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Our Bench Accessible Self Catering Holidays
Our Bench

A preplanned Accessible Holiday in the New Forest

A Week or Two in the New Forest

One of our guests challenged us to plan a week's holiday in the New Forest. We honestly told them you need more than a week here, as there is so much to see and do, but we thought we would start by sharing with you some of our favorite locations and the kind of activities we think are great to enjoy. We know everyone is different and not all ideas will be accessible to everyone, as we all have different needs. However, if we were guiding you around the forest for a few days, these are the spots we think you should include in your visit. Not every place has a postcode, so for our ease, we are going to share the locations through a fantastic app called What3Words. You can download it on Apple and Android devices and use it to navigate to the points we have highlighted. It is well worth having this on your phone anyway, as most emergency services can locate you with this app in case you ever have a problem.

A treat on Friday

f you arrive at the cottage early and we are not ready for you, we would recommend stopping off for a cup of tea at Shallowmead Nursery. This garden centre is home to Mabel's, a fantastic independent coffee shop. If the weather is lovely, they have a landscaped courtyard garden which you are welcome to enjoy, and it is a great way to start your holiday. They also do a great breakfast. Another option is Daisy Tea Garden, which also has a neighboring farm shop and is a small local independent business. Or, you can pop into the village of Lyndhurst, where you will find the New Forest Museum—a chance to learn more about the New Forest, and numerous coffee shops on either side of the high street—we have not yet tried them all!

  • Mabel’s at Shallowmead Nursery: Enjoy a cup of tea at this independent coffee shop with a landscaped courtyard garden. They serve a fantastic breakfast too! (Location: https://what3words.com/oven.abruptly.soups)

  • Daisy Tea Garden: A small local independent tea garden with a neighboring farm shop. (Location: https://w3w.co/inflict.munch.beard)

  • Lyndhurst Village: Explore the New Forest Museum and numerous coffee shops along the high street.

Or why not arrange dinner on arrival or for one evening later in the week? Currently, 7th Wave Events will come and cook a 3-course meal at the cottages and do all the clearing up. They are available 7 nights a week but are limited to one event a night, so advance booking is essential.

Market Day in Lymington

Market Day in Lymington

Lymington Quay

Lymington Quay

Lymington to Keyhaven Nature Reserve

Lymington to Keyhaven Nature Reserve

Day Two - Beaulieu and Hatchet Pond

Beaulieu is home to the National Motor Museum and Palace House. It is a fantastic place to explore if you like old cars, Victorian history (the house), as well as gardens and an abbey. But Beaulieu offers so much more. A wander around the village itself lets you watch the ponies grazing by the Mill Pond looking over towards the Palace House. You can walk through the traditional village and sample Beaulieu's delicious homemade chocolates, or enjoy a lovely coffee from the coffee shop at the end of the high street or in the large traditional garden centre at the other end.

Just outside Beaulieu is Buckler's Hard, a maritime village steeped in history. There is a lovely accessible walk from Beaulieu to the village and back, 2.5 miles each way. You can download a map here. Or you can drive to the village and park there.

Hatchet Pond is a lovely spot to finish the day. Here, you can park beside the pond and enjoy a picnic with a view. If you are lucky enough to time it with an evening sunset, it is the perfect way to end the day. It is very popular with photographers.

Day Three (Monday) - Christchurch

Christchurch is just 11 miles from our holiday cottages. Christchurch is a town and civil parish in Dorset on the south coast of England. The town covers an area of 19.5 square miles, adjoins Bournemouth to the west, with the New Forest to the east. It is a delight to explore with its riverside walks, ancient monuments, famous Priory, and Quay popular with visitors, swans, and various events throughout the year.

Take some bread to feed the ducks, which is our top tip. There are lots of spots to enjoy a coffee or meal too, and families can hire a small boat to motor independently up the river!

Lepe Country park

Lepe Country Park

Walking at Lepe

Walking at Lepe

Views from Hythe

Views From Hythe

Day Four - Exbury & Lepe

Drive on from Beaulieu to Exbury Gardens. This is a wonderful garden with acres to explore. There are tarmac paths and trails, a steam railway, and a lovely coffee venue just outside. The gardens are known for their spectacular collection of woodland, herbaceous, contemporary, formal, and wildflower gardens. There is lots to do for everyone—whether you are seeking out a quiet space, want to enjoy the gardens with a ride on a steam train, or hire a tramper for part of the day.

Drive onto Lepe Country Park, where you can park directly on the beach and watch the ships go in and out of Southampton Water. There are changing places facilities along with a beach wheelchair available. Hidden across the road is an amazing sensory garden and boardwalk trail for families. It is accessible, although the terrain towards the end of the boardwalks may be a little more challenging. The garden at the start is a delight with lots to explore and discover.

The café at Lepe is on stilts, with fantastic ramped access, so you can sit and enjoy the watercraft out of the wind while enjoying your coffee or lunch. After a day enjoying the sea breeze, why not stop off at Walhampton Arms on the way home? This is a great accessible local restaurant which had new owners move in at the beginning of the New Year and who have been really supportive of the local community recently.

Day Five - Calshot, Ashlett Creek and Hythe

If you wish to continue to discover new areas or just would like to drive further around the Waterside area, we would also suggest taking in the following sights:

Day Six - Avon Beach and Mudeford Quay

Avon Beach is our nearest accessible sandy beach. You can park on the seafront, and there is a tarmac promenade which you can stroll along. The beach is popular with families and it is much quieter than nearby Bournemouth and Boscombe beaches. You can walk along the tarmac path at the seafront to Mudeford Quay and the harbour, which is popular for crabbing, watching, and enjoying a range of water-sports. You can even catch the ferry across to Hengistbury Head, although we prefer the walk!

       

Day Seven - Hengistbury Head

Hengistbury Head is a scenic and historic headland near the town of Bournemouth on the south coast of England. It stands midway between Poole Harbour and Hurst Spit and forms the main division between Poole and Christchurch Bays. There is a fantastic tarmac path from the car park and coffee shop all the way to the beach huts at the end, and another coffee shop before you walk back again, via the coastal path or over the top of the headland. Not all paths are wheelchair/pushchair friendly, so make sure you follow the right signs. The visitor centre near the coffee shop is a great place to start, and they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Day Eight - A Day in

Sometimes all you want is a Day In - a day at your holiday cottage to just enjoy the birds singing in the garden, a chance to rest and recharge the batteries, and a chance for the driver to put their feet up. But why not have a day in with a difference? This will need a little bit of advance planning, but it is the perfect day-in treat.

  • Book a Crazy Creature Encounter - these educational and fun encounters feature amazing creatures from all over the world! Unique ways of safely viewing and handling within regulation guidelines, and lots of interactive ideas for fun and learning for all ages! From giant bugs to tortoises, lizards, snakes, and owls! Their 'creature mobile' is fully equipped for mobile visits for families or small groups, bringing the fascinating world of wildlife to your holiday for a unique and memorable display! Prices start at £75 (2020), and you can book and arrange for them to come to your holiday cottage. Crazy Creatures.
  • You may have spotted we offer photography sessions for guests with a professional photographer. These can be done at the cottage or in a photo studio just a couple of minutes' walk away. Capture some lasting memories you would love to treasure. Prints start at £10, but if you allow "Our Bench" to use the photos in their advertising, you can get up to 6 digital files (valued at over £150) for free. You would really get some unique memories to treasure, but booking is required. Schedule it alongside your creature encounter and you will experience an amazing day! www.renoufdesign.co.uk
  • Dine In Deluxe - book 7th Wave Events to come along and cook a 3-course meal, restaurant-quality food cooked on the premises - no washing up, no busy restaurant, just personal friendly service and great value.

 

A walk around Sturt Pond and Milford on Sea where there is a changing places facility in the village car park.

Day Nine - Milford on Sea and onto Barton on Sea

Milford on Sea is just six miles from our holiday cottages - you can park here on the beachfront and watch the waves crash onto the shore. There is a tarmac promenade along the beach and sloped access to the roof of the beach huts where you can also sit and enjoy the view. The Lighthouse restaurant is lovely and ften has live music. . If you choose to wander into Milford and discover the local shops,

Just around the headland at Milford is a tarmac cliff-top walk. You used to be able to walk directly from Milford, but it is closed for cliff-top repairs. In the village car park at Milford, you will find a Changing Places toilet if required. There are stunning views over to the Isle of Wight and the Needles. Drive on, and you reach Barton on Sea. Here you can watch paragliders on the cliff-top, enjoy some home-cooked delights at the Beachcomber Cafe, or head down to the sea via the sloped coastal path.

Hegistbury Head

Heading off on an adventure at Hengistbury Head

Exbury Gardens

Exploring the gardens at Exbury

River Stour accessible walk at Christchurch

A walk beside the river Stour at Christchurch

Day Ten - Highcliffe

Spend the day in Highcliffe. If you choose to turn off from the High Street, you can discover Highcliffe's lovely beach. The Cliffhanger Cafe is on the cliff top; they hold a regular events program as well as provide teas, coffees, breakfast, and lunch. From the cafe, there is sloped access down to the sea and a variety of coastal paths to follow to create a lovely circular walk. If you head in the direction of the ZigZag Path, you can climb back up the cliff and visit Highcliffe Castle - a Grade 1 listed house and a fantastic local wedding venue. When tours are available, it is a really interesting place to visit as they have only recently started renovating it. There is a lovely coffee shop in the grounds.

If you don't want to walk from the cliff top, there is parking at Highcliffe Castle itself, although the car park can fill quite quickly some days. Once you have explored the castle grounds, head on to Steamer Point Nature Reserve and you can enjoy a step-free walk through the open, quiet woodland with breathtaking views out onto the Solent.

Day Eleven - Longslade Bottom and Wilvery

One of the simple pleasures of enjoying the New Forest is taking the time to sit back, watch the wildlife, and enjoy a walk or two. The route along to Longslade Bottom and the car parks along that road, including Horseshoe Bottom View, offer great views across the open forest. Here you can sit in your car and just watch the world go by, or you could picnic on the forest lawn. If you choose to park at Longslade, you can access the old railway walk at the coordinates mentioned. Choosing either the left or right slope, you can then do a lovely, level there-and-back walk along the old railway line.

Then head out to Wilverly. Wilverly Plain is popular for picnics, games, and watching the ponies and cattle graze on a large expanse of New Forest lawn. Or head into the enclosure behind you, where you will find a lovely circular walk (waymarked) through the woodland on wide gravel paths. It is enjoyable for all the family with a couple of hills, no traffic, and areas where den building is encouraged at your own risk. There are toilets at Wilverly and a BBQ area—one of the few places in the forest where you can use the BBQ benches and enjoy your disposable BBQ if the New Forest is not at high fire risk.

New Forest Wildlife Park - June 2020

Day Twelve - Lyndhurst, New Forest Museum, Ashurst - Longdown & New Forest Wildlife Park

Lyndhurst is often congested with traffic, but it is full of unique character and surrounded by the National Park. It is a great place to sample New Forest produce, purchase something made of wood by local craftspeople, and find out more about the local area. Just off the main car park is the New Forest Museum, where you can find out more about the forest's history and management.

Just outside Lyndhurst is Bolton's Bench. This is a local landmark, and if you climb to the top of the hill where the yew trees are, you can see the top of Lyndhurst church, which is at the other end of the High Street. Bolton's Bench is important to us, as this is where my dad proposed to my mum, and they agreed to have a bench of their own one day. Hence, the holiday cottages are named "Our Bench" collectively, and each has "Bench" in its name.

Heading onto Ashurst, there are two great attractions that are well worth a visit. Longdown Activity Farm is ideal for children and has a Changing Places toilet, and New Forest Wildlife Park is the one place in the forest where you can see wild boar and wolves, as well as deer, otters, foxes, and badgers. It is a great opportunity to get close to some of the New Forest animals.

Day Thirteen (Wednesday)- Burley, Ringwood & Liberty's

The village of Burley - this is a traditional New Forest village, where witches, smuggling, and dragons all add to the character of the village. The car park is behind the Queen's Head pub, and in the field beyond, you can often see New Forest Red Deer - so keep a look out. Burley has a great tea room, some local gift shops, and is home to New Forest Cider.

Travel on, and on Wednesdays, it is market day in Ringwood. It is a smaller market than Lymington, traditionally home to a large agricultural market, and some of the buildings in Ringwood show the heritage of the area. Ringwood is home to Ringwood Brewery, where you can have a brewery tour (not wheelchair friendly) or sit in their courtyard and sample our more well-known local beer. If you enjoy wildlife, the Liberty's Owl, Raptor, and Reptile Centre is always worth a visit. They have regular flying sessions and amazing photography days (advance booking required).

Day Fourteen - Brockenhurst, Tall Tree Trail and Ober Water Walks and then onto the Deer Sanctuary

The forest has so many places to explore. You can park in any of the forest car parks for free and enjoy a picnic, look at the view, and watch the animals graze. Head off on foot, and you will find lots of quiet spaces to enjoy.

As you travel through Brockenhurst, please stop off at the Bakehouse - this is Matt and my favorite treat. They have lots of savory slices suitable for a picnic lunch, doughnuts, lardy cakes, and more treats. There are also lots of other independent shops in the village, including a traditional butcher and greengrocer, if you want to stock up on supplies and would prefer somewhere quiet to shop.

With your picnic packed, I can recommend two local walks nearby - Ober Water Walk and the Tall Tree Trail - both are wheelchair accessible. The tree trail is closer to the road if you have children, but both have easy-to-follow markers and are diverse in character, so you could even do both. I have parked you in the car parks that tend to have an ice cream van as well as toilets available.

Continue on your way through the Ornamental Drive (the road you are driving on), across the main road, and up to the deer sanctuary, where wild deer are fed every afternoon in summer. If you are lucky, you will be able to spot them in the grazing fields.

Day Fifteen - Moors Valley County Park

You can easily spend a day in Moors Valley Country Park and only pay for parking. There are lots of signposted walks to explore, a tree-top trail, a fantastic play trail for children, and two fantastic play parks. There's a mini railway, fishing lakes, and various paid attractions too, including Go-Ape, bike hire, and Segway and more.. There is something for everyone - a regular program of events and a great place to purchase lunch.

Day Sixteen - Hurst Castle

This has to be Matt's and my favorite castle. It belongs to English Heritage and it is down the end of a really long shingle bank. There are frequent ferries from Keyhaven, and it is a lovely journey up the river to the castle. However, you need to be able to climb into the boat, so it is not accesible to everyone. It is well worth the effort. With small family groups in the smaller ferries, you sometimes get the chance to drive the boat on request. Once there, the castle (subject to reopening) has a basic tea room and toilet, and there are lots and lots of rooms and spaces to explore. It is a fantastic place for children as their imaginations can go wild, and one of the best places to view the yachts passing through the Solent. If we have visitors coming from afar, we always recommend it as it dates back to Henry VIII and is steeped in timeless history!

And Still to Explore

A trip to the north of the New Forest, A day trip to the Isle of Wight is a must with ferries running from Lymington to Yarmouth., a maybe a visit to a World Heritage Site - Stonehenge and Salisbury are just an hour away by car.

Stonehenge - August 2020

All the places listed on our New Forest pages, Lymington pages and our day trip suggestions, as well as our suggestions in our photo gallery, and a free photo shoot to fit in, or one of our many other suggested walks, and then if they are running there are all the seasonal events to look forward too - we share lots of these on our facebook page.

Have you booked a long enough stay or maybe you need to come back again soon!

Check out what 2 week holidays we have available in the coming months and book now or choose just a few days!

 

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