How to Spend a Long Weekend in Brockenhurst

Described as ‘Britain’s most beautiful place to live’, the New Forest village of Brockenhurst provides an idyllic setting for all those searching for a mini-break on home shores.

Surrounded by endless leafy tracks and forest trails, Brockenhurst offers the ideal base from which to branch out and explore the rest of the Hampshire New Forest.

Join us for a long weekend in Brockenhurst and a flavour of what’s on offer both in and around this much loved village.

3 Days in Brockenhurst

Friday afternoon:

You’ve navigated your way along the leafy lanes of the New Forest and arrived at your Brockenhurst holiday cottage. A long weekend awaits, but before you ‘hit the hay’, it’s time for an evening stroll.

Head towards the village’s idyllic Watersplash Ford – a place where the free-roaming ponies and donkeys often stop for a drink – crossing the old stone bridge to pick up the Burley Road towards the open forest on Culverley Green. Follow the country lanes that weave around the village as the shadows lengthen and the sun starts to set.

Where better to head than one of Brockenhurst’s traditional old country pubs for a hearty meal and a chance to meet the locals. We picked the Foresters Arms as your cosy evening venue.

Brockenhurst lies in the heart of the New Forest, so you can expect nothing but silent, starry nights.

Saturday:

Wake up on Saturday morning feeling fully refreshed and ready to seize the day. Pull back the curtains and enjoy those leafy, rooftop views before and al-fresco breakfast on the terrace. Brockenhurst’s Brookley Road is lined by traditional shops, local artisans and independent traders, the ideal place to pick up some tasty treats and fresh essentials from the local deli counters.

Next, you’re bound for the Rhinefield Ornamental Woodland Cycle Trail, a great way to experience the ancient boughs that characterise this stunning national park. Hire your bikes from Cyclexperience, located at the Brockenhurst Railway Station car park, an award-winning specialist cycle store with bags of knowledge about bikes and the area’s array of cycle paths. Expect some memorable encounters with the local wildlife as you cycle through the forest. Foodies should follow the South Food Trail, a seven-mile cycle route through enchanting woodland with a number of cafes and tea stops found along the way.

All that peddling will have mustered your appetite. It’s time to rest those weary legs and enjoy a spot of lunch. We’ve reserved a table for you at one of Brockenhurst’s most characterful and family-friendly pubs, The Snakecatcher, where you can indulge in light bites, platters and sizzling hot rocks dishes. Make sure you enquire about the legend of “Brusher” Mills – one of Brockenhurst’s most celebrated former residents and to whom the pub owes its name.

You’ve a choice of venues for the afternoon’s entertainment. You might like a quick trip to the pretty, neighbouring village of Beaulieu for a riverside walk followed by a visit to the award-winning National Motor Museum and spectacular Palace House & Gardens. Perhaps you’re in search of a more intimate setting, in which case we recommend a vineyard and wine tour courtesy of Setley Ridge Vineyard which can be found nestled in the countryside only a mile from the village. Or how about a mushroom foraging foray under the expert guidance of New Forest Wild & Exotic Mushrooms.

This evening, dine in style at Brockenhurst’s Le Blaireau, recipient of two AA rosettes for culinary excellence, where you can experience some authentic French cuisine of the highest order.

Sunday:

You’ll be forgiven for enjoying a Sunday morning lie in, after all, there’s never any rush in this dulcet corner of Hampshire. Why not stroll into the village for brunch at one of the local cafés and brasseries and start making plans for the day ahead.

If you’ve packed your golf clubs you might fancy an afternoon on the immaculate fairways of *Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club, a beautiful course ranked among the best in the county. Or perhaps you’d prefer an exhilarating horse ride across the sweeping heathland, in which case Ford Farm Stables, on the outskirts of the village, offer hacks and lessons for both novices and experienced riders – a truly memorable way to experience the sights and sounds of the forest.

*An old spelling before the railway authorities accidently added a ‘c’, which stuck!

If it’s outdoor family fun you seek, New Forest Activities could be just the ticket. This hub of adventure offers up pursuits on both land and water, from kayaking and canoeing to archery, bush craft, combat games and rope courses.

The remedy for all that action and excitement is a tranquil walk beneath the Tall Trees of Blackwater Arboretum, where mighty redwoods and towering Douglas firs have stood for more than a century, growing to remarkable heights. Not far from here, along the Bolderwood Ornmental Drive, the oldest tree in the New Forest can be found. Known as the Knightwood Oak, ‘Queen of the Forest’, it’s believed to have sprouted from its acorn more than five hundred years ago. Finish up with a pot of tea and a round of luxury cakes at one of Brockenhurst’s most popular tea rooms, The Buttery on the picturesque Brookley Road.

Your weekend in Brockenhurst is nearly at an end, but not without another slap-up meal in one of the village’s best  restaurants. Get your glad rags on and take a seat at The Pig, a highly-rated eatery which aims to capture the essence of Hampshire’s produce with its garden-to-plate ethos. Raise your glass and say “cheers” to a wonderful weekend in the New Forest.

Travelling to Brockenhurst…

By Car: Brockenhurst is less than two hours drive from London, forty minutes from Bournemouth and less than half an hour from Southampton.

By Rail: Brockenhurst Railway Station lies on the South Western Main Line from London to Weymouth. It’s also part of the Lymington Branch Line.

By Bus: The village is part of an extensive bus network with links to Ringwood, Lymington, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne, Salisbury, Fordingbridge and Totton (plus lots of villages and hamlets in between).

By Plane: Nearest airports are Bournemouth International Airport and Southampton Airport.