Your dog will love a cottage holiday in the New Forest
Spread across 350 square miles of woodland, pasture, heath and moor, the New Forest National Park is every dog’s heaven. Once the royal hunting ground of William the Conqueror, today, the national park remains one of the largest stretches of untainted forest in the UK.
With deer, ponies and cattle strolling freely across the wild grounds, the New Forest is one of the best places to leave city stress behind. Wandering through the park feels like stepping back several hundred years, to a simpler age with fresher air, friendlier faces and the clearest night skies.
World-class walking routes
We don’t have to tell you that nothing gets your dog more excited than the word ‘walk’. Luckily, almost nowhere does walking routes quite as well as the New Forest, with the national park boasting hundreds of world-class strolls for you and your pooch to enjoy.
While all you need to do to find a walking route in the New Forest is pick a direction and make a start, if you’re after a Snaptrip recommendation, go for the 2.5-mile circular walk around Wilverley Inclosure. This laid back path is a great place to grab some incredible holiday snaps of you and your pooch, as you pass fields, streams and an array of seasonal wildlife along the way.
Things you have to make sure you do in the New Forest
As well as boasting some of the UK’s best walking and cycling routes, the New Forest is home to dozens of tourist attractions. From family-friendly fun at Peppa Pig World to Medieval magic at Hurst Castle, there’s much more hiding in this national park than what meets the eye. Luckily, our New Forest cottages provide an ideal base for exploring everything there is to do.
To start, we recommend planning a day trip to Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway. Wander through rare wildflowers and trees, before hopping aboard a traditional steam train and touring the national park in style. Next, take a tour of Palace House, a 13th-century mansion located in the heart of Beaulieu. As well as seeing staff in period costumes, the grounds are a brilliant place to enjoy a picnic beneath the sun.
Food and drink
One of the best things about going for a long walk across the beautiful British countryside is the prospect of curling up in a cosy pub when you’re done. Scattered across the New Forest, are some of Britain’s most comfortable country pubs. Wherever you choose to stay, you’ll be walking distance from at least one award-winning eatery.
Home to rich and fertile ground, not only is the national park home to an array of beautiful plants and wildflowers, but its fields are also ideal for growing delicious fresh ingredients, which are used by dozens of local eateries.
Best of all, many of the award-winning pubs and restaurants nestled in the heart of the New Forest National Park are pet-friendly; meaning you can enjoy a cracking three-course meal, four-legged friend by your side.
Incredible quality is always guaranteed
A lot of the time, booking breaks where your dog is welcome means sacrificing on quality. Well, with us, nothing could be further from the truth. Whichever part of the New Forest you’re heading for, and however many furry friends you’re bringing along for the ride, we’ll make sure you find the perfect pet-friendly holiday cottage, with every amenity you crave.
Maybe you fancy a short break on a working farm so your pooch can play sheepdog for the day? Or perhaps you’re after a quaint log cabin with open plan living area, where you, your four-legged friend and the whole family can curl up in front of a roaring log fire? If you’re after a romantic break, why not have a look at our holiday cottages with private outdoor hot tubs, so you and your special someone can unwind, whilst your pooch plays under the South coast sky in an enclosed garden.