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All you need to know
Hale is a pretty spot in the north of the New Forest with ponies often seen grazing on the village green against a backdrop of thatched cottages, a primary school, and a village hall. There are wonderful views across the National Park, Charford Valley and the famous Hampshire Avon River which offers keen anglers some of the best coarse and fly fishing in the country. Holidays in Hale offer ancient woods, rolling hills and purple heather plains with plenty of options for photos of beautiful landscapes.
You can buy food and drink from the excellent community farm shop in the neighbouring village of Woodgreen. For a larger shop, the riverside town of Fordingbridge is only 3 miles away. But don’t worry about cooking when renting a holiday cottage in Hale, because you’ll come across lots of lovely gastro pubs for meals, with delicious dishes at The Horse and Groom, The Kings Head, The Bull, The Goat and The Wooden Spoon which are all within 2 miles of the village.
There's plenty to keep you occupied for holidays in Hale, with bountiful walking and cycling routes crisscrossing the landscape which in the summer months attracts kaleidoscopes of butterflies feeding on banks of wildflowers. Swapping your mode of transport, you might like to see the views from a saddle and go pony trekking with Arniss Equestrian in nearby Godshill.
Golfers should try one of the south’s premier golf courses at Hamptworth Golf and Country Club and have a go at the unique 6,509 yard, par 72, championship course. And despite its rural location there, are plenty of visitor attractions close by. If you have little ones in tow, make a trip to Paultons Park, home of Peppa Pig World. They’ll also enjoy The New Forest Water Park and ski bob fun on the dry ski slope at Snowtrax. You can see the remains of a Roman Villa at Rockbourne, delve into Elizabethan life at Breamore House and partake in some seriously lovely cake tasting at The New Forest Lavender Farm and café. A little further afield is the historic cathedral city of Salisbury and the famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Stonehenge.
Set in beautiful parkland, the Elizabethan Manor House and Countryside Museum are open for visitors from April until the end of October. The Countryside Museum provides a fascinating insight into the days when the village was self-sufficient, with full size replicas including a blacksmith, village shop, school and dairy. It also boasts one of the finest collections of steam powered farm machinery, tractors, barn machinery and historical tools.
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A great day out. Very historic and interesting tour
June 2018
Really beautiful house with lots of history, the guided tour was really interesting and you can get a really close look at the furniture, paintings etc
July 2018
Breamore House is wonderful. The guides were fun and knowledgeable. They brought the history of the house and the families how have and do live there to life. The countryside museum is also fabuous.
September 2018
Really interesting and excellent and informative guide.
September 2019
Brilliant afternoon spent at Breamore House and countryside museum. The house tour was a highlight. ? Excellent value for money and well worth a visit.
August 2021
We visited the museum (with our dog) and enjoyed snacks at the cafe. Definitely worth visiting with an extensive collection of historic equipment and the food was very good too!
May 2023
One of the finest golf courses in the south of England and having hosted major golf events, Hamptworth Golf Club is beautifully situated in the New Forest surrounded by ancient countryside. It has five international standard croquet lawns, two tennis courts and a fully equipped gym as well as the course itself, as well as a family friendly bar and award-winning restaurant to head to afterwards.
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Preserving the rich history of the village of Fordingbridge on the edge of the New Forest, the former market town’s famed folk including artist Augustus John, its role during the Second World War, and its trade past are all documented in this former granary run by volunteers. They have a collection of temporary and permanent exhibitions available to see, as well as seasonal events.
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Very interesting museum. Loved the dolls houses
October 2019
Take a step back in time to visit this Roman villa which was discovered in 1942 thanks to the remains of oyster shells and tiles. Once excavated, the treasures kept coming with a mosaic floor and foundations making themselves apparent until the entire villa was uncovered, not to mention the remains of an Iron Age timber roundhouse as well. Visit, explore, and see what you discover!
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Feeling active? It’s Insight Activities for you then! Archery, combat tag, crossbows, axe throwing and woodland weaponry are all part of the game as you explore the New Forest in Robin Hood style. It’s perfect for anyone over the age of six, and is a chance to learn something new and have fun at the same time!
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A pretty, family run pub in the heart of the New Forest, surrounded by some of the area’s most idyllic scenery. Whether at the start or end of a walk, on a bike ride or just visiting, you can relax here and enjoy a well-deserved drink or some great home cooked pub food, including vegetarian and children’s options.
The Horse & Groom (T: 01725 520739) Woodgreen SP6 2AS
Great little pub excellent food just beware do not do food on Sundays or monday evenings
April 2017
Good food and friendly service
September 2017
Visited for lunch to be told not serving tried to book for evening to be told it should be okay but no booking taken. Proceeded to neighbouring bat & ball where we had 4 excellent meals in our weeks holiday. Horse & groom the losers by not being more helpful.
September 2017
Great pub good food and fantastic atmosphere. Had some lovely evenings sat by the open fire and enjoying getting to know the locals
April 2018
Right on the doorstep which was great. Staff very friendly and food delicious.
June 2018
Fantastic place we ate there on several occassions staying at Beck cottage next door. We were a group of 11 6 adults and 5 children 2 of which have special needs all were accomadated even on the night when they had run out of what one of the children needed due to there Autism it is hard for them to chamnge from what they had chosen but the server worked with him staying calm and come up with a solution took some 15 mins so thank you for that. We were all accomadated on the same table. The food was of a very high standard and no over priced. Recomend it to anyone. On the weekend that we were there they had a beer festival with live music we did not attend due to the kids but was not overly loud, but was very good and i can vouch for the quality of the real ales and ciders.
August 2018
We had two fantastic meals here, the new owner has brought back a friendly atmosphere. It was great to have it open again. Dog friendly as well. Very friendly helpful staff.
September 2019
Recently re-opened after renovation. Dogs allowed in the bar area, and menu is wide-ranging if a little on the expensive side. A further attraction are ponies and donkeys in the garden and pub car-park! Same landlord (Jason) as that at the Bat and Ball at Breamore, and often the same staff. As it is in the centre of the village, used by many younger residents which makes its more expensive range perhaps harder to justify. Perhaps waiting to re-establish itself to get the balance right
September 2019
Good beer, nice welcome and the food was nice but fish pie portion size was a real disappointment
October 2019
Fantastic pub, warm and welcoming, with excellent food and only 5 minutes walk from the cottage
November 2019
Great pub ,good atmosphere good service and very welcoming.
January 2020
Very nice pub next to the church in the beautiful surrounding of the new forest, a lot of space to sit outside.
January 2020
Friendly atmosphere and staff. Good selection of food on the menu.
July 2020
Well organised local village pub, serving delicious food to eat in or take away. Tables in or out and one-way system operating(during COVID-19) Friendly atmosphere and staff. Frequent added attraction of visiting donkeys etc in car park!
August 2020
We stopped for a couple of drinks on our way back to Walnut Barn and the staff where lovely and the food was good. No gastro pub standard but nice.
September 2020
Great pub with excellent service and food. Jason, the landlord, is friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended.
September 2020
Lovely food and friendly staff - always going out of there way to assist
October 2020
Lovely pub with great homemade food. We ate there 4 times in one week. Would definitely recommend!
November 2020
Great food, great beer, and great service service from Jason Una and Cami!!
May 2021
We were given a lovely warm welcome. Fantastic food and generous portions.
May 2021
Very friendly and welcoming. Excellent food and beer. Large beer garden
July 2021
Very friendly staff, large garden area, dogs welcome. Good range of food very well presented.
July 2021
Eat here on several occasions. Lovely food. Great beer garden. Friendly staff.
July 2021
Lovely friendly pub. Good quality food and dogs welcome. Would recommend but booking in advance a must!
August 2021
Fantastic pub , food, beer and staff. Ate here 5 times on our recent trip. Highly recommended.
August 2021
Eaten here a couple of times while at Oakview cottage, both times the food and service has been excellent would advise booking however as it does get very busy.
September 2021
Excellent food, lovely atmosphere
September 2021
Lovely food and not too expensive. Jason and staff were very friendly and service was excellent.
November 2021
Fantastic food and beer, highly recommend
April 2022
Lovely pub for food and drink, however I did struggle to find something I really fancied eating on the menu but when we did have the food it was really good
April 2022
Fabulous food and very friendly staff. We ate here several times and the food was always to a very high standard.
April 2022
Food and service excellent and dog friendly.
August 2022
Perfection! Good choice of food, great atmosphere and fabulous staff.
February 2023
This pub has a lovely garden and provides good service. Our vegetarian meals on Sunday evening were ok but could have been improved.
May 2023
Lovely food & helpful friendly service. Was something for everyone on the menu
August 2023
Great food with large garden for dogs
August 2023
Had a week staying in Woodgreen and ate out 4 times at the Horse & Groom, the food was amazing every time, the staff were so friendly and there was a good variety of real ales on tap. A great pub to go to for a drink and to eat as well.
September 2023
Excellent pub food great best sticky toffee pudding ever, even go there for a day out for the pudding, large garden
October 2023
Very friendly staff and excellent food
November 2023
Very good pub. Nice range of beers. Food excellent. Friendly locals. Dogs welcome. Nice garden. Best pub we found in North of the forest.
April 2024
Fantastic friendly country pub serving delicious locally sourced food. We ate here several times and every time was first class in every way. Can't wait to come back at Christmas!
May 2024
This pretty pub which dates back to 1700 has volumes of charisma and charm. Inside it’s cosy, yet spacious and the perfect spot to warm up on a chilly day. In the summer, head outside to the lovely beer garden and sit surrounded by heaps of scented flowers. Food here is good with a wide and varied selection of dishes, complimented by a selection of cask ales, wine and spirits. Dogs welcome.
Kings Head (T: 01725 510420) The Row, Redlynch SP5 2JT
Had a lovely lunch here. The staff were very friendly and it is very dog friendly with treats on the bar for them, would definitely recommend.
May 2017
Excellent food and friendly staff!! A cute pub with a wonderful garden! Dog friendly and ample parking! The pies were delicious and great wine and beer selection!! Highly recommended
July 2017
This a great pub and have no hesitation in recommending it, considering quality of food and service.
April 2019
We had two enjoyable meals at the pub which is conveniently situated close to the holiday house. The food was very good and reasonably priced. The service was excellent. The staff were thoughtful and helpful.
September 2019
Ate here a couple of times. Great position and friendly staff. Disappointing food. Our burgers were advertised as beef, came as beef chorizo burgers, we could deal with that but the burgers were overcooked as to be inedible. ChickEn and bacon pie was chicken and parsnip pie. Not good for a parsnip hater, it was lacking in flavour and soggy pastry. Chick en burger ok. Chips were great.
July 2020
The Kings Head, during COVID's busy dine out package accommodated us with no issues, the food was very good and reasonable, the garden pretty. I would say this is the best pub nearest to Walnut Barn.
September 2020
Friendly staff, very helpful, good food and ales.
May 2021
We ate here twice during our stay at Copperwood Cottage, the food was excellent on both occasions and the service was great.
July 2021
Lovely roast dinner and great puds! Staff were attentive and professional.
August 2021
Had a lovely Sunday roast with amazing flavours, would strongly recommend.
September 2021
Lovely staff and venue and generous portions of tasty food , would really recommend the scallops which were cooked to perfection. Over 6' mind the beams!!
July 2022
A lovely pub on the A338 between Fordingbridge and Salisbury. The menu and specials board are quirky and fun, with the addition of some South African dishes bringing a wry smile. Logs fires snap and crackle in the winter months and when it’s warm, outdoor seating in the sunny beer garden is available. There’s a good selection of drinks at The Bat and Ball, including a range of fine beers. Dogs welcome.
The Bat & Ball (T: 01725 512 252) Salisbury Road, Breamore SP6 2EA
recommend
July 2017
Visited 4 times in our weeks holiday made very welcome food and service at a good price excellent. Our dog also made welcome
September 2017
Fabulous!! Lovely food, amazing staff...loved it
January 2018
Great staff and service. Lovely food
June 2018
Delicious food, lovely garden and very dog friendly!
July 2018
If you re at woodgreen or around,visit the Bat and ball, two nights we ate there, two nights oustanding. Also mention to the lovely staff!!
July 2018
Enjoyed an evening meal - great choice and good standard
July 2018
We went to this pub four nights out of seven. The food and service was excellent and the South African dishes were unusual and very tasty. Highly recommended if you are staying in the area.
October 2018
We always love eating out here. The food is good, and there is always something different on the menu. Very friendly staff too.
February 2019
Always love the food here, and the atmosphere. Never had a bad meal here, whatever we have chosen. Even if we don`t book, Jason and his staff always manage to find us a table.
March 2019
Lovely pub with lovely food, beer and staff. Always made to feel welcome here.
March 2019
Very welcoming pub, good varied menu, very friendly staff. Can get busy so booking a good idea
April 2019
Excellent food and friendly service.
July 2019
Ate here most of the 7 evenings we stayed in local Woodgreen, and it has a very warm and welcoming atmosphere to everyone. Excellent food of great value for money. Dogs allowed in bar and snug. Same landlord (Jason) as at Horse and Hounds at Woodgreen nearby.
September 2019
Super pub, lovely staff. Beautiful food. Couldn’t fault it.
November 2019
Cosy pub. Good food.
January 2020
Family and Dog friendly. Good range of food reasonably priced. Plenty of room inside and out.
July 2021
Food very good quality and value for money (excellent Sunday roast) however, be warned, service but great. Long wait for food to come; staff not able to cope with busy lunchtime service.
August 2021
Food excellent but service very slow at Sunday lunchtime.
August 2021
Great food
September 2021
Delicious food, great service. We look forward to returning when we are next on holiday in the New Forest.
May 2023
Had Sunday lunch and took our little dog so sat in the marquee. Lovely setting, very friendly efficient staff. We chose the 3 meats roast which was amazing. Enjoyed it so much we returned on the Thursday night and the same friendly waiter served us. Again excellent food and service. Highly recommend, just wish we lived nearer.
June 2023
A warm welcome to us and our dog. Excellent food, choice and service. Good value for money. Brilliant atmosphere. We will go back here on our next holiday stay.
November 2023
This pretty redbrick pub in the centre of the village dates from 1740, and is packed with history and heritage. Inside is cosy, with a large open fire place. A team of friendly, efficient bar staff serve excellent real ales on tap and the food is really lovely. The menu and specials board offer an extensive choice of good honest home cooking and wonderful puddings!
The Wooden Spoon (T: 01725 511899) 17 High St, Downton SP5 3PG
Great place and lovely location very helpful information both verbally and written from the owners.
May 2019
Great food,lovely friendly atmosphere Dog friendly
May 2019
We had a delicious lunch with our family of 4 adults and a baby. The friendliest waiting staff. We will definitely be back when we return to the area.
July 2020
Delicious food. Very popular pub.
September 2021
A great proper old fashioned pub, serving wonderful home made food
March 2023
In a beautiful setting close to the village of Godshill is this very popular pub, often surrounded by New Forest ponies, cattle and the odd donkey or two. The décor inside is warm and inviting with lots of quirky country inspired antiquities. There’s seating outside for when it gets warm, and a play area for children. Food here is really good, with many of the dishes featuring local produce. As the menu points out, when it says ‘home-made’ that means on the premises – and it’s delicious.
The Fighting Cocks (T: 01425 652462) Godshill, SP6 2LL
The service was slow and the food is really very bad :-(
July 2017
We only came here for a drink but thought it was a very friendly local pub with some nice local beers and ciders. The landlord is also a butcher and we were told that all the meat on the menu is prepared on the premises. Some good traditional menu choices which we happily would have tried had we been here at dinner or lunch time.
February 2018
Lovely friendly pub with great food and dog friendly.
June 2018
The food was varied and all home made which was surprising. The online menu looks very limited but there were lots of specials to choose from which were not shown online. A meal with drinks for six including drinks was £60-70 which was excellent value. Donkeys seem to congregate at the pub so great for taking photos and the kids loved it!
July 2018
first class service and food
April 2019
Fantastic food and service. The small portions menu very helpful for elderly parents and those wanting to watch their weight!
September 2019
Good beer, nice welcome and the food was good, honest, plentiful pub grub
October 2019
Extremely friendly staff. Had two meals here, one better than the other... there are better pub dining proepects within the forest.
July 2020
we were very disappointed in the standard of the food having read good reviews. We ordered 2 sausages and mash and a mushroom stroganoff. The sausages were burnt with one on each plate completely inedible. The stroganoff was okay but not as tasty as I expected. In fairness to the pub we didn't complain at the time but seeing how the sausages looked we were surprised that they were served. we just didn't go back.
August 2020
Food was OK, service slow and terse
May 2021
Not great found the girl on the gate with checking in quite unapproachable . Two steaks they were edible but presentation really poor and extras not at all tasty with steak chips tasted like oven chips not freshly prepared . Overall outside needs a darn good tidy up . Shame as very nearby for Forest side
June 2021
Had dinner there twice, first time was on a Monday & food & service were excellent. However two days later, it couldn’t have been more disappointing, the quality of food & service was very poor.
July 2021
Excellent meals. Kids playground is just brilliant, keeps them occupied while you relax!
August 2021
Best pub & food around. We travel to the New Forest from Leicestershire about 4-5 times a year and always go here for at least 2 meals during our stay. Excellent food and choice is amazing
November 2021
Went for Sunday lunch, which was a traditional Sunday Pub meal. Tasty and hot. Made more pleasant by the friendly and helpful service.
May 2022
We booked the first night of our holiday to eat here as it was within walking distance. The food was inedible even though we had steered clear of anything out of the ordinary (pie and two burgers). The meat just tasted bad, defrosted perhaps and left out during the hot weather too long? We were put on the table beside the fireplace where the menu is located - please avoid sitting here at all costs. People were standing over us while we were trying to eat the food, talking and leaning on our table, bumping into our chairs. At one point there were 7 people just standing there on top of us discussing what they were going to eat. No regard for the fact we were eating.
February 2023
Lovely pub if only going for a drink, have eaten there in several occasions on holiday but this year food wasn’t as good with new management/owners
October 2023
Absolutely first rate food on two occasions that we visited, and service was good considering that it was very popular and busy with families.
April 2024
Very good. Food excellent during the week. Except for Sunday roast which due to numbers I suspect was only luke warm. Good range of local beer
April 2024
Highcliffe beach, beneath the popular Cliffhanger Restaurant is a part sandy, part pebble beach. The beach has sloping access as well as steps down to the shore from the pay and display clifftop car park. To the east, Highcliffe beach towards Barton on Sea is a part sandy beach at the foot of the second most eroded cliff in England. This side of the beach is dog-friendly all year. However do check the tide times as high tide can make it difficult to walk along the beach.
To the west towards Highcliffe Castle beach, the promenade leads across the top of the small beaches inbetween the groynes with views across Christchurch Bay and Hengistbury Head. Groynes 4-8 have dog restrictions as does the promenade during the summer months, May-September.
A picturesque, tree-lined beach of shingle, and sand at low tide. Good facilities on the cliff top including an excellent tea room, public toilets, baby change and a children’s play area in the Castle gardens. Plenty of parking and sloping access down to the beach. Highcliffe Castle beach is dog-friendly all year round.
Lovely clean sandy beach and a really i would highly recommend this spot for your car to break down takes the ouch out of waiting for the recovery truck
April 2017
Lovely
April 2019
Very picturesque beach with great access, looks good for a beach day
October 2021
A stony beach with sandy areas as the tide goes out, and a great spot to do some fossil hunting. The cliffs are subject to considerable coastal erosion and at times parts of the beach can be cordoned off. The Beachcomber Café on the cliff top is one of the most popular cafés in the region. Plenty of parking in car parks along the cliff top as well as on-road parking.
Super walk, nice and easy and great place for a meal or tea and cake by the car park.
April 2019
A pleasant walk along the cliff top and along the beach. There was less cliff than last time we went to the New Forest.
June 2023
A family friendly beach close to Mudeford and Christchurch Harbour with plenty to do for all. For those with disabilities or small children there is a beach level carpark, and to keep everyone safe there is a designated bathing area and a seperate area allocated for watersports, all overseen by lifeguards in the summer months. This pretty sand and shingle beach is backed by trees and countryside and if you fancy some fresh local seafood or simply a coffee, ice cream or a cold drink, the beach is home to the excellent Noisy Lobster, serving breakfast, lunch and supper all year round.
Beautiful beach, lots of sand for youngsters- definitely been high on our favourites list, for more than 30 years and still is now the 'children' are nearly 30! - well worth the drive from New Forest. The Noisy Lobster is great and now has an 'outdoor upstairs' too. The Beach Cafe, half-way along, is excellent too- used to do very good carrot cake! The connecting beach towards Steamer Point is dog-friendly all year which is a bonus. Walking to the quay end, you can catch the ferry to Hengistbury Head which is beautiful beach too and often quieter (top favourite!) Even this last week (JULY 2021) the 'kids' wanted to crab-fish from Mudeford Quay!!
August 2021
Nice beach with good facilities
April 2023
This is one of the most scenic of New Forest beaches. Lined with some of the most picturesque and expensive beach huts in the country! There’s no parking next to the beach, as it’s a traffic-free zone, but there’s pay and display parking at Hengistbury Head from where you can catch a little train to the sandbank, and Mudeford Quay which runs a small ferry (5 mins) over to the sandbank. Can also be reached on foot and by bicycle.
Beautiful place, our favourite beach in south of England. It feels like an island, when you go over on the ferry and at times (off-season!) on sunny days it can feel like a little piece of Heaven, it's so peaceful and beautiful- bit of a sense of New England. There's a super little 'restaurant', the Beach Hut, which does great breakfasts, meals all day and some evenings. Also takeaway eg pizzas, you can eat on the beach. Very simple surroundings, with a sheltered veranda that can be uncovered in fine weather, and amazing views. Quite pricey and often very busy (and you are best to ring and check opening times and book since often weather and ferry-dependant) but the quality of the food and those stunning views make it more than worthwhile!
March 2018
As usual, stunning. 4 ferries but sadly the Land train not running although according to their web site they were. Always visit when in the area
September 2020
This is a holiday must. A short ferry out to amazing beach makes for a great day out.
September 2022