Accessible New Forest: Hometown Tourism
Discover accessible things to do in and around the New Forest in Hampshire, as well as the benefits of holidaying close to home.
Having a wheelchair accessible caravan has completely opened up the world to us. Over the past 10 years we are incredibly fortunate to have travelled from the Scottish Isles to Italy, and everywhere in between — usually only returning to our home in east Dorset for long enough to catch up with work, renovating our fixer-upper of a house, socialising with family, and resting from too much of the above.
We live in a beautiful part of the country, and I’m ashamed to admit that we rarely make time to enjoy it.
But that changed one June day, when we saw a solid week of sunshine in the forecast and booked a last-minute getaway to The New Forest, less than 30 minutes from home.
Longbeech Camping New Forest — Campsite Review
Just a few days later, we set off.
Aside from “Wow, that was a quick journey” (we didn’t even have time to listen to a podcast), our first impression of Longbeech Campsite was the warm welcome we received from one of the wardens. The temperature was significantly higher than it was predicted to be by now, and anyone who can remain that happy, enthusiastic, friendly and welcoming in 30ºc+ heat with no air conditioning, deserves a medal.
It was clear that he loves this campsite, and it wouldn’t be long before we did too.
Longbeech is one of 11 sites under the Camping New Forest network. All of them are beautifully natural, but the draw of this particular one (for us, anyway) is that it’s adults-only and completely off-grid. There are no facilities other than bins and water/waste points, so you need to be self sufficient — No problem for us, with our onboard facilities and solar power system. There’s something so satisfying about being sustained by the sun. Especially when you, quite literally, need to power your life-sustaining equipment.
Longbeech at a Glance
Adults only
Dog friendly
No electricity, toilets or showers
Budget-friendly
Peaceful nature setting
All grass pitches
We loved how there are no designated pitches. You simply find a clearing in the trees and set up facing whichever direction you like. The only requirement is that you pitch at least 6 metres away from the next camper, which wasn’t an issue as everyone was so spread out. It really added to the natural and relaxed feel of the campsite.
With our solar panel being roof-mounted, we found a quiet, sunny spot towards the back of the site, looking out into the woodland. We had heard that ponies regularly wander in to graze, but that they tend to keep closer to the entrance. So imagine our joy when a herd gathered around our caravan regularly throughout our stay! Being that close to such beautiful, graceful animals, was such a treat, and something that will stick with us for a very long time.
A Walk Through History
I’m no history buff, but it’s always interesting to learn about the locations we visit, and the unique site of Longbeech is particularly fascinating. It sits on the former RAF airfield of Stoney Cross, which was used by both British and American fighters in World War 2. The tranquil haven of the campsite would’ve been vastly different back then, when the skies were full of activity and Nissen huts created a makeshift village on the ground, complete with a grocery shop, library and more.
Having since been reclaimed by nature, it’s a far cry from the space it occupied in the 1940’s. Though there are little reminders of its history everywhere you look – from the remaining foundations of those huts, to the original concrete road that once transported aircraft.
This road runs through the middle of the campsite and out the back, into the wilderness. In contrast to its intended purpose, nowadays it makes for a lovely, relaxing stroll. With temperatures still in the late 20’s after sunset, we took a spontaneous evening walk along it, with nothing but nature providing the soundtrack and a crisp moon punctuating the pink sky. Bliss!
A Day-Trip to The Purbecks
Waking up under wall-to-wall sunshine and predicted highs of 35ºc, we decided on spending the day by the coast, at a beautiful part of Dorset that we rarely visit — The Isle of Purbeck. Despite its name, it’s not actually an island. More like a peninsula, with the sea on two sides and a harbour on the third. To get there you can either drive around on land or, the more exciting route, hop on the chain ferry from Sandbanks. Being on holiday was a valid enough excuse to do the latter, so we joined the small queue, windows down, eager to cross the turquoise mouth of Poole Harbour.
The water is only about 400 metres wide here, so the crossing was quick, and we were soon on our way to our first stop — The beach.
Wheelchair Accessible Beaches in Dorset
Growing up in Dorset, we’ve always been spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful beaches. But surprisingly few of them are actually wheelchair accessible, so I’ve become accustomed to enjoying them from a distance. However, I’m thrilled to say that’s gradually changing, and we recently heard of some fantastic accessibility improvements at National Trust Knoll Beach, on Studland, so we just had to go and check them out!
Parking in the large car park by the cafe and visitor centre (where you can borrow specialist beach/sea wheelchairs), we went in search of the first accessibility improvement — a humongous Changing Places facility, complete with a ceiling track hoist, toilet, shower, height-adjustable sink, and an adult-sized shower/changing bench. Such a well-equipped facility can really make the world of difference for those who need it.
As well as this, they have a dedicated wheelchair accessible beach hut, which is available to hire for the day. We didn’t book it ourselves, but we did enjoy one of the accessibility mats that stretches right out onto the golden sand, allowing us to soak in the views of Old Harry Rocks and people playing in the sea, and breathe in the fresh sea air. It may sound silly, but being able to enjoy the beach like everyone else is a simple pleasure I’ll never take for granted.
Next Stop: Corfe Castle
The next point of interest on our whistle-stop tour of The Purbecks was Corfe Castle, known for its iconic, thousand-year-old, hilltop ruins. The age and geography of this spectacle make it tricky to access in a wheelchair, but there’s a peaceful, accessible walking route that trails around the base of the hill, offering great views.
We begun in the National Trust car park, which has a Welcome Centre and another fantastic Changing Places toilet. From there, we crossed the road and headed straight onto the pressed-gravel path, which meanders alongside Corfe River. By now it was late afternoon, and beams of sunlight burst through the trees, glistening on the gently trickling river as butterflies and bees flitted across the path. It was the picture of summer!
The walk is roughly 0.75km one way, on a mix of pressed-gravel and tarmac, with a couple of steep-but-manageable slopes. Throughout it we caught glimpses of the castle ruins towering above us, before emerging in the village, where we soaked up the views from the castle entrance. There’s something so grand about its position on the hilltop, and once again we were reminded of this area’s wartime history.
Sunset by the Sea
Before our day drew to a close, we couldn’t resist popping down to the quaint seaside town of Swanage. This isn’t our closest coastal town to home, but it’s one of our favourites. While we don’t often drive out this way, when we do (usually to fill up on LPG at our nearest Safefill station), we always try to combine it with an evening in Swanage. There’s just something special about its calm, slow pace—especially on a summers evening.
The (slightly) cooler evening air was beginning to wash in now, providing a welcome break from the scorching temperatures we’d seen all day, so we grabbed some fish and chips and headed for the beach. Don’t they just taste better by the sea?
Paper bag in hand, we headed to our favourite grassy spot in Prince Albert Gardens, set back from the town’s hustle and bustle but perfectly positioned on a hillside to observe it from a distance. Far-away conversations, rowers on the water, and the golden-hour sunlight casting a warm glow across the bay… It was the perfect end to a fantastic day.
The Best Wheelchair Accessible Walk in the New Forest
Camping in the New Forest, it would be criminal to miss the opportunity to visit our favourite part, and do our favourite walk — The Tall Trees Trail.
The drive there from the campsite took about 20 minutes, the road snaking across open moorland sprinkled with purple heather, before entering the dramatic Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, flanked by towering redwoods and firs. It’s this deepest, darkest part of the forest that feels most magical to me. And it’s where we found the (in our opinion) best accessible walking route in the New Forest.
Beginning in the Blackwater car park (where there are picnic benches and toilets), we set off along the 1.5 mile circular route. From here, the gravel path curves through the trees, with very few slopes, cambers or tree roots to navigate, making it easy to manage in a wheelchair.
It’s difficult to explain why this is our favourite part of the New Forest, but there’s something so enchanting about being surrounded by nature in all its glory, and some of the oldest and tallest trees in the country, including two signposted giant sequoias, which weigh over 105 tonnes each!
We’ve done this trail in every kind of weather, and it’s awe-inspiring every single time. On this occasion, we were still deep in the midst of a 35ºc heatwave, so the trees’ canopy provided some welcome shade from the blazing sun.
Top 3 Wheelchair Accessible Walks in the New Forest
Discover more information about this route, and our other favourites, in our dedicated guide
A Culinary Tour of The New Forest
As well as exploring the local history of the places we visit, we love trying local food and drink, so we dedicated our last day to searching out the finest in the forest.
We began on the outskirts of the quintessential village of Burley, where we discovered a real hidden gem — New Forest Cider. We’ve both lived in the area our whole lives, and never even knew this place existed!
A snapshot into the past, this small, family run farm specialises in making traditional ciders from apples grown in their own orchard. Although only small, the shop is packed full of local goodies, from drinks to jams and even jewellery. And the friendly welcome we received was one that you only get from an independent business.
We were very grateful for the large car park at the back, because after some taste-tests, we left armed with a suspicious number of bottles — Both cider and apple juice to enjoy over the summer, and a frozen apple juice slushie to enjoy in the meantime.
Accessibility Note: The shop has a small step at the entrance, but I was able to get up it in my powerchair with a little push.
Summer Strawberry Picking at Sopley
Loaded up with bottles, we drove to the next stop. And it was something that had been on my bucket list for years… Strawberry picking! Such a wholesome, summer activity.
There are a couple of places you can go for this, but we chose Dan Tanner’s at Sopley Farm, which is a “Pick Your Own” that changes with the seasons. Being late June, strawberry season was just kicking off, so we grabbed a punnet and headed out, past the sunflowers and onto the sunny strawberry field.
A sweet, fruity scent drifted in the air as we worked our way along the rows, looking carefully for deep red spots in a sea of green foliage. If anyone asks, Stephen definitely didn’t try any along the way, and they definitely weren’t the best, freshest, juiciest strawberries he’d ever tasted.
About half an hour later, we took our full punnet back to the farm shop, and picked up some local sausages and burgers to put on the BBQ later that evening.
We’d had BBQ’s most nights during this trip, but there’s something extra special when you’re putting local meats on it. Even more so when it’s accompanied by local cider and strawberries you’d handpicked yourself!
The Benefits of Holidaying Locally
As the sun set over the trees and nature’s evening chorus began, we spoke about what fun we’d had exploring The New Forest and beyond. Being so close to home, we didn’t feel obligated to go out and visit the tourist hotspots, yet we were so relaxed that we ended up seeing and doing things we don’t usually make time for — and even discovered places we didn’t know existed!
But there are many more reasons to love hometown tourism:
We knew the local roads, so could avoid heavy traffic areas.
We are familiar with the local amenities, so basic things like grocery shopping or refuelling were hassle-free.
Speaking of fuel — Our diesel spend and carbon footprint were greatly reduced.
If we’d have forgotten anything, we could’ve nipped home to get it.
If needed, our support system was in easy reach (carers, family, friends).
The new places we discovered are easily reachable from home, so we can enjoy them time and time again.
All in all, we had a wonderful time, and completely fell in love with our own doorstep again. You really don’t have to travel far to enjoy a holiday, and waking up surrounded by nature at Longbeech was just the icing on the cake.
