Country Parks in Hampshire
Hampshire is a county blessed with country parks in coastal, woodland, downland and riverside settings. These public open spaces provide important habitats where nature thrives as well excellent recreational facilities from play areas to cafes. Our list continues to grow and we look forward to adding more this year.
A huge play area with giant tunnel slides and apparatus for all ages is the best known feature of this country park. But you will also find meadows, views, ponds, ducks, a café and a BMX track.
The whole park has recently received significant financial investment resulting in an amazing variety of play areas. You will also find woodland and meadow walks as well as a café and Go Ape.
Walk around the park and catch the train back! On your way you will find lakes, a play area, a grassy amphitheatre, a café and an art trail through a nature reserve.
Nestled in the forest you will find plenty to do including bike tracks, a café, an assault course, a wooden play area, dog agility and pizza oven hire.
Discover woodland and riverside walks as well as a café, a farm, a play area and a large picnic and barbecue field. You can go crabbing off the pontoon in summer and see thousands of woodland flowers in spring, including bluebells of course.
On a shoreline setting this country park has a diverse range of attractions from an old military hospital, bluebell woods, a mini steam train, a wood-fired pizza restaurant, a fairy glen and a large play area.
Enjoy picturesque lakeside walks and learn about the interesting history of the stately home that once stood on the site. Afterwards you can enjoy the gardens, café and play area. Children love the huge wooden lookout tower.
Tiny in comparison to the ones above and without facilities such as a café, this little country park is actually a lesser known gem. It has lovely woodland walks, picnic areas and an interesting military history. Children will love the play area hidden in a clearing and the kid’s bike track is well worth visiting for.
The Lepe Loop is a longer walk that starts and finishes at this costal country park. Much of the walks follows the beach and you will also be able to enjoy The Lookout café and the play area with sea views.
Farley Mount Country Park has an extensive selection of woodland to walk in from coniferous forest to ancient woodland. The play area is modest, with natural elements and there is no café or toilets but there are so many paths to explore, you will still have a great day out.
The next two parks on the list are managed by Forestry England. At Alice Holt, the centre of the beautiful forest has a café, picnic area, Go Ape, multiple play areas, free table tennis and badminton, bike hire, toilets, visitor centre as well as Julia Donaldson themed trails.
Our second Forestry England park is only just over the border in Dorset, so we are sneaking this one onto the list. It well deserves its place here as there is so much to do from multiple play structures, bike hire, Julia Donaldson trails, café, steam train, lake, play areas, tree top walkway and Go Ape.
Also in Dorset, but very close to the border with Hampshire, is Avon Heath Country Park. There is a big emphasis on local wildlife her with interactive exhibits in the visitor centre and a sand lizard enclosure and bird hide. You will also find a café, play area, sensory trail and heathland walks.
Since it opened a few years ago as part of Bordon’s regeneration programme, this outdoor space has become a firm favourite with local families. A great play area in a woodland clearing, café, free car park and sandy trails are part of the reason why.