Direct Holiday Homes

Shorefield Country Park - Hampshire

About the Area

ON SITE AMENITIES

Impressive entertainment complex
Restaurant, bar and coffee lounge
Ice cream kiosk (Seasonal)
Heated indoor swimming pool
Heated outdoor swimming pool (Seasonal)
Large well-equipped gym.
Childrens play area
Tennis courts
Daytime and evening entertainment for children
Evening entertainment for adults
Mini discos
New amusement arcade
Fishing Lake (rod license required)
On site fully stocked shop
Laundrette
Electric car charge points

Local Attractions & Things to do in the Forest:

Milford on sea village centre is worth a little stroll around. It’s within walking distance from Treetops through a wooded area from Seabreeze to Milford (look at the Country Park site map for details of where you can access the woodland walk). There is a fab fish and chip shop (Pinkies) and on a sunny Thursday/Friday evening a lot of locals rock up with picnic blankets or deck chairs and eat on the Village green opposite the chippy. There are some nice cafes in the village a lovely micro pub called the wash house (opposite the lazy lion). Rays cafe is nice for coffee and cake. A wine/tapas bar - called The Cave where they do nice cocktails and have an extensive wine list to sample. The Smugglers Inn do good pub food and have a garden at the rear.

Avon Beach & Mudeford Quay - The nearest and best sandy beach is Avon Beach, there is a car park right on the beach for 100 cars, but gets full very quickly. If this car park is full then go out of the car park and turn right, there should be a sign to another car park along this road. Turn right onto the housing estate and the car park is down in a dip. Once you have parked, just climb the steps and down the other side, this brings you to The Noisy Lobster (on the beach) which has a good reputation. We haven’t eaten there yet but have heard good reviews from others who have.

The beach itself is very safe for swimming, and has a lifeguard on duty. All facilities are here - Shop, Ice-Cream, Fish and Chips, take away snacks and drinks, toilets, and beach huts for hire. The beach stretches along to Mudeford Quay where children, and parents go crabbing On the Quay there is a good cafe, a fresh fish stall, a pub and a shop. You can also catch a ferry over to Hengisbury Head, this is a lovely long walk either up over the top, or around. Over the top gives you wonderful views. If you can’t manage this there is a land train that will take you to the cafe.

Once off the ferry walk along to your right until you reach the steps going up. Or if you want the little cove, once off the ferry go straight on.

Mudeford quay is also a great place to take the paddle boards, as the water is very shallow, although you need to go at high tide as at low tide the water is much too low. As you enter the quay from its main entrance park immediately and you will see the hut that hires out water equipment on the right. This is the only SAFE place to paddle board etc at Mudeford Quay as on the other side of the quay the water is fast running with lots of undercurrents.

Beaulieu the Motor Museum is interesting with a wonderful display of vintage cars. Along with some movie favourites like chitty chitty bang bang etc. There’s also a little monorail which gives a birds eye view of the site. Along with a bus ride on a vintage bus. Worth a trip and a walk around the extensive grounds. Nice to take a picnic on a sunny day.

Beaulieu itself has a lovely little street to walk down with a few shops, a café by the car park and a small garden centre. Around the corner is Hatchets Pond, where you can see lots of ponies and have a walk around the fishing lake.

Burley is worth a visit. It is the village known for the witches’ shops. You will see a lot of ponies on the roads here.

Lymington has a market on the high street on a Saturday. There are some nice shops, and you will find the Marina down the cobbled street, by the Ship Pub, where you can walk around the Yachts. Also in Lymington is a fab crazy golf course, and right next door is the strawberry picking farm where you select your punnet size and fill it up with juicy English strawberries. You pay for the strawberries by weight at the shop. Goodalls Strawberries, South Baddesley Road, Lymington, Hants. SO41 5SD.

Same address for the Golf, Golf is on the left and strawberries are on the right! Also in Lymington if you have older children who love swimming in the sea with fun, there is the inflatable park located near the Yacht Club, wet suits are available to hire, a small cafe kiosk where you can get hot and cold drinks and a variety of hot food. Seating and covered area for spectators.

Lyndhurst - You will probably pass through the one-way system around Lyndhurst on your way to the Lodge. There are some small shops and a couple of lovely pubs serving good food (The Stag and the Mailman’s Arms).

As you approach Lyndhurst via the A35, you will pass a forest area (opposite the fire station) with horses and cows roaming. This is a nice area to walk around, with a cricket pavilion and War Memorial.
Worth looking on-line for any events during your stay - Things to Do New Forest - The New Forest

South of Milford on Sea

Christchurch - A lovely town, with a pleasant harbour walk. You can hire boats here or go for a boat trip. Home to the beautiful Priory. Market day is on a Monday.

Poole Quay - This is the home of the Sunseeker Boats, it’s a lovely walk along the harbour, plenty of large boat trips to and around Brownsea Island. Lots of alfresco cafes and restaurants. You could incorporate this with a visit to the beautiful Sandbanks Beach.

Bournemouth - You can park very near to the pier, beach, and winter-gardens where there is crazy golf. The gardens are very pleasant to stroll through, or have a picnic on a nice day.

Sandbanks - On the way to Poole where there is a beautiful beach, just before you get to the beach along the road (park if you are lucky here) to the right you will see a very shallow area of sea where all sailing activities take place, paddle boarding, canoes, kite sailing, windsurfers etc.

Golf:
There is a good local Golf Course at Barton-on-Sea - Barton-on-Sea Golf Club Golf in Hampshire between Christchurch in Dorset and Lymington. 27 holes original by Harry Colt | Barton-on-Sea Golf Club (bosgc.co.uk)

Ferry to the Isle of Wight: You can get the Car Ferry to the IOW or go as a foot passenger from Lymington.

Paultons Park – Home of Pepper Pig World
Ower, Romsey, The New Forest, Hampshire, SO51 6AL
Peppa Pig World At Paultons Park | New Forest, Hampshire

Eating Out

The area benefits from many great places to eat out and we have attached a list of some of our favourite restaurants, pubs and Cafes. Please research each place on the internet first to find out more about them. If you discover any hidden gems we haven’t included, we’d love to hear about them and would be really grateful if you could perhaps leave the details in our guest comments book.

• The White Hart, Lymington
• The Lighthouse, Milford-on-Sea
• The Cliff House, Barton-on-Sea
• Needles Eye Café, Milford-on-Sea
• The Filly Inn, Brockenhurst
• The Huntsman, Brockenhurst
• Beachcomber Café, Barton-on-Sea
• The Gun, Milford-on-Sea
• The Pig, Brockenhurst (pricey, but excellent)
• Mister Pink’s Fish & Chip Shop, Milford-on-Sea
• The Hare & Hounds, Sway
• Pebble Beach Cafe, Barton-on-Sea
• The Mayflower, Lymington
• The Cat & Fiddle, Hinton, Christchurch
• Cliffhanger Café, Highcliffe Beach
• The Jetty, Christchurch

At-a-Glance Tick List