The New Forest is a beautiful national park which boasts stunning views across rolling heathlands, dense majestic woodlands and a secret coast.
We want everyone to come and enjoy this unique and friendly place and give each person the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful and varied landscape, no matter their age, ability or accessibility needs. You can find out some super useful information regarding accessibility in the New Forest below...
Accessible places to stay
In the New Forest there are plenty of brilliant places to stay that are suitable for those with accessibility needs. From ground-floor rooms, lifts, wet rooms and carefully adapted accommodation options for guests with autism and other similar conditions. Before booking, we advise you to check with the provider in advance to ensure the accommodation is suitable for your needs.
Accessible things to do
There's plenty of things to do and fun to be had for everyone in the New Forest. Many of our local attractions, activities and events offer facilities and adaptations for those with accessible needs.
Paultons Park is a fantastic day out, catering for everyone with their rest areas, welcoming assistance dogs, and multiple rides and attractions that wheelchair users can enjoy including the Victorian Carousel and Rio Grande Train Ride.
Another great place to visit with accessible access and facilities is the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, including wheelchairs and electric scooters available to hire for free on site, large print visitor information, induction loops and transcripts available for those with visual and hearing impairments, plus they also allow assistance dogs on site.
Accessible walking routes
Explore the stunning New Forest with our wonderful accessible-friendly walking routes. We have a choice of fantastic designated paths, provided by Forestry England, that are ideal to use with wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pushchairs.
Getting here & around
Across the New Forest you can travel by bus, by car, by coach and by train. We have detailed all of the relevant accessible companies and their contact details below.
Bus companies travel in accessible buses, which makes for very easy travel in and around the New Forest for all. Travel with Bluestar (01202 338 420) or Morebus (01202 338 420). Or for further information, including live route & timetable information and advice, contact Traveline on 0871 200 2233.
The main Train service in the area is operated by South Western Railway. If you are a wheelchair user or need assistance when travelling by train you should book your rail journey at least 24 hours in advance. Please contact South Western Railway Assisted Travel on 0800 528 2100 (6am - 10pm).
Alternatively contact National Rail Enquiries on 0800 022 3720 and select option 1, or text phone (for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing) on 60083.
There are three Ferry companies which operate services in the New Forest and the surrounding area. Please contact the companies for information on timetables, access and fares on the following: Hythe Ferry (Hythe to Southampton) on 023 8084 0722, Wightlink (Lymington to Yarmouth) on 0333 999 7333 or Red Funnel (Southampton to Cowes) on 023 8001 9192.
National Express coaches stop at Lyndhurst, Lymington and Ringwood. If you are a wheelchair user or need assistance when travelling by coach, National Express advise you to book your coach journey at least 24 hours in advance. Please contact National Express for information on timetables, access and fares on 0871 781 8181.
Travel by Car from Southampton, London or the East: exit M27 at Junction 1, signed Cadnam & head southwards into the New Forest. Travelling from the West: use A31 from Dorset. Travelling from the North: take either A338 from Salisbury to Ringwood in the west of the Forest, or A36 to Totton in the east.
Parking charges apply in the New Forest District Council car parks however, if you are a Blue Badge holder then you will be able to park for free. There are accessible parking spaces in each car park however, if they are not vacant you are able to park with your blue badge in another bay.
Wheelchair Hire in the New Forest
The following companies offer sales (new and old), repair and hire of manual and electric wheelchairs, scooters and equipment in the New Forest and surrounding areas:
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KJ's Mobility: 12 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH Tel: 02380 844886
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M&J Mobility: Old Lyndhurst Road, Cadnam, SO40 2NL Tel: 023 8081 1949
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Richens Care: Unit 2 Sea Vixen Industrial Estate, Wilverley Road, Christchurch, BH23 3RU Tel: 01202 588102
We advise to contact each company to check their product meets your accessibility needs.
Accessible Toilet Facilities
There are a number of accessible facilities located in car parks across the New Forest. There are over 20 NFDC car parks with these facilities, including: Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Keyhaven, Lymington, Lyndhurst, New Milton, Ringwood and Totton. For a full list of NFDC toilet facilities and their locations please click here.
There are also forest car parks with accessible facilities: Anderwood, Blackwater, Bolderwood, New Forest Reptile Centre, Whitefield Moor and Wilverley Plain. For more details on Forestry England's toilet facilities, please click here.
If we haven’t been able to answer all of your questions, please find a number of useful contacts below you could try:
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New Forest Disability Information Service - 01425 628750
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Forestry England - 0300 067 4601 / southern.enquiries@forestryengland.uk
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New Forest National Park Authority - 01590 646600 / enquiries@newforestnpa.gov.uk
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Radar - 020 7250 8181 / radar@radar.org.uk
