Our guidebook for the locality
Food Scene
Our local favourite eateries. Note this is the Royal Oak North Gorley, which is different from the Royal Oak Fritham below. Both are excellent.
Lovely thatched pub restaurant; great food; beautiful inside and out; lovely garden
70 locals recommend
The Royal Oak
Ringwood RoadLovely thatched pub restaurant; great food; beautiful inside and out; lovely garden
The Borough Café
70 The BoroughLovely food and nice people.
Lovely small pub right in the heart of the Forest. Fantastic food, all home-made. The sort of place where they proudly point out that they don't sell sandwiches or chips, and when you sample their menu you appreciate why!
Go early to get a seat!
70 locals recommend
The Royal Oak
Ringwood RoadLovely small pub right in the heart of the Forest. Fantastic food, all home-made. The sort of place where they proudly point out that they don't sell sandwiches or chips, and when you sample their menu you appreciate why!
Go early to get a seat!
Pretty nursery with log cabin cafe serving gorgeous food. Also pretty private gardens. Select, intimate, and perfect in spring/summer, obviously best as the lavender comes out. Used to be quiet but now the word has spread and it can get very busy, especially on nice day. Go early to enjoy.
18 locals recommend
New Forest Lavender Farm
Giles LanePretty nursery with log cabin cafe serving gorgeous food. Also pretty private gardens. Select, intimate, and perfect in spring/summer, obviously best as the lavender comes out. Used to be quiet but now the word has spread and it can get very busy, especially on nice day. Go early to enjoy.
Lovely restaurant; near to excellent Forest walks, before or after! Book ahead to avoid disappointment. It is a treat.
35 locals recommend
The Rockingham Arms
Lovely restaurant; near to excellent Forest walks, before or after! Book ahead to avoid disappointment. It is a treat.
Food Scene
Kings Head
The RowHandy local pub with log fire and nice pub food
Sightseeing
Salisbury Cathedral
You just have to go!
Stonehenge
because you just have to go...
Popular pretty market town (one main street); nice shops, brill deli/cafe (Thyme & Tide), river/stream, classy.
66 locals recommend
Stockbridge
Popular pretty market town (one main street); nice shops, brill deli/cafe (Thyme & Tide), river/stream, classy.
Pretty valley with lots of thatched cottages, interesting houses, and rolling hills with walks full of views. Win Green is great (view of 5 counties from the trig station). What's not to like.
Broad Chalke
Pretty valley with lots of thatched cottages, interesting houses, and rolling hills with walks full of views. Win Green is great (view of 5 counties from the trig station). What's not to like.
Parks & Nature
Pretty, classic English village with cricket green, oak trees, and New Forest ponies grazing. Walks in all directions. Check Castle View (for the view), St Mary's church Hale, and the bridge below it to see plentiful wildlife on the water meadows beyond.
Classic village cricket green; thatched cottages; donkeys. ponies and shetlands usually there.
Woodgreen
Classic village cricket green; thatched cottages; donkeys. ponies and shetlands usually there.
Ogdens
Lovely walks, views and wildlife: deer, donkeys, ponies. Aim for Abbots Well Road car park
Walks and lovely pub (Royal Oak); wildlife everywhere, especially Eyeworth Pond.
10 locals recommend
Fritham
Walks and lovely pub (Royal Oak); wildlife everywhere, especially Eyeworth Pond.
Roger Penny Way
Roger Penny WayWalks in all directions from Deadman Hill car park
Just wonderful everywhere. Best parts are north of the A31, being MUCH quieter than the touristy areas south of the A31.
76 locals recommend
New Forest District
Just wonderful everywhere. Best parts are north of the A31, being MUCH quieter than the touristy areas south of the A31.
Best views and walks. Go down to Ogden's Plain and Latchmere Brook/Bottom. Virtually no one around, but usually loads of animals grazing. Picnic and paddle by the stream; very safe and very gorgeous! Nice walks.
Frogham Car Park
Abbots Well RoadBest views and walks. Go down to Ogden's Plain and Latchmere Brook/Bottom. Virtually no one around, but usually loads of animals grazing. Picnic and paddle by the stream; very safe and very gorgeous! Nice walks.
Lovely wildlife on old gravel pits. Great bird hides. Try Goosander Hide on Ibsley Water for Kingfisher.
13 locals recommend
Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve
Ellingham DroveLovely wildlife on old gravel pits. Great bird hides. Try Goosander Hide on Ibsley Water for Kingfisher.
Old RAF airfield (almost invisible), great for walks and grazing animals. Usually plenty of ponies, Shetlands, Cattle, Highland cows, and some deer. Go in early May to see the foals being born, especially the Shetland foals, which are tiny and very cute and you can get very close without concerns.
RAF Stoney Cross
Old RAF airfield (almost invisible), great for walks and grazing animals. Usually plenty of ponies, Shetlands, Cattle, Highland cows, and some deer. Go in early May to see the foals being born, especially the Shetland foals, which are tiny and very cute and you can get very close without concerns.
Mottisfont Abbey station
Lovely House, River, Font, Gardens etc. Very popular
Lovely walks and lovely views of 5 counties. Start at the car park by the Trig Station.
14 locals recommend
Win Green
Lovely walks and lovely views of 5 counties. Start at the car park by the Trig Station.
Shopping
Great if raining; all indoors; cinemas, food, big shops incl John Lewis. M&S, Apple
61 locals recommend
West Quay Shopping Centre
Great if raining; all indoors; cinemas, food, big shops incl John Lewis. M&S, Apple
The best garden centre I have ever visited. Owned by Waitrose, so no surprises it is so nice. Great cafe. Plants are very high quality.
12 locals recommend
Longstock Park Farm Shop, Cafe & Nursery
Longstock ParkThe best garden centre I have ever visited. Owned by Waitrose, so no surprises it is so nice. Great cafe. Plants are very high quality.
Amazing cathedral (tour available). Lots of nice little shops esp Fisherton Mill
246 locals recommend
Salisbury
Amazing cathedral (tour available). Lots of nice little shops esp Fisherton Mill