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.
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.
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.
"The Grooms" is a 2 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. This beautifully converted and refurbished detached wooden cabin, adjacent to the stables in the grounds of the owners' own house, is situated in the heart of the New Forest, just two miles from the picturesque village of Brockenhurst...
"2 Bed Lodge in Lymington" is a 2 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. Additional information and rules. Please enquire if you wish to bring more than 1 dog - 2 double bedrooms - 1 family shower room with WC - Electric oven/hob, fridge with freezer compartment, coffee machine, dishwasher and...
"92 The Borough" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 3 guests in Wiltshire. Set in the heart of the pretty village of Downton is this beautifully finished thatched cottage. Conveniently located 92 The Borough provides a cosy yet spacious base for a couple or small family of 3. The property has a beautiful cottage...
"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...
"Home Farm Cottage" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. Home Farm Cottage is a former farm-workers cottage that has been recently updated to provide comfortable accommodation for up to four guests. Set within the grounds of the Countryside Education Trust charity, and part of a working farm, the...
"The Chapel" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. The Chapel is a recently converted former Methodist Chapel in the heart of the village of Whitsbury. Beautifully finished with elegant touches, The Chapel is a stylish and welcoming holiday home for up to four guests and a small...
"8 Munday Cottages" is a 2 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 4 guests in Isle of Wight. Yarmouth is the oldest town on the Isle of Wight, and its bustling harbour is a haven for all types of watercraft, with the terminal serving regular mainland ferry crossings to Lymington. Yarmouth's small alleys are lined with charming shops...
"Driftwood" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Driftwood House is in the centre of Bournemouth, a short walk from the beach and the lively streets around the Triangle district. Tucked behind a gated entrance, the townhouse feels surprisingly peaceful for such a central...
"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...
"Holly House" is a 4 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 7 guests in Wiltshire. Holly House is a tastefully furnished family holiday home in the small village of Nomansland. Comfortably sleeping seven guests in four bedrooms and pet friendly, the whole family can relax and enjoy all that this quiet area of the New Forest...
"Carrington Stables" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. Nestled behind a charming period property, Carrington Stables is a beautifully finished one-bedroom annex offering a tranquil and comfortable escape on the south coast. Thoughtfully designed with a calming, coastal-inspired palette, the living...
"Rachael's Cottage" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. This charming two bedroom Victorian terraced cottage is ideally situated in Brockenhurst, the heart of the New Forest, within walking distance of the pretty High Street and the mainline railway station, making the property an...
"Alum Green View" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire.
"2 Bed Lodge in Fordingbridge" is a 2 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. Additional information and rules. Please enquire if you wish to bring more than 1 dog - Sleeps 4+2 - 2 bedrooms - 1 King-size and 1 twin - both Zip & link beds so can be made into alternative make up - 1 shower...
"Conway Cottage" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Hampshire.
"Brook Farm" is a 4 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 8 guests in Hampshire. Nestled on the western fringes of the scenic New Forest National Park, is the charming town of Ringwood in Hampshire. Bathed in a rich history, Ringwood still retains its heritage with its popular markets held weekly, and have been so since the...
"Whitfield 16" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 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 to Lymington. Yarmouth’s narrow streets...
"Pinns Farm Bungalow" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Hampshire. This delightful detached farm cottage offers a rural retreat of complete peace and privacy. Step out of the door and you are in a large sunny garden that is encouraged to act as a wildlife haven for both animal and plant life...
"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...
"The Garden House with Beach Hut" is a 5 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 10 guests in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Set within an expansive plot of stunning well-tended gardens of cyclamen, camellia, rhododendrons and acers, this beautifully renovated property is an oasis of peace and charm. With 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, including a self-contained annex, the...
"3 Bed Apartment in Christchurch" is a 3 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 6 guests in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. Additional information and rulesNo dogs allowed - 3 bedrooms – 1 king-size, 1 double and 1 twin - 1 shower room with WC and 1 separate WC - Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer and dishwasher -...
"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...
"10 Admirals Court" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire. This newly refurbished one bedroom apartment has stunning views over the bustling Quay, the famous cobbles and Lymington River. It is the perfect place to relax, unwind and watch the world go by from the attractive and comfortable surroundings...
"Whitty's Hideaway" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Hampshire.
Popular towns in and around The New Forest:
BurleyFordingbridgeHytheLymingtonLyndhurstNew MiltonRingwoodSome local suggestions:
Dog friendly New Forest cottagesLuxury New Forest holiday cottagesNew Forest cottages with a hot tubOr search further afield:
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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.
