Your essential guide to living like-a-local...
Surrounded by ancient woodland, open heathland and some of the New Forest’s most beautiful landscapes, Brockenhurst is one of the best places to stay for exploring the New Forest National Park. It’s the sort of village where you can head out for a woodland walk in the morning, cycle through the Forest in the afternoon, stop for lunch at a country pub and still have time to spot ponies wandering through the village.
And yes, you’re very likely to meet a few of the New Forest’s famous four-legged residents along the way. Ponies, donkeys and cattle regularly roam through Brockenhurst and the surrounding Forest.
So, if you’re wondering what to do in Brockenhurst, here’s our insider’s guide.
Brockenhurst is a charming New Forest village with a distinctly outdoorsy feel. The village itself has shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants, while the surrounding landscape quickly opens out into woodland, heathland and riverside scenery.
The location also makes Brockenhurst an excellent choice for a family holiday, dog-friendly break or cycling holiday in the New Forest. There are plenty of ways to explore without getting in the car, including walking and cycling routes directly from the village.
Take a look below to see our ‘Insider’s’ round-up on what to do whilst you’re staying in our Brockenhurst holiday cottages…
Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or staying for a longer New Forest holiday, there are plenty of things to do in and around Brockenhurst.
You don’t have to travel far from Brockenhurst to find beautiful places to walk.
The landscape around the village combines woodland, open lawns, heathland and riverside paths, making it ideal for a leisurely stroll or a longer hike. The National Park currently has a range of walking routes to explore, including routes starting from Brockenhurst itself.
For an easy introduction to the area, try the Brockenhurst Village circular route. It takes you through woodland and across grazed lawns, with views towards the surrounding heathland before returning to the village and railway station.
If you’re bringing your dog, remember to keep dogs under control around livestock and wildlife and follow the New Forest Code.
A short drive from Brockenhurst, Blackwater Arboretum is a wonderful place to experience some of the New Forest’s impressive trees.
The area is particularly known for its towering Douglas firs and giant redwoods. The Tall Trees Trail offers an opportunity to see some of these remarkable trees up close, while the arboretum provides a peaceful setting for a woodland walk and picnic.
It’s a particularly lovely choice when you’re looking for something a little quieter to do in the New Forest.
Brockenhurst is an excellent base for a New Forest cycling holiday. Many parts of the forest, hidden to the motorist, are easily accessible by bicycle on designated gravel tracks.
There are waymarked cycle routes through the Forest, including off-road tracks that take you through woodland and across open heathland. The National Park has more than 100 miles of waymarked family-friendly cycle tracks, many of which are off-road and traffic-free.
More active folk can cycle to nearby villages such as Lyndhurst, Burley and Rhinefield.
Don’t have your own bikes? Cycle hire is available year-round.
Cyclexperience are a great company. Not only can you hire an excellent choice of bikes right beside the train station, but you can also get the bikes delivered to your door. They have an extensive selection of routes with good maps, so enjoying the National Park and escaping into the woods has never been easier.
Cyclexperience has been kind enough to offer NFE guests a 10% discount on midweek cycle hire. Ask one of the team for more info.
Horse riding in the New Forest is one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of the National Park. You can enjoy a hack across a variety of landscapes within the forest, from rolling heathlands to magical woodlands.
Keep an eye out to make sure you can spot the incredible New Forest wildlife. With over 3,000 New Forest Ponies roaming the beautiful and varying landscapes, there is lots to see for pony lovers!
The riding and trekking places here are good for intermediate or beginner riders.
The river near Balmer Lawn Hotel is also known as ‘The Brockenhurst Beach’ – This is unmissable if you have small children. In the summer months, the stream is broad, shallow, and surrounded by grassy banks and trees for climbing. Float things down the stream, dam it, jump it, paddle, splash, bring the dog… it’s lovely. The parking here can be tricky on a hot weekend. Look for the parking area just opposite the entrance to the hotel; the river is just behind.
One of the great things about staying in Brockenhurst is that you’re not limited to woodland adventures.
The New Forest stretches all the way towards the Hampshire coast, so you can combine a Forest holiday with a trip to the seaside. Head towards Lymington, Milford-on-Sea or Highcliffe for coastal scenery, beaches and waterside walks.
Lymington is particularly easy to combine with a Brockenhurst stay, with the town offering independent shops, places to eat and views across the Lymington River and Solent.
There is no better place to see the New Forest Ponies and donkeys than Brock. They can still be seen wandering along Brockenhurst’s main shopping street, as well as roaming the open forest – and roads too! Be careful if driving and keep a lookout for a pony crossing! Although these animals are confident and happy to walk alongside people, please do not feed them.
The New Forest has domestic pigs turned out during the autumn, which is called the Pannage. Pigs are used to eat the acorns in the Oak forest, which can be poisonous to ponies if they overindulge. Read our blog on the best places to see pigs in the New Forest.
Brockenhurst may be surrounded by countryside, but you won’t have to go far for everyday essentials. For visitors staying in self-catering Brockenhurst holiday cottages, the village is a useful place to stock up before heading out into the Forest for the day.
The village centre has a selection of independent shops and businesses, including local butchers and bakers, to pick up food and supplies for your holiday.
You’re guaranteed to bump into the New Forest ponies, cows and donkeys in the village centre too, where they take right of way!
After a day spent walking, cycling or exploring the Forest, there’s nothing better than sitting down to a good meal.
Brockenhurst has a good choice of restaurants, cafés, pubs and country-house dining, so you can keep things casual or make dinner part of the occasion.
In need of some pizza or pasta? Then Albero is the spot. This cute little Italian right by the train station is perfect for a romantic evening.
Most British foodies will recognise the brand name. The Pig offers relaxed, British luxury, and they achieve their goal of sourcing all food from within a 25-mile radius of the hotel; many of the ingredients are grown in the walled gardens at the hotel itself. Here at the Brockenhurst Pig, they also have a spa treatment room in a garden shed accessed by a jetty through a pond – do try to book in.
Another great favourite of ours is Limewood Hotel. Owned by the same group as The Pig, it is, however, more chi chi and elegant. They do welcome kids, but it’s not as easy-going. The spa here is one to write home about. Consistently award-winning, it’ll knock your socks off. Some of our swankiest owners are founder members. They do a great Raw & Cured restaurant and often have Friday night offers for detoxers needing to fast-track a weekend of downtime.
Setley Ridge Vineyard sells wine which is produced on site; you are welcome to have a free taste of these at any time. They also stock as many different types of local produce as possible, everything from charcoal to tea towels and have their own kitchens, with many scrumptious delights to eat.
A country pub is practically part of the New Forest holiday experience, and Brockenhurst has several options for a relaxed lunch, dinner or drink.
The Huntsman’s stone-oven baked pizzas are really something special. Made using their very own dough recipe, their crispy sourdough pizzas are cooked to perfection. Plenty of indoor and outdoor dining, perfect for all weathers. From wintry evenings sat by the fire with a glass of wine to summer alfresco dining on the patio. Looking for something extra special? Ask them about their fabulous Skittles alley.
The garden here is a must if you’ve got little ones – alongside two large gardens and a playground to entertain the kids, pool table & games machines. The Snakecatcher has everything you could possibly want from a family pub. They even have ‘Sizzling Hot Rocks’, which is a favourite of ours!
Pig Beer is an independent microbrewery and tap room hidden away in the rural heart of Brockenhurst. Set up on an old pig farm, and supplying beer to a number of well-known New Forest venues, PIG BEER brews all of their beer onsite and uses hops from their own hop plantation to ensure a unique, fresh and crisp flavour.
Brockenhurst works particularly well for a family New Forest holiday because so many activities revolve around simply getting outside.
Families can enjoy easy woodland walks, cycle on waymarked Forest tracks, paddle in the river during warmer weather, explore the village and look out for ponies and donkeys along the way.
The wider New Forest also offers plenty of family attractions, so Brockenhurst makes a useful base if you want to mix outdoor adventures with organised days out.
Brockenhurst is also a popular choice for a dog-friendly New Forest holiday.
There are plenty of opportunities for walks through woodland and open Forest, although dogs need to be kept under control around livestock and wildlife.
After a walk, you can find dog-friendly places to eat and drink in the wider area, making it easy to build a full day around exploring the Forest with your four-legged companion.
Brockenhurst means “badgers home” in Celtic – which explains the appearance of a badger on so many Brockenhurst-related insignia.
Brockenhurst lies within the Heritage Area of the New Forest which the European Union is funding work to restore and preserve. The manor house of Brochelie was situated on the plot now occupied by the Watersplash Hotel, its manor extending over the lands to the western side of the A337 Lyndhurst-Lymington Road.
The fourth Saxon manor of the area was Broceste which gives the village its name. It was the most important manor, being a grand-serjeanty held by providing accommodation for the King when hunting in the area.
During the First World War, Brockenhurst played host to the Lady Hardinge Hospital for Wounded Indian Soldiers. Meerut Road’s name recognises the Indian troops of the Meerut and Lahore Divisions who fought on the Western Front in the war and were patients here. It was later taken over by the No.1 New Zealand General Hospital and continued in use until 1919. Auckland Avenue and Auckland Place commemorate the stay of the New Zealanders.
By Car: Brockenhurst is conveniently located 30 mins from Southampton and under 15 mins from Lymington by car.
By road, Brockenhurst is conveniently positioned for exploring other parts of the New Forest, including Lyndhurst, Lymington and the coast.
By Train: Brockenhurst has its own railway station, with direct services connecting Brockenhurst with London Waterloo and other destinations. The trip from Bournemouth will take you 9 minutes, and London Waterloo is between 1hr 48 mins and a little over 2 hours.
Brockenhurst is one of the easiest New Forest villages to reach without a car. The station makes Brockenhurst particularly convenient for a car-free New Forest break. You can arrive by train, hire a bike close to the station and head straight into the Forest!
With its beautiful Forest surroundings, excellent walking and cycling opportunities, village pubs and restaurants, and convenient transport links, Brockenhurst makes a fantastic base for a New Forest holiday.
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly escape, dog-friendly cottage holiday, cycling break or relaxing countryside getaway, there’s plenty to see and do right on the doorstep.
And perhaps the best thing about Brockenhurst? You don’t always need a plan. Head out into the Forest, follow a woodland track, stop for a pub lunch and see where the day takes you. Just keep an eye out for the ponies along the way!
