April 1st 2026
Undiscovered Dog-Friendly New Forest Walks from dog friendly hotel The Montagu Arms in the New Forest
Your New Forest break is just around the corner, and you’ve not yet thought about the walks and sniffs, but they have. ‘They’ being, the four-legged friend who will be sitting there staring at you if you take them on the same walks as all the other dogs.
Because they’re not like other dogs are they, they’re special. They deserve off-the-beaten-track, lesser-sniffed, undiscovered dog-friendly trails…Don’t they?
The key here is to think more dog. What would they do…
Least amount of effort for maximum fun, which only means one thing. Book some luxury accommodation, say a charming dog-friendly hotel like The Montagu Arms hotel, and then find dog-friendly walks and trails from the hotel itself or just a short drive away.
At The Montagu Arms dogs are treated as nothing less than royalty, there’s even the A La Bark menu at Monty’s, their country pub, with a dog afternoon tea! Yes! Afternoon Tea!
So, when it comes to dog-friendly walks, activities and attractions nearby, there’s plenty.
If you’re looking for a few undiscovered trails and quieter places to walk that the locals love, and the opportunity for a fresh sniff-ari, you needn’t travel far.
Beaulieu Village
Simply step out from the hotel, wander around the village of Beaulieu and along the Beaulieu River. There you’ll no doubt spot the local New Forest ponies roaming, and the ducks provide good sniffs too. This walk isn’t about crowds and excitement but rather, connection with your dog and nature, slowing the pace a little and letting them do what they do best.
Hatchet Pond
Walk or drive to Hatchet Pond; make it a longer route by walking the 2-miles there, or pop in the car and reach the car park in just a few minutes, to enjoy the 1.9-mile walk. Hatchet Pond is one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the New Forest and you can walk around the whole pond, just be prepared for some muddy sections which stay damp year-round.
Shatterford to Denny Wood
Just a 7-minute drive from The Montagu Arms hotel is Shatterford car park, west of Beaulieu Road Station, from here there is a lovely 2.5-mile loop walk to Denny Wood and back. https://newforestcarparkwalks.wordpress.com/2021/03/06/82-shatterford/
Follow your their nose
You needn’t follow a set trail or walk if you don’t want to. You and your pooch can set off from The Montagu Arms and see where the waggy tail takes you. There are several paths from the village that lead into the National Park where you can roam and wander over heathland and through woodland, exploring the natural beauty of the New Forest for yourself.
Lepe to the beach
For the water-loving dogs, surprise them to an afternoon at the beach. Make your way to the nearby Lepe Country Park where dogs are welcome to frolic and play on the beach all year round, (with the exception of the family friendly section, only accessible from October to March). Follow the green zones where dogs can happily play off lead, dig, run and jump to burn off all of that excess energy whilst you can enjoy the sound of the water lapping the shoreline and the fresh sea air.
The New Forest Code
We know it’s exciting finding new places and you’re eager to win the title of best dog parent of all the time, but we do ask for one thing, that you keep the New Forest code in mind.
It works to protect our beautiful National Park, asking visitors and residents to help in these 9 simple ways:
- Keep your distance from the animals – don’t feed or touch them
- Take home litter and dog waste
- No fires or barbecues
- Keep dogs under control. Don’t let dogs approach or chase any animals
- Park only in car parks
- No wild camping
- Stick to the permitted cycle tracks
- Drive with care – animals on the road!
- Help wildlife by keeping to the main tracks
Happy dog days mean happy human days. And when you’re back home from your ultimate dog-friendly New Forest break and they’re taking up the entire sofa, legs twitching as they run in their puppy dreams reliving great days in all those magical places. You ought to be proud as dog-parent of the year, knowing you made it all happen. (But don’t rest for too long -dinner won’t make itself!)
Find out more about the Montagu Arms HERE
