The 35 best beaches in and around New Forest National Park Hampshire

Nice, big beach. Perfect for a relaxing day or long walks.

Mixture of pebbles & sand (more sand when the tide is out). Gentle sloping beach with regular wooden groynes. Rows of beach huts behind wide promenade. Ice creams, lunches, drinks, etc., all catered for at nearby bars/booths. Good for kids. Nice, safe, quiet surroundings. Access to beach from nearby car parks.

It's a beautiful place for a day out at the beach. You got all the necessary stuff to enjoy the beach. Restaurants, takeaways, bakery ice cream. You name it... Very fun to go .

Absolutely lovely area away from the main tourist area sorry Bournemouth is not even close

We were there on August 12. We liked the beach. There are small sandy places on almost every beach, your feet don't hurt as much there as on a shallow stone. The sea was cool, but you get used to it quickly. The children couldn't be pulled out of the water. There is a public toilet, shower, parking, cafe to eat and buy ice cream. Very good!

Beautiful landscape, clean, great area to relax. My favourite beach so far.

Our happy place. We usually park in Highcliffe and walk the promonade through to Avon Beach to Mudeford quay. Always stop in the middle of Avon Beach for a cup of tea and fabulous fish and chips. Lots of pretty beach huts.

Great place to park up and have a beach walk or picnic. Fantastic children's play area and cafe. Interesting d day info further along the beach

This place makes for a great day out, with a vast beach, views stretching over to the IOW and a modern cafe available to suit most tastes it’s a great spot to relax. An easy car park makes access a breeze.

Lovely circular walk through the countryside and along the coast. Really easy 2hr walk. Only downside with dogs is there's a lot of barbed wire fences, my Springer Spaniel got a cut on her back, luckily nothing serious.

This is a lovely park along the Solent. There is the beach (shingle), a sensory garden, paths through the woods, and a café (very clean, small shop). There is a car park (administered by Hampshire County Council = expensive)

Really nice place to spend the day! You have a few little beaches, multiple parks, a cafe and somewhere to get ice creams and a good amount of fields to set up! Highly recommend for the family

We would have given more than 5 stars if we could. The first thing we noticed was how clean it was, no litter anywhere. We visited the cafe and found the food to be of good quality and very reasonably priced, it is also dog friendly.

Did, the Lepe loop walk which was lovely. Coastal, fields and woods. Had a lunch on the beech and then decided to go other direction to do "Dunkirk" walk. Amazed to find out what went from there to France as part of D day landing. Highly recommend both walks.

What a fabulous place! Lots of walking to do here including walking the cliff path and the Nature Reserve. Cafe and toilets right by the large car park (personally I think the parking fees are expensive). We decided to take the train to the beach huts then walk back over the "head" to the car park. Will definitely visit again but will probably try and get a bus to the nearby village then walk to the head.

A beautiful and tranquil beach with both sandy and pebble areas, ideal for peaceful walks, fishing, or relaxing with family. The rocky groynes and dunes provide scenic spots for photography and quiet reflection. The sunsets are stunning, and the location is clean, comfortable, and well-suited for those who appreciate natural coastal charm. Highly recommended for a laid-back visit!

Amazing place ! Perfect for walking, jogging, dogs walks. Beutyfull view of the coast, perfect for a relaxing day out, perfect escape from the city busy life... 2 options for parking: *. paid-car-park or *. 1 h free parking on the road.

Many people only think of Hengistbury Head as a small hill and not much more but that is far from the truth. Here’s why… The long peninsular that forms the southern and south-western arm around Christchurch Harbour, is a fascinating place with so much for the visitors. It has an excellent visitor centre which tells the history of this important piece of land. Near the centre is a good cafe and toilet facilities including a Radar accessible toilet. There are many well maintained paths that form excellent walks around and up to the Head itself. When approaching the top from the landward side where there is plenty of parking, it’s a fairly easy walk up to the top with some benches and a trig point beacon. About 150 metres along the top is a coastguard watch hut with useful information regularly updated about the tide times and so forth. You can then walk right along to the end of the headland and then down all the way to the sea level and Mudeford Spit with its famous beach huts. The birdlife all along the Head is hugely varied. On just one walk recently I saw lots of common, Ballack-headed and heron gulls, sandwich terns, shelducks, oyster catchers, a buzzard, a dartford warbler, a greenfinch, a turnstone, sand martins, starlings and other common passerines. This is also a rare area for seeing the protected Natterjack toad. A wonderful place for walkers, history, fabulous views of the harbour and the sea and the coast back to Bournemouth and Poole.

Lots of people told me about Hengistbury Head, but today I went for the 1st time. It was as good as people have said. Very dog friendly with plenty of bins around. The coast part was great and great, but equally great is a well planned walk through dense woodland close to the sea line. Amazing! worth the hour drive there. Dolly seemed to love the freedom and varied terrain off the lead meeting other well-behaved dogs.

I’ve been to the area several times but never visited this place. Beautiful views of the surrounding area. Fairly easy walk from car park to top and back down again. Well maintained and free ! (Other than parking at £3 per hour, cheaper after 2 hours). Cafe near car park ok. Good selection and ok ish priced. Plenty of seating. Both walk and cafe dog friendly.

Lovely part of the world, great beaches, beautiful views and you can walk for miles.

What an amazing place, take a stroll down the beach and take in the history of when it was used in the war. We were lucky enough to see the lifeguard boat taken along the track behind a tractor and launched. Must, must, must have something at the Viewpoint cafe, great value. Early in the season but parking was easy and not too expensive and the toilets were ok.

Did not expect it to be this busy on a Wednesday morning but it is the summer holidays. Lovely cafe that looks over the sea and beach. Parking is sufficient but slightly tight and confusing when leaving from the road markings. The beach is pebble and not wide so the sea isnt far from where land hits. Great for a day out or fresh air. The drive is lovely from Southampton but beware of local roadworks in that area. Seems to be a lot of work at the moment summer 25

Secret little gem. Good parking. Beach is narrow and rocky. Great view of isle of white. Dog friendly. Another secret beach located at the end of the car park. Nice beach front restaurant. Extremely peaceful. Worth visiting.

This is a shingle beach, so wear appropriate footwear. The tide was out but a few people had waded into the sea anyway. There are pleasant walks in both directions - head towards Southampton (as opposed to towards Bournemouth) to the D-Day Landings monuments.

A delightful and well kept secure place to park and enjoy the countryside and beach. Plenty of space to run and let the kids get rid of some of their energy.

Dog friendly either side of family beach which is located straight infrastructure of cafe. Mixture of shingle and sand. Great views. Parking expensive though we paid £8 for just over 3 hrs

Lovely spot. First time here we went to have a looked at the crabs found plenty of them. All the kids looked happy. Food was very expensive though. Parking was all right we found a space quickly. Play park was nice.

Amazing place for a morning stroll or even a day at beach ⛱️ very well organised as many paths for walk, parts of beach that allow dogs, a place for a coffee or a breakfast, ice cream and toilets but what impressed me the most was the cleanliness! A lot of rubbish bins but also, nice people caring for this beautiful place. Every time I come here, it makes my day!

Beautiful beach, largely sand, nice & clean. Great views. Gentle sloping sea (albeit pretty rough when we were there). Quiet with a few surfers, families, couples & the odd dog. Dog friendly. Car park right at the top of the cliff with a fairly easy short walk / slope / steps options to the beach below. Restaurant & toilets available. Really enjoyed

Great beach, clean sand with parking toilets and snacks on hand ! Nice walks across to the Isle of Wight.

The beach is beautiful and fairly quiet. Pebbly beach with sand at low tide. Food vendors available in the car park. Car parking itself is reasonably priced, and the beach is literally just behind it

Awesome location for a day out. Large car park with plenty of parking.

Excellent, offering easy access to Highcliffe Beach for coastal walks and relaxation, as well as proximity to Highcliffe Castle. It's also a good base for exploring the New Forest. And very tidy too!

Very beautiful location and not too difficult to go back up the stairs. Food vans located at the top and bottom. If you’re wanting a scenic walk this is your place.

A very scenic place for a quick tour. The beach was clean. Nature reserve beside the beach also nice a stroll and picnic. Also the high cliff castle and the canteen beside the castle is excellent for lazy afternoon. Canteen was not seen any hot food menu but lots of cake and ice creams to choose from. Canteen has clean Toilets. The steamer point also has public toilet and shower. Car parking cost was £3 for two hours via pay by phone app. There was enough space when I visited but parking was surely limited. I saw a sign for overflow parking area nearby. Lots of beach hug on the beach front probably can be hired. Cafe facilities were there on the beachfront seems popular from the queues.

Love the beach here and the nature reserve. It's a great place to cool down after a long hot day on the beach.

Nice place for family with kids

Lovely and serene place to walk, nice and cool

A haven for wildlife, birds singing and peaceful environment. Informative great little visitor centre!

This is a simple pleasure, and if you have never been before, a delight to wander through and discover. There are grand views, secret old places, twisting paths and at the far end, Highcliffe Castle and the promise of coffee and cakes.

I found the parking slightly cheaper than the more popular Mudeford quay which is only a pleasant 20 min walk along in front of the beach huts and pass the cafe.

You need more than a day to explore everything here!! That was our only complain. It is a great place to spend time with kids. No water related rides/pools for adults which we found disappointing as we came prepared for one (without checking in detail online). That's why the 4 star. There's a splash area for kids and that's it for anything water related as far as I can tell. Would give it 5 star purely for everything kids related. There's lots to explore here. I read on one the reviews to get a packed lunch and I'm glad I read it and we did bring something to eat during the day which did save us some ££!!. We went on a weekday during the school holidays and it wasn't that crowded. Parking is hassle free and they guide you to an empty spot. We went to Peppa Pig World first and managed to get on few of the rides without queuing for long. We found this to be better than Legoland based on our overall experience. Would be going back to explore the unexplored sections/rides hopefully soon!!

Paultons Park is a beautiful, well kept and very themed in the seperate of areas in the park. There is so so many family rides what everyone can enjoy. The ride access pass was so easy to use. The food in the Route 83 diner was really nice. Amazing price value in the shop & food outlets. The toilets was very clean. If the rides are getting to much you have got the gorgeous well kept gardens and animals to walk round. Paultons deserved the best theme park of the year as I had no faults with anything. 🤍

Stunning grounds, went in the summer and it was beautiful just been now(end October)and the work they have put into the grounds for Halloween are fantastic, great to see all the kids excited even before they got to the rides... So clean, the ground staff do an amazing job.. Definitely buy tickets in advance. And I would advise to take food and drink with u as it is a bit pricey. It's a cashless site but you can get a card on entry and put cash on it

Great theme park, not only for younger kids but also for big boys along with adults. Went in Halloween and it was all Pumpkins everywhere. Nicely decorated, enough rides. Visited for 2 days with short break, but if either young or old kids only or if managed properly, all rides and parks can be covered in a day.

Ample free parking, easy check in, well done with the halloween theme, waits on some rides are reasonable. Their phone app is super useful showing locations and waiting times. Staff is friendly, rides are all safe, place and toilets are clean. On stage shows were entertaining. Great place for a family day.

What a lovely experience for my little man, even we the parent joined in and had good fun. The organisation was excellent, friendly people good atmosphere. The fact that you get to ride on all the rides and fun fair they have to offer.Definitely recommending and we will be going again that is if mummy pig decide to have fourth piglet

The rides are good, waiting times not too bad. A spacious site with plenty of places to get food and drink. Ive reduced by 2 stars as, when my son lost his phone on a ride, they couldn't be less interested if they tried. They said there was nothing theu could do and didn't take our details in case they did find it. I do understand that this probably happens all the time but also bit of compassion isn't hard. Won't be going back.

This is truly a place you should visit at least once when in the UK. We had a short 3-day cycling trip here. Everything was wonderful — from the scenery to the people. Just a note: you should prepare an offline map before coming, as in some areas the signal is very weak and you can hardly use online maps.

The rebirth of Foxlease Park, nice to see it back up and running, volunteered here back in February? And it was just nice to see it with life and music... Nice little room in the coach house, could do with an extra pillow, but nice time.

Absolutely beautiful forest, we saw so many horses and lots of cows! We didn’t manage to see any deers. The views are breathtaking and there are many different routes you can take. There is some free parking near Rockford sandpit. You aren’t allowed to feed or pet the animals

The New Forest is a brilliant place for families, especially with kids. The free-roaming ponies, donkeys, and other animals make it feel magical, and places like the Wildlife Park add more chances to see deer, otters, and birds. There are plenty of easy walking trails too, such as at Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, and lots of open spaces that are perfect for picnics. Camping is well set up with designated sites, ranging from rustic fields to family-friendly spots with toilets and showers. Wild camping isn’t allowed, but the official sites give you space for kids to play and a good base to explore. Shops are small village stores or farm shops rather than big supermarkets, and toilets are generally available at visitor centres, though sometimes basic. The park doesn’t really have a big lake for swimming or boating, and indoor play options are limited, so it’s very much an outdoor destination. If you’re prepared for nature, fresh air, and a slightly rustic feel, the New Forest is a wonderful family escape where children can explore freely and see animals up close.

Beautiful place to go loads of open spaces for people to walk and cycle. Large areas for children play. Beautiful river at brockenhurst where you can often see horses and foals, cattle and sometimes donkeys and pigs.

Miles of tall trees creating dense forest. The forest offers great walking and cycling paths which link together towns and areas of interest.

Gorgeous place, well worth a visit if you appreciate nature. The ponies are such a treat to see. It’s also great for beginner cyclists as it has the Old Railway route created by Cycling UK. I felt like I was in a renaissance oil painting at times because the sights were so beautiful. Make sure to get out early to admire the sights as it gets very busy in August.

Highcliffe was brilliant, what a fantastic place to go! Every bit of it took my breath away, I couldn’t stop saying wow look at that. The zig zag to the beach was easy for anyone to use, the beach was amazing. When I went it was hot and sunny. No benches to sit on only big rocks or the beach. Can’t wait to go again and walk to the light house!!!

Got in at 1.15pm, and inside of castle tour was at 1.30pm. For only £3 extra was able to go into rooms not available to the public normally and get a really good storytelling volunteer guide named Sue. Very interesting and engaging. Exploring after that the grounds and eating cake were a plus. Love how its dog friendly for the cafe and their selection of food. Quite a historic place, very happy to have randomly found it on the map and making a detour.

Highcliffe Castle was built between 1831 and 1836 by Lord Stuart de Rothesay. Vast quantities of medieval French masonry was shipped across the channel and used in its construction, making it appear older than it actually is. Kings, Queens and the rich and famous have all stayed here over the years. The castle interior was destroyed by fire in the 60s but grants from Heritage and Lottery funding have been used in its restoration. It's a truly beautiful building with so much history! There's a lovely walk down to Highcliffe Beach as well.

Highcliffe Castle is a beautifully restored building located just back from the seafront on the Dorset Coast. Well worth a visit. Plenty of open space for children and dogs to run about. There are tours inside the house if you wish to pay for a ticket and explore the rooms. There is a lovely café/restaurant on site with outdoor and indoor seating. Very clean well maintained toilets too. I should imagine it can get very busy at peak times, although there is a good amount of parking space. A short walk to the nearby beach is available. Usually very quiet, and dog friendly as it is away from nearby Mudeford and Christchurch.

Looks magnificent on the outside but a bit disappointing on the inside in my opinion. Has been restored post 2 fires in the 60's but not quite back to its former glory, I don't mind the brick wall etc.but the modern style staircase just doesn't suit the style.

Amazing! Before you start your journey you can watch a very short informational video. Only issue I had was there was no reset for the video. Very friendly and helpful staff!

Really impressive castle right next to the beach. I didn’t have the opportunity to go inside but it is free to walk all around the castle. You can have a lovely walk around the garden and access the cafe + castle shop at the rear of the castle. The castle is in walking distance of the beach where you can either take the stairs or an accessible route - the “zig-zag path” which is really convenient if you don’t want to tire yourself out by taking the stairs! There is parking on site.

Love, love, love this place 🥰 Gorgeous sandy beaches, you can walk in from Hengestbury Head which is a beautiful walk or take a ferry boat from Mudeford or Christchurch. Such a great day out with all the beach amenities you could want. Drinks, food and toilets or even hire a beach hut. Highly recommend for a family day out or relaxing couples weekend ❤️

What an amazing place, unspoilt, clean white pristine sand, beautiful! Took short ferry from Mudeford Quay which is also a really interesting place.

Beautiful scenery, clean beach and surrounding area, lots of space to walk, guarded beach, everything you need for the day! Just take water shoes, there is plenty of stones, but water today was delightful!

Beautiful beach with sand. Great place for a holiday with family.

We jumped on the ferry and walked the beach, so so pretty

This place is like a hidden sand beach jewel, after a stunning view on the Hengistbury Head cliff. A tiny spot with such a beautiful landscape. It is possible to rent a beach hut, but walking there and spending the day is already magic.

Stunning, just stunning ... Don't Forget a ride on the noddy/land train at the head. Massive car park available at Hengisbury head, plenty of parking have never failed to get a spot. Pay at machine or use the online app which i always use as you can top up your parking if you are going to be longer than expected, and you will be 😊 There are toilets at Hengisbury Head or on Mudeford sand bank. lots of lovely cafes that serve really nice quality food....you can spend the whole day here the beaches ⛱️ are clean and the waves are small and gentle so ideal if you have small children. One of my favourite places in all the world . You wont be dissapointed x

Lovely small museum about the founding of the 900 year old New Forest and key components of its history and life, such as Roman and World War II involvement, Alice in Wonderland connections, a small cob house replica, and why there are roaming horses (to name a few of the topics). Museum is free though donations are very appreciated. They also have a nice gift shop and cafe on site. Toilets adequate and free. Car park immediately next to it is from the city and costs a small fee.

I made a short stop in this small town on my way north, and visited the Heritage Centre. There was not that much to see, although the few displays were interesting enough. I guess the centre is more useful as an information centre than a museum.

Great museum, donations welcome. Set within the carpark. Cafe is relaxing with music in the background. Plenty of cakes for Gluten free diets and something for vegans. Both cakes In photos are gluten and dairy free. Top marks for the caramel one. Lots of choices for food and drinks. Prices are average for the area.

A small museum depicting life in The New Forest for its residents. The museum is free with a card point asking for a voluntary donation. There’s a cafe & shop within the centre. Doesn’t take long to go around the exhibits but is a nice way to see forest life.

This is a centre with a cafe, gift shop and a small museum about the New Forest. It's really interesting and explain a lot about the past and present of the forest. It's quite small but you can easily spend 30 minutes inside. Definitely worth the visit if you're in the village.

Excellent visitor centre for those wishing to find out more about the New Forest and its history. Upstairs is a long tapestry created by local people showing key events.

Lovely food great staff, had a lovely staff member called belle looking after us all. Great food, lovely setting. Thank you.

We had been recommended coming to Barton on Sea to find fossils. Beautiful place. The toilets were very clean and modern with space to change babies. There was a car park and street parking right by the walkway down to the coast. Be careful coming down if you have a pram or wheelchair as it is steep.

A great spot, public toilets available at the bottom of the path (on the right) and they were fairly clean for public toilets! A pebble beach at the end of the walk is quite secluded and quiet.

We found a small car park just before going down to the sea front. Lovely mile circular walk . Part of it over looks golf course.

Reasonably good, although you have to walk down a long sloped ramp to get to it. Mum was in a wheelchair so just about ok to get down, but quite an effort required to get back up.

I went to have a quiet coffee and this little bird came up and not only pick up the crumbs it sat on my plate and tried to take my tea cake away

Lovely stoney beach. Waves can be choppy but great fun for the kids.

Barton on Sea is a great place for a walk along the beach walk is very flat - but a steep slope to access the pathway and beach huts.

Not bad for few hours of fishing. Only problem parking spot to find.

Long walk. There is plenty of parking but a short walk away. There is some parking at the location but very limited and tight. Small bridge where you can go crabbing, clean the beach, and castle sights.

Loved it here, will definitely come back and walk to the fort.

Gorgeous spot for an afternoon swim with the children, husband and dog! Calm, clear water, no seaweed and very quiet, even in the Summer holidays ♥ ♥

Good walk with dog

Had the best day! Lovely long walk and a super boat ride back to Keyhaven.

Amazing scenery so many coastal walks to choose from with fantastic views

Really enjoyed it here, a mix of the old and the more modern, great history. We caught the little ferry boat over which was lovely, we were going to go back the same way but decided to walk back along the spit, was about 2 miles out in the open and shingle all the way, was very windy on the way back but a nice walk none the less. It's a bit of a gem and not over priced, definitely worth reading all the signs to learn about the history and the changes the castle went through.

I enjoyed my visit immensely. A great place to bring children to run around, although I suggest you use the ferry with the little ones as its a 2 mile walk from the carpark. Completely dog friendly I brought mine. He enjoyed sniffing around the rooms but was impatient to move on. So I photographed the information panels for later. There's a very small cafe and the toilets are open to the elements.

Hurst Castle is an absolute gem. The walk from the car park to the castle is about 2 miles with lovely views of the Needles. You can get the ferry from Keyhaven to save on the walk. Once inside the castle, there’s so much to explore and the exhibitions are well presented and bring the stories of the castle to life. The views from the castle walls are breathtaking and you can see across to the Isle of Wight and watch the boats sail by. I’d highly recommend bringing a picnic and spending a few hours wandering, learning, and soaking up the atmosphere. A brilliant day out for families, history lovers, and anyone who enjoys a walk.

We took the ferry across and then spent about 3 hours wandering round. Lots of different bits to see but the highlight are the views over to the Isle of White and the lighthouse. There is a little cafe out front and some rustic toilets inside. If you intend on being there over lunch I’d suggest bringing lunch with you.

Great morning out looking around this castle. Got the ferry there snd back which was great fun. Lovely views from the top of the castle overlooking isle of wight and beyond. Lot's of information given as you walk around.

Great place to explore, by foot over shingle spit or by little boat. Lots of rooms to explore and learn history of the building, surrounding area and lighthouses in general. We had great time.

This Castle has a lot to offer. Its history and role during various wars is well explained at various points inside the castle. There are many sections accessible only through narrow stairs. On an upper level there are lovely views across to Hust Beach and Keyhaven. In the other direction there is a clear view of the Isle of Wight.

Really nice sandy beach. During summer, it is really crowded. There are multiple beaches nearby, I guess it is one of the best in Bournemouth. Nearby car parks are a little expensive and at times full. You might have to walk around 10 minutes to find little cheaper car parks and to easily find space. Great place to spend your day. Great view of the sea from Boscombe pier. I definitely recommend visiting the beach.

This beach is possibly one of my favorite beach as it has everything, it offers miles of sandy shoreline and ample paid parking. The beach is fully accessible and equipped with lifeguards, shower facilities, and toilets. You can even enjoy a barbecue there. I highly recommend it; once you visit, you'll want to go every year.

Boscombe beach is fantastically beautiful, the sandy beach is a place to go every day. It’s so clean and there are free to use BBQs after 6pm. The views from the beach are as good as a holiday abroad, no kidding it was as good as a beach day in Malaysia but not as hot. Free parking can be found up on the road along the cliff. There are also restaurants or tea, coffee huts along the walk way.

When summer arrives, Bournemouth is usually one of my go to destinations. But let’s be honest judging by the crowds, many people feel the same way, and sometimes it turns into a stressful experience rather than a relaxing day at the beach. Space is limited, and it can get overwhelming. That’s why I was so glad to discover Boscombe Beach. Recently, with hotel prices in Bournemouth getting higher and higher, I decided to stay here instead and it turned out to be a fantastic choice. The beach is less crowded, the overall vibe is calmer, and prices for accommodation are relatively more reasonable. On top of that, Bournemouth is still close enough to reach by foot or bike, so you don’t miss out on the city experience either. In my opinion, Boscombe is a really smart alternative if you want to enjoy the seaside without the chaos. Highly recommended!

Lovely sandy beach, very clean and good facilities nearby (toilets, food & drink etc). Loungers and deck chairs can be rented for the day and lifeguards are on hand for any emergencies. Small car park near the beach but plenty of other (cheaper or free) parking further away if you don't mind a short walk.

Quieter than the bournmouth pier area. Which had many illegal activities taking place regardless of high police presence. But many sharp shells at coast.

Boscombe beach is a beautiful beach with lots of amenities, toilets, showers, life guards, free electric barbecues, and Pier. There is a free water dispenser. You can hire beach huts for the week. Near Boscombe beach there is a harvester, plus bars and cafes. Near the Pier there are rocks for children to climb on.

Great place for a walk. Can be slightly tricky when it’s muddy.

Brought my now wife here on a date once, we sat for hours watching the lights across the water

Nice place to go for a walk. Great for crabbing with children, or exercising the dog. It's big enough to play team games or let the children run around. The only downside is that there are too few picnic tables. Otherwise it's a lovely place to spend an hour or two.

Great open public space well equipped to enter the water . ..

OK place to walk the dogs and see a variety of waders but not the most beautiful of settings

Great place to take your dog for a walk and very peaceful.

Great beach for walking and crabbing. Very near from Eling Tide Mill and not too far from Totton Town Centre.

We had a brilliant family day out at Tapnell Farm on the Isle of Wight! As two adults and two children, we found there was so much to keep everyone happy. The kids loved meeting the animals, racing around the adventure play areas, and splashing about at the fantastic Aqua Park – definitely a highlight of the day! We also enjoyed a lovely meal at The Cow restaurant, which had delicious food and a really friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Everything was clean, well organised, and set in such a beautiful location. A perfect mix of fun, food, and fresh air – we can’t wait to come back!

A great day out for kids of all ages. we only spent the afternoon here and with only one 5 year old that was fine. But with more kids or older ones I think you could easily spend the whole day here.

Loved it here. So much to do for the kids. Football golf was a huge success with my footie crazy boys. The animal park was great, we especially loved feeding the wallabies.

Paid £68 for a family of 4 members, didn’t find the value for that money, we came under the impression that children are allowed to play with animals but it’s based on their show time and that too very limited. We were expecting more animals in this price because the play area is not the thing we came here for, it’s an over rated place maybe it is good for the people that stay here because i think a zoo would be lower in cost and with more animals in it as well.

We went off peak One of my party was a wheelchair user, all the staff was super helpful, as we went in off peak season we didn't have to queue for anything, a very child friendly place, And that is so much to keep them entertained for hours we ate at the restaurant the cow. The food is amazing.

A fantastic place for a day out for a family with children of all ages, whatever the weather. With helpful friendly staff, reasonable prices to eat and drink or space to bring your own food but crucially plenty of space it is hard to fault as a children’s farm.

This was a brilliant place to take children and for adults to walk around . So much to do for the children and the easter event was fab too well thought out lots of shows to watch, characters walking round etc . There's so many hands on activities like slides , mini basket ball, soft play, racing cars ..even my 17 and 15 year old enjoyed them , outside play , bounding pillows. We will definitely be back and not to badly priced either

A great day out. We did the tour to the Nab Tower. All volunteers are fabulous and very helpful, they all have superb knowledge about the steamship and surrounding area. We took our toddler who was thoroughly entertained for the 6 hour trip and we didn’t even need to open the back up bag of toys incase he got bored. Food was excellent and priced well. Would definitely go again.

Visited the Steamship Shieldhall on an open day and had a lovely experience exploring this beautifully preserved piece of maritime history. The volunteer crew were friendly and passionate, offering great insights into the ship’s workings and heritage. It was fascinating to see the engine room in action and walk around the deck imagining its days at sea. A unique and enjoyable visit for all ages!

From Poole along the Jurassic coast ,a marvelous trip onboard the ss Shieldhall. Wonderfully entertained by shanty singers. All the volunteers who help to operate this fine vessel do an amazing job.

Have travelled on SHIELDHALL a good number of times over the years all ways a good experience. Excellent for the Bournemouth Air show for good views of the aircraft with the sun behind you. Unfortunately my last trip had to be cancelled due to a pump failure. The first time it has happened to me. Hot and cold food available on board. Drinks coffee tea and alcoholic drinks. Men and women's toilets. Seating outside and inside, lots of things to see on board. Very stable ship. Good for taking photos .cruise ships ect. Have just returned from the rolex fastnet 100 . Trip great day out thanks to all Shieldhall volunteers for making it a memorable day.

Great trip out for my husbands birthday present. We had the best time. Highly recommend. Bonus, passengers could visit the engine room and see how the boat was ran if it interested them. I believe you could also visit the bridge.

This was our second time aboard SS Shieldhall, sailing from Poole Quay out to Old Harry Rocks and onto The Needles, Isle of Wight. We went aboard at 10.30 and disembarked about 18.00. Second time around was even more awesome than before. You can access all areas of the ship, the bridge, engine room / boilers and steering gear enclosure. Seeing all this fully operational is absolutely fabulous !! The staff are amazing, explaining everything that you are seeing and really bringing it to life ! The ship is now 70 years old, but still looks as good as the day it was built. We also enjoyed a meal whilst on board, and they even had real ale, what could be better.!? If you enjoy all things steam powered and ‘olde-worlde’, then having a trip on this ship is a must ! A special thank you to all the volunteers, you make this a truly memorable experience.

Set off on a Sunday from berth 110 in the docks at Southampton with nearby parking dedicated to the Shieldhall for a wonderful 8 hour relaxing trip. So smooth, and expertly guided over the loud speaker as we went past famous places on the Isle is White and Southampton like Osborne House. The crew (all volunteers) were amazing and all happy to tell you all about the wonderful old ship! And the engine room must not be missed, engineering in action is an understatement...it was more like a treasure trove of knowledge and practical applications of physics at its best.

Sandy beach below constantly eroding orange cliffs. A popular location for swimming, water sports and watching the seabirds. Striking geological contrast where the orange sandstone cliffs meet the white chalk. A small stream flows down the cliff a short walk east from the National Trust parking area; hardly a waterfall compared to Shanklin Chine or the coastal waterfalls in Devon, but still worth a quick look. The parking area is large and managed by the National Trust, so members park for free, otherwise there's a charge. There are toilet facilities, and a National Trust coffee van was there both times I visited. The beach disappears at high tide, so check the time times before visiting. Only downside is that the water management pipes on the main beach detract somewhat from the natural beauty, but are doubtless there to prevent severe erosion issues.

Lovely beach and cliffs to watch surfers, car park and toilet facilities. A lovely spot with beautiful views. The beach does disappear with high tide.

Lovely beach, great for the family and making sandcastles! New toilet block is modern and ice creams from National Trust van are amazing! Dogs allowed on the beach but only on the left as you go down the steps. Just be aware that the parking app has changed to Just Park (Aug 2025) Option to pay later if you struggle with signal at the beach too.

I loved this bay so much, of course it is much more popular for many reasons, but you can still enjoy a lovely walk, just not completely on your own, except it is raining, then you might be the only one there.

A really nice play to find fossils, investigate the rocks and beach area. Plenty of people surfing and paddle boarding when we went in May. National trust car park with Cafe Van and a good toilet block.

Nice beach with national trust parking and toilets. Access to the beach is down some wooden steps.

Beautiful sandy beach which is lovely as the sun is going down. It is very big at low tide and plenty of space to walk along the beach for a stroll. There is a car park at the top which is national trust and then some steps down to the bottom. Beware of any cliff falls though as the car park is slowly being swallowed into the sea! The steps up and down are also not looking particularly stable as you can see in the pictures. But overall its worth a visit!

There is plenty of parking nearby. A pleasant place to walk along the sea front & access the beach, which is dog friendly all year. Steep, stony beach but great views of the Isle of Wight. Beach huts are very colourful & have beachfront access.

I just happened to visit on a sunny day in November, just before sunset. It was gorgeous, so peaceful and just had a really nice vibe to it. The beach huts come in many shapes, colours and sizes and were a beautiful sight with the low sun shining directly on them. Very nice to take in as part of a coastal walk or just on its own for a bit of chillout time . And you have a great view of the Isle of Wight, including the needles.

What a lovely place to sit and enjoy company - socially distance of course. The huts do look a little like toilet cubicles but hey, it is nice none the less

Great pebble beach. Not alot to do Hurst castle is within walking distance and spectacular views. Bring a picnic..

Lovely quiet place to visit.Needles Eye Cafe very good.Reasonable priced, basic good.

Lovely views across the Solent to the Needles & Isle of Wight. Beach a mix of shingle and sand, with good access from two carparks

great place and beach for kids not too busy, sand and shingle beach with close proximity to local amenities