Burley Fudge Shop, and Caraccios Sweet Shop, as well as fantastic stores selling homewares, gifts, china and crystals.
7. New Forest Attractions - Burley is close to some of the New Forest’s most popular attractions. Within half an hour’s drive are places like Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World, the National Motor Museum, six golf courses, Lymington and the ferry to the Isle of Wight, the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary and so much more.
Once you visit the New Forest, you will understand why William the Conquerer wanted to keep it for himself. It is a beautiful example of a landscape and traditions that remain unchanged for centuries. Burley’s charm and location make it the perfect place for a self-catering holiday in the New Forest.
