Are you looking to take a visit to Bolderwood In The New Forest? It’s a wonderful place to walk with and great for taking children to Bolderwood as there are facilities here. Also you may get the chance to see the Deers’ as it’s also a Deer Sanctuary. Bolderwood is a great place to visit with kids in The New Forest.
Nana was down for a few days during the Easter holidays, so we had a sunny day to fill. I decided that we would take her somewhere different for a walk. When Kev was a child, he would have a holiday in The New Forest every summer, he has fond memories of playing around the campsite. Then his Dad drove around the country roads trying to find a pub he liked the look of to stop off for a drink in the pub gardens!
So with this in mind, we headed off to Bolderwood, which has the famous herd of Fallow Deer here too.
Bolderwood has a good-sized car park, but it does get very busy. Every time we have visited it always has an ice cream van there too! With toilets, and an information centre, you can chat with the guides about the deer and the area.
There are a few options on what path you can take around Bolderwood. They are all signed posted, and clearly marked. They aren’t long walks either, so nice for little legs.
Currently, they have a Gruffalo trail on, the kids can follow the trail to find the Gruffalo, and his friends along the way. This is such a lovely kids’ book, I am sure the little ones will love finding him!
We headed over to the Deer lookout, where you could see the herd of Deer.
Bring some binoculars and you could get a good look at them up close then. They have some information for you to read about them, and we happily watched them for a good 5 minutes. Then the kids were keen to get running around!
It is such a lovely open space to explore, and I loved the dens that people had made and were still left for others to hide in. As a parent, I love these woods, as it was really large but very open. So the kids could have the freedom of running around, but I could see them well.
Of course, a fallen tree provides a great climbing frame!
Bolderwood does allow you to bring your dogs with you, but they must stay on lead around the trails.
The kids brought along their walkie-talkies, which provided great entertainment!
Bolderwood is a perfect place to stop for a picnic, there are picnic benches, BBQ areas and a large field for you to lay your picnic rug on. However, be aware of the ponies!!
After spending such a wonderful day in the New Forest, those moments of close contact with nature and joy shared with my family have become treasured memories. And this beauty can actually be continued in a special way: the photos taken during the trip can be customized into personalised keyrings as a unique souvenir of this trip to Boulderwood.
Tips For Bolderwood The New Forest
- The car park gets busy, more car parks at Bratley View, or Canadian Memorial
- Often, there is an ice cream van during the summer and holidays
- Picnic tables, but also plenty of grass areas for picnics
- Dogs are allowed, but be respectful of animals and children.
- There isnât a charge to park at this site, they welcome a donation of ÂŁ3 per visit.
- Toilet block
- Blackwater Arboretum is only a 9-minute drive from here if you fancy somewhere else
24 Comments
We went here a couple of weeks ago! We loved it, we saw the deer and went on the Gruffalo trail! Also the road leading to the car park is stunning x
Ah glad you’ve been before! The whole of The New Forest is stunning isn’t it. Such a peaceful part of the country
Looks like a great day out for the kids. I’m going to have to give this a try soon. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, it is a really cheap day out for them
WE love visiting Bolderwood and watching the deer – the best time to see them is at feeding time as they come really close
Oh what time is that? I will have to make sure we visit when they are feeding then! Thanks for the tip
What a perfect way to spend a day with the family. I am sure the kids had fun exploring and playing with talkie talkies
Yes they haven’t played with them for ages, and dug them out but they had great fun with them!
Bolderwood looks fantastic! We’d love to roam around here. We’ll have to make an effort to visit as it’s near us x #CountryKids
I make a list of place to visit when I spot them, then when were stuck on where to go, I can consult the list!!
Would love to visit with the kids. Sounds like a fun family day out spot.
Thanks, a good family spot, always is when an ice cream van is there too!
We went to Frensham Little Pond recently and a fallen tree was a highlight for us too! We have driven through the New Forest but never stopped off đ
Oh you must stop off at The New Forest sometime in the future, so many place to explore. The kids love the New Forest Ponies dotted around!
Such a beautiful spot for families to enjoy and wonderful to spot the deer passing through too. I love the idea of natural play through the fallen trees and a few carefully placed dens. What a great place for a day out with a picnic, though I imagine those picnic tables are hard to come by on a lovely summers day. Was that the Gruffalo trail with the app? It makes such fun photos.
Thank you for sharing with me on #Country Kids
Yes will be! However I didn’t picture it, but there is a large field opposite with plenty of space to place your picnic rug.
I’ve heard of Bolderwod but never been there. We love deer though and are down that way on holiday in July, so a visit may be in order. Thanks, Mich x
Oh yes that would be a lovely place to visit whilst on holiday. Have a good holiday!
Oooh this looks like an amazing day out! Especially with the Gruffalo trail too. We haven’t explored much of the New Forest area but hopefully when we eventually buy our tent we can take some camping holidays down that way and properly have fun.
Oh the New Forest is GREAT for camping, there are so many places to camp there!
I’ve not heard of bolderwood before but we’ve been a bit obsessed with deer recently after seeing some in Scotland. I love woods as a place for kids to explore and den building is just a right of passage right!!? #countrykids
Dens attract children from a distance don’t they!! All good kids fun!
Those walks are a perfect length if you have little ones in tow. How lovely to see the deer and playing on the fallen tree looks like fun. #countrykids
Yes your right, it’s perfect length for them. Along with finding a Gruffalo too!