Ower

Ower makes a practical, unfussy base for a Hampshire break, sitting right where the New Forest, Romsey and Southampton all meet within a few miles. Hotel choice directly in the hamlet is minimal given its size, so most visitors book into Romsey, Totton or one of the New Forest villages a short drive away, where country inns, small independent hotels and chain options near the motorway cover most budgets. Families heading for Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World often look for accommodation clustered around the attraction itself, with several hotels and lodges pitched squarely at that market and offering easy access without a long morning drive.

Because Ower sits beside the M27 and on the A36, it also works well as a stopover for people passing between Southampton, Salisbury and the wider south coast, rather than only as a destination in its own right. Rooms here tend to suit travellers who want quick road access and a quiet overnight stay rather than a resort experience. For anyone wanting to properly explore the New Forest National Park — its ponies, heathland and walking trails — staying a little further south or west, closer to Lyndhurst or Brockenhurst, will put more of the forest within easy reach, while Ower itself remains a sensible, central pick for splitting time between the theme park, the forest and Hampshire's towns.

• Paultons Park — home to Peppa Pig World, this is Ower's best-known landmark and one of the region's biggest family attractions, with rides, animals and themed lands right on the hamlet's doorstep.
• New Forest National Park — ancient woodland, open heath and free-roaming ponies begin just a short drive south, with walking and cycling routes for all abilities.
• Romsey — a handsome market town a few miles north, built around the Norman splendour of Romsey Abbey, with independent shops and cafes around the market place.
• Southampton — the city's waterfront, SeaCity Museum and shopping at WestQuay are within easy reach to the east.
• Ower Golf Course — a local course for a round without travelling far from base.

The hamlet has long been known for its pubs, including the Mortimer Arms, a local landmark on the A36. Beyond that, Romsey offers a good spread of cafes, restaurants and traditional pubs, and Southampton adds a wider choice of dining for those happy to travel a little further.

Ower sits right on the edge of the New Forest, and while the hamlet itself has no campsite of note, it is within easy reach of a good selection just across the parish boundary and into the National Park proper. As with anywhere in England, wild camping is not permitted without the landowner's explicit permission — the New Forest's open heaths might look inviting, but pitching up without booking a recognised site risks a fine and does real damage to sensitive forest habitat, so stick to licensed campsites and Forestry England sites nearby.

The terrain around Ower is gentle farmland giving way quickly to New Forest heath and woodland, so nearby sites tend to offer a mix of open grass pitches and more sheltered, tree-lined spots. Facilities range from simple, back-to-basics fields to fuller-service holiday parks with electric hook-ups, shower blocks and on-site shops, many of them well used to families visiting Paultons Park just up the road.

Late spring through to early autumn is the best window for camping here, when the forest is at its most walkable and the ponies and cattle that roam it are easiest to spot, though the New Forest's relatively mild, sheltered climate keeps some sites open for shoulder-season trips too. Midsummer weekends near Paultons Park book up fastest, so anyone planning a visit around Peppa Pig World should reserve well ahead.

For those who would rather skip the tent, glamping options in the wider New Forest area — shepherd's huts, pods and safari tents — offer a softer way to enjoy the same woodland setting, and are worth considering if comfort matters as much as being close to the forest.