Ashurst

Ashurst makes an easy, well-connected base for exploring the eastern side of the New Forest, whether you want a village pub with rooms, a B&B, or self-catering cottages tucked among the trees. Its position right on the South Western Railway line, with its own station offering direct trains towards Southampton, Brockenhurst and Bournemouth, means it suits visitors who would rather leave the car behind for day trips, while its spot just off the A35 near the M27 keeps it convenient for those touring more widely by road. Families are well served, with New Forest Wildlife Park and Longdown Activity Farm both a short distance away, and Paultons Park with its Peppa Pig World only a short drive further afield, making Ashurst a practical base for a few days of mixed forest and theme-park entertainment.

Accommodation in the village itself tends towards traditional pubs with rooms and small B&Bs, while the surrounding lanes and hamlets offer New Forest cottages and holiday lets for those wanting more space or a longer stay. Booking ahead is advisable in summer and during school holidays, when both the village and the wider New Forest fill up with visitors drawn by the ponies, walking trails and family attractions. Out of season, Ashurst is notably quieter, and can be a good option for visitors who want the New Forest experience without peak-season crowds, with the woodland close by offering atmospheric walks whatever the weather. Whichever type of stay you choose, the appeal is the same: within minutes of checking in, you can be walking among free-roaming ponies on open heath, in a way that few other parts of lowland England still allow.

Ashurst punches well above its size for family days out, largely thanks to two long-established attractions right on its doorstep, alongside the open forest itself.

• New Forest Wildlife Park — Around two miles from the village, this 50-acre park set in ancient New Forest woodland specialises in British and once-native wildlife, including otters, owls, deer, foxes, wildcats and harvest mice, and is a leading centre for the rescue and rehabilitation of injured wild otters.
• Longdown Activity Farm — A hands-on family farm a couple of miles from Ashurst, on the edge of the National Park, where children can bottle-feed goat kids, meet calves, feed ducks and handle chicks in the Animal Encounter Barn.
• New Forest ponies and pannage — The semi-wild ponies that graze the verges and open heath around Ashurst are one of the defining sights of the National Park; every autumn commoners also turn out pigs onto the forest floor for pannage season.
• Walking and cycling into the open forest — Ashurst is a genuine gateway village, with footpaths and cycle routes leading straight from the edge of the village into heathland, bog and ancient woodland without the need for a car.
• Ashurst railway station — A useful, car-free way to explore further afield, with direct trains along the New Forest line to Brockenhurst, Beaulieu Road and on to Bournemouth or up to Southampton and London.
• Paultons Park — The large family theme park, home to Peppa Pig World, lies a short drive north-west of Ashurst and makes a popular day-trip combination with a forest stay.
• Southampton Water and the coast — Ashurst's position on the eastern edge of the forest puts Southampton, its docks and the Solent within easy reach for a change of scene from woodland to water.

The village has three pubs, giving visitors a proper choice of New Forest hospitality: The New Forest, a large Fuller's pub and restaurant near the station with an extensive seasonal menu, a big garden overlooking the forest and a play area for children; The Happy Cheese; and The Forest Inn. Along the main road through the village there are several further options, including a Chinese and English takeaway, a traditional fish and chip shop, an Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant and takeaway, a bistro, and a sandwich bar, along with a Post Office and newsagent for provisions.

Camping is one of the classic ways to experience Ashurst and the surrounding New Forest, and the village sits right beside one of the region's best-known sites, with a large Forestry England-run campsite just a short stroll from the pubs and shops, set among ancient oak trees and open grassy pitches for tents, touring caravans and motorhomes. Facilities typically include toilet and shower blocks and a launderette, though sites in the New Forest generally do not offer electric hook-up on every pitch, so it is worth checking what is included before booking. A particular charm of camping here is the resident New Forest and Shetland ponies that wander freely around and through some sites, along with easy access to cycle and footpaths leading straight into the open forest.

It is important to remember that wild camping is not legal in England without the landowner's explicit permission, and this applies fully within the New Forest, where camping is restricted to designated, licensed sites to protect the fragile heathland, ancient trees and grazing that the National Park depends on. Straying off-site to pitch a tent on open forest land is not permitted and can result in fines, so campers should stick to recognised campsites such as those in and around Ashurst. The New Forest's terrain of heath, bog and woodland floor means pitches can be soft underfoot after rain, so sturdy tent pegs and suitable footwear are worth packing.

Late spring through to early autumn is the most popular and reliable camping season, when the woodland canopy is full and evenings are long enough for a walk among the ponies after pitching up, though many keen campers also enjoy the crisper air and autumn colour during pannage season. For those who prefer a roof and fewer guy ropes to worry about, glamping options including bell tents, pods and safari-style tents have become increasingly common around the New Forest, offering a softer introduction to sleeping among the trees without sacrificing the sense of being genuinely immersed in the forest.