Bolderwood

Visitor information

Opening hours

No overnight parking.

Weekdays

Monday
Opening hours	Dawn to dusk

Tuesday
Opening hours	Dawn to dusk

Wednesday
Opening hours	Dawn to dusk

Thursday
Opening hours	Dawn to dusk

Friday
Opening hours	Dawn to dusk

Weekends

Saturday
Opening hours	Dawn to dusk

Sunday
Opening hours	Dawn to dusk

Parking and prices

There isn’t a charge to park at this site, we welcome a donation of £3 per visit.

Please park only in designated car parks, not on a verge or in gateways.

Please lock your car, taking any valuables with you and leave by dusk.

Coaches/Minibuses charges

Donations welcome at this site.

Additional information

Number of accessible parking spaces: 0

There are no designated accessible parking spaces at this forest. View our easy access trails page to find other forests with accessible parking.

Accessible parking available

Facilities and access

To help prevent dangerous forest fires, this is a no BBQ and fire zone – BBQs and campfires are not permitted in our car parks or other areas of the forest managed by Forestry England and all BBQ facilities have been removed.

The toilets are open, with adapted external locks to allow them to be used on a one-in-one-out basis.

if this car park is full please drive on to the next ones at Bratley View, or Canadian Memorial, do not park on the verges or block gateways.

Assistant dogs welcome
Dogs allowed
Picnic area
Toilets

Bolderwood

Bolderwood has all the ingredients for a family day out

Situated on an old coaching route, Bolderwood contains some of the oldest Douglas fir trees in the New Forest with some dating back as far as 1860. South of Bolderwood car park lies an extensive area of ancient and ornamental woodland, which has a wonderful mixture of native trees that is open to local peoples’ grazing animals. It has many veteran trees growing that are home to rare wildlife and plants. These big, old trees provide a vital link to the landscape’s history, when it was a Royal Forest and deer park.

Links to The Crown

The New Forest has a fascinating history and Bolderwood has direct links to The Crown. The earliest record of a royal hunting lodge at Bolderwood dates to 1325 and the reign of King Edward II. A lodge existed on the site in various forms until the 18th-century when it was demolished.

The Queen’s Green Canopy

We are delighted that Bolderwood features as part of the Ancient Canopy dedicated to Her Majesty in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Ancient Woodlands are cherished reminders of our living heritage, often referred to as “nature’s Crown Jewels”. We are proud to be part of this unique project, which aims to raise awareness of these treasured habitats and the importance of conserving them for future generations.

Respect, Protect, Enjoy

Explore Bolderwood on two wheels by following the New Forest’s great network of cycle trails, go for a walk along our waymarked trails or enjoy a picnic. To help prevent wildfires fires, BBQs and outdoor cooking equipment of any kind are banned in the New Forest.

At a glance

Walking trails

Picnic areas

Dogs welcome

Things to do

Bolderwood cycle trail

The trail starts at the bottom (west) end of the car park.

Turn left over the cattle grid, past the magnificent, tall Douglas fir trees along the Bolderwood Ornamental Drive.

Cyc...

Find out more

Feel Good Forest Trail at Bolderwood

We've been working with WWF to create a new, interactive family-friendly trail that provides an exciting way to get your daily dose of nature whilst learning about the great...

Find out more