New Forest Driving Tour Suggestions
Circular Tour of the New Forest
This ‘circular tour’ takes starts at our base.
Taking you down to Lepe Beach where there’s a cafe and toilets.
From Lepe Beach, you drive towards Beaulieu and out on to the open heathland towards Lymington (you can easily add an extra stop here for ice cream and lunch).
After Lymington, head down to Hurst Road East Car Park. From here, you can walk down the beach towards Hurst Castle, it takes around 45-60 minutes and is likely to be very windy!
From Hurst Castle, head towards Highcliffe (you can add a stop at Highcliffe Castle), where there is parking at Avon Beach. This is next to the Noisy Lobster, an excellent restaurant (book in advance).
From Avon Beach, head back in to the Forest, towards Burley and onwards to Lyndhurst.
From Lyndhurst, head towards Cadnam in the direction of Paultons Park (Peppa Pig World), then back out in to the New Forest, past Stagbury Hill and back to base.
Total mileage: 67 miles
Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes of driving time
New Forest Seaside Driving Tour
This circular tour of South Coast beaches starts at our base
Head towards Cadnam (Paultons Park / Peppa Pig World), and out in to the New Forest. You can add a stop at Minstead here if you prefer.
Through Lyndhurst and down to Brockenhurst, and keep going towards Lymington, stopping along the way.
Head towards Milford on Sea, and out to the car park near Sturt Pond – this is the best local spot for crabbing where there’s a small bridge just at the entrance to Sturt Pond. The Needles Eye Cafe is near the car park.
From here, head along the coast towards Highcliffe, where you can stop in the top car park overlooking the sea.
After Highfliffe, you can stop at Highcliffe Castle on the way towards Avon Beach and Mudeford.
From Mudeford, keep going along the coast towards Southbourne and park at Hengistbury Head car park where there’s a visitor’s centre.
You can then head down the coast road towards Bournemouth, driving down Boscombe Promenade, before turning to head back.
Head towards Ringwood and the quickest route back is directly along the A31. For a more leisurely route, you can turn off at Stoney Cross and drive across the Forest towards Fritham (past Ocknell and Janesmoor Pond), before heading to Bramshaw and back to base.
Total mileage: 64 miles
Approx. 2 hours 15 minutes of driving time
Castles Tour of the New Forest
The Castles Tour of the New Forest starts at our base
Head towards Totton and continue on the A326 towards Fawley. Follow the road to the very end, arriving at Calshot Castle where there’s plenty of parking and views across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight.
From Calshot, head back out in to the Forest, heading towards Beaulieu.
From Beaulieu, head up past Hatchet Pond and out on to the heathland heading towards Lymington. After Lymington, continue towards Keyhaven and take the road towards Keyhaven Yacht Club. You can park in the large car park next to the Yacht Club, or keep going towards to seafront and if you are lucky, find a space near Sturt Pond.
Head back out to Milford on Sea and follow the coast road towards New Milton, and on towards Highcliffe Castle. Highcliffe Castle is close to Avon Beach and Mudeford Quay, which are also good stopping points.
After Highcliffe, head back out to the Forest heading towards Burley and join the A31 towards Ower. For a more leisurely route, you can turn off at Stoney Cross and drive across the Forest towards Fritham (past Ocknell and Janesmoor Pond), before heading to Bramshaw and back to base.
Total mileage: 70 miles
Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes of driving time
History Tour of the New Forest
The History Tour of the New Forest starts at our base
Head towards Totton and continue on the A326 towards Fawley. Follow the road to the very end, arriving at Calshot Castle where there’s plenty of parking and views across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight.
From Calshot, head back out in to the Forest, heading towards Beaulieu, where you can find the Palace House at Beaulieu Motor Museum.
From Beaulieu, it’s a short drive to Bucklers Hard, where you will find a small but superb maritime museum, with stunning views across the Beaulieu River.
From Bucklers Hard, head up past Hatchet Pond and out on to the heathland heading towards Lymington. After Lymington, continue towards Keyhaven and take the road towards Keyhaven Yacht Club. You can park in the large car park next to the Yacht Club, or keep going towards to seafront and if you are lucky, find a space near Sturt Pond. There’s a small passenger ferry from Keyhaven Yacht Club that will take you to Hurst Castle, or if you park near the beach, it’s a 30-45 minute walk along the very windy shingle bank – this is where Charles I was imprisoned, his gaolers allowing him to walk along the seaside shingle bank for exercise, so you’ll be walking in his footsteps!
From Keyhaven, head back through Lymington and on towards Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst. After Lyndhurst, take the left turn towards Minstead (which is where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is laid to rest, at the All Saints Church). Head on to the A31 and almost immediately make a U turn on the slip road, and then an immediate left turn, to find the Rufus Stone (which marks the spot where King William II was accidentally killed by Sir Walter Tyrell). This is a good picnic spot.
Head towards Bramshaw and turn right at Stocks Cross, which brings you to Stagbury Hill – the site of a Bronze Age burial cemetery.
From Stagbury Hill (‘Stag Hill’), it’s a short drive back to our base.
Total mileage: 67 miles
Approx. 2 hours 40 minutes of driving time
100 mile Circular Seaside Tour of the New Forest
This longer tour of the New Forest takes in a country park, some sandy beaches, with a return route through the open forest roads.
Starting at our base, head towards Totton and take the A326 towards Fawley. This road leads directly to the coast and ends at Lepe Beach, where there’s a cafe and toilets. View of the Solent and Isle of Wight.
Follow the signs for Exbury, which will take you past Exbury Gardens, and then on to Beaulieu, which is worth a quick detour through the village. Out of Beaulieu you’ll go past Hatchet Pond, and then open forest roads through to Lymington, which is also worth a quick stop at the quay for a meander and refreshments.
Out of Lymington, take the road to Milford on Sea, and then through the village towards Keyhaven. At Keyhaven you can drive past the car park and out on to the cost road, with parking available right by the beach. The brave can walk to Hurst Castle (around 45 minutes along the shingle bank that Charles I used for exercise whilst imprisoned here in 1648). No facilities here apart from an Ice Cream van! But the The Lighthouse restaurant is only a short walk along the beach towards Milford on Sea.
Take the coast road through to Highcliffe, where you can park at the cliff top. Back on the coast road to Avon Beach, there’s parking here or at Mudeford just down the road.
Back on the road through Christchurch, dip back out to the coast for a look at Hengistbury Head and Southbourne Beach, which has sandy beaches and beach facilities, cafes, toilets, etc.
Now for a little bit of faster road on the A338 towards Ringwood. If you’re in a hurry, take the A31, or if you want some more forest roads, take a quick stop at New Forest Northern Commons. From here, it’s a 30 minute drive through open forest back to our base. This last bit of the journey is a real treat, as you come towards Fritham and Stoney Cross, keep an eye out for the long section of straight road which is somewhat out of keeping with the rest of the forest roads. The reason is you are now driving on an old WW2 runway! This part of the forest was used by the RAF, and in the small car parks up and down Forest Road, if you look carefully around the surrounding gorse, you might even find an old metal ring in the concrete, which was used to anchor the planes in high winds.
If you have time, the Royal Oak at Fritham is worth it for a quick drink, it’s a beautiful old pub with great scenery, very peaceful.
Total mileage 94 miles (plus a couple of short detours)
Approx. 3 hours 30 minutes of driving time
Motoring Enthusiasts Tour of the New Forest
This tour takes in a selection of motoring attractions, allow a full day.
Starting at our base, take the road to Totton and then on to Marchwood. Turn right on to Twiggs Lane which takes you through to open forest roads.
Make your way down to Beaulieu, where the motor museum is just before the village. Allow at least a couple of hours here!
Coming out of the museum, it’s worth a quick detour through the village, and then back out in to the forest towards Brockenhurst. Go through Setley and Sway, making your way to the Sammy Miller Motor Museum. This is a great little museum for bikers!
On your way back, have a brief stop for some window shopping at Meridien Modena, the Ferrari specialist in Lyndhurst, and then back through the forest roads to Bramshaw, where you’ll find McLaren and Bentley in Bramshaw.
From here it’s a short journey back to our base.
Total mileage 59 miles
Approx. 2 hours of driving time
New Forest Gardens Tour
This tour takes in a selection of gardens and attractions a little closer to our base.
Starting from our base, take the back roads towards Breamore House, you’ll need to book in advance if you want a tour, it’s well worth it.
From here, it’s a short drive on to Rockbourne Roman Villa.
After driving through Fordingbridge, you’ll head across open forest roads before a short stint on the A31 before turning off for Furzey Gardens. From here, head in to Lymington for lunch and refreshments. (Be aware that google maps will try to take you down some unsuitable roads if you miss this next Lyndhurst stop! Head towards Lyndhurst after Furzey and pick up the A337.)
From here, it’s a longer drive through Ower, heading for Kimbridge where you’ll find Mottisfont Abbey, which has some spectacular gardens. Allow a couple of hours here.
From Mottisfont it’s a short journey back to our base, but there are no petrol stations on this route so you may need to detour through Ower or Plaitford.
Total Mileage 55 miles
Approx. 2 hours of driving time
