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.
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.
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.
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.
"Pop's Barn" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Wiltshire. Downton is right next to the edge of the New Forest which has an almost limitless array of superb walks and rides, and free-roaming ponies at every turn. Slightly farther afield are the Saxon hilltop town of Shaftesbury, Blandford Forum with...
"Laridae's Hideaway" is a 2 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 4 guests in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. New for 2024 Laridae’s Hideaway is a welcoming ground floor apartment in the vibrant village of Southbourne. The accommodation comprises two spacious bedrooms, a living room/diner ideal for relaxation and a...
"Smugglers Cottage" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. Christchurch, a charming Dorset waterside town, is located on the estuaries of the Rivers Stour and Avon, where they meet to make a wonderful natural harbour. Christchurch is a true gem of a city, providing guests with a fantastic and varied...
"Little Timbers" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire. Ringwood is a historic market town placed within Hampshire, on the western fringes of the beautiful New Forest National Park. Dating back to the Anglo-Saxon times and having been mentioned in the Domesday Book, Ringwood holds much history and...
"Beau Annexe" is a 2 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. Ringwood is a market town in Hampshire, England, situated on the River Avon and close to the New Forest National Park. Discover a wealth of independent shops, supermarkets, pubs and restaurants for all of your amenities. You are within reach of...
"1 Bed Lodge in Beaulieu" is a 1 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire. Additional information and rules - One bedroom with a king-size bed and room for a travel cot - One bathroom with a bath, walk-in shower and a WC - Not suitable for children above six months old - TV and DVD player - DAB radio -...
"West Sea View No 4" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 3 guests in Isle of Wight. The attractive seaside town of Yarmouth is the oldest town on the Isle of Wight, and its busy harbour is a haven for all kinds of watercraft, with the terminal used for regular mainland ferry crossings. Yarmouth's narrow streets are home to an...
"1 Bed Cottage in Beaulieu" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. Additional information and rules - 1 open-plan bedroom - 1 super-king-size with some restricted head height due to low beams, 1 adjacent single plus a further single located on an open mezzanine floor accessed via ladder style stairs...
"Sanctuary Cottage" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Isle of Wight. Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the west of the Isle of Wight, the village of Totland offers visitors local shops, pubs and spectacular, unspoiled coastal scenery. The award-winning beaches of both Totland and Colwell Bay...
"Endymion" is a 1 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 3 guests in Hampshire. Composed of a scattering of farms and cottages, the little hamlet of Linwood is found towards the western end of the New Forest National Park, not far from Ringwood - a community well served by two pubs renowned for their good food and real...
"1 Bed Apartment in Barton On Sea" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire. Additional information and rules - 1 king-size bedroom - 1 shower room with WC - Electric oven and gas hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher and washing machine - TV in lounge - Private parking for 1 car in garage, plus...
"School House" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire. New for 2021 School House is one of three recently renovated holiday cottages in the small New Forest village of Sopley. Comfortably sleeping two guests it boasts an open plan kitchen and dining room with separate cosy...
"1 Bed Cottage in Lymington" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire. Additional information and rules - 1 Bedroom – double - 1 Shower room with shower and WC - Electric oven and induction hob, microwave and fridge with freezer box - Off-road parking for 1 car - Shop and pub within walking distance -...
"1 Bed Cottage in Sway" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire. Additional information and rulesNo dogs allowed - 1 sleeping area - king-size - 1 shower room with WC - Electric oven, 2 ring hob, fridge, dishwasher and microwave - TV in the lounge area - Walled patio with outdoor...
"The Granary" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Isle of Wight. Freshwater is situated at the western tip of the Isle of Wight and consists of Freshwater Village and Freshwater Bay. Freshwater village offers a good selection of small independent shops, cafes and the West Wight Sports Centre and Indoor...
"2 Bed Cottage in Freshwater" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Isle of Wight. A charming country property with a grassy rear garden, perfectly positioned for adventures in Freshwater and the surrounding coastline. This breezy hideaway is ideal for ocean-loving families or couples and their four-pawed companions. Soak in...
"Pond View" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire. Rockbourne is a village with a pub and a 12th century church. It has thatched cottages and a willow-bordered stream on the edge of the New Forest, Rockbourne is rich in history with Neolithic and Bronze Age evidence, an Iron Age fort and a...
"The Old Mill" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire. The Old Mill is a cute, stylish apartment, tucked away just behind Lymington Quay and river beyond, right in the heart of all that this bustling sailing town has to offer. Set over three floors, an airy mezzanine bedroom occupies the top floor,...
"The Annex" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 3 guests in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. A charming market town with a rich history and the magnificent Minster church at its centre is Wimborne Minster. There are many stores and cafes to choose from where you can relax and explore the charming alleys and courtyards. The town is...
"Tovah" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Isle of Wight. Yarmouth is a town, port and civil parish located in the Isle of Wight, England. Yarmouth Pier was opened in 1876. It received Grade 2 listed status in 1975. Originally 685 ft long, it's now 609 ft but is still the longest timber pier in...
"32 Cranleigh Close" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 5 guests in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. Tuckton can be found nestled within the seaside town of Bournemouth, resting on the River Stour. Within this village you will find a number of cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops as well as attractions including Tuckton Gardens and Bournemouth...
"Avalon" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 5 guests in Isle of Wight. Freshwater is situated at the western tip of the Isle of Wight and consists of Freshwater Village and Freshwater Bay. Freshwater village offers a good selection of small independent shops, cafes and the West Wight Sports Centre and Indoor...
"Saltbox Cottage" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. We are pleased to offer this delightful and stunning refurbishment of a two bedroom, listed mews cottage with private parking, just off the popular Georgian Lymington High Street. Tastefully renovated, this...
"Oakside" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. We are pleased to offer this delightful, new, light and spacious two bedroom house, finished to a high standard, with private parking just off the popular Lymington High Street.
Popular towns in and around The New Forest:
BurleyFordingbridgeHytheLymingtonLyndhurstNew MiltonSome local suggestions:
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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.
