Hampshire highlights: five fabulous country parks

From wonderful woodland to waterside walks, Hampshire’s diverse and beautiful terrain can be enjoyed in its many country parks where visitors can walk, cycle, picnic, and play in the great outdoors – here are five of our faves.

River Hamble Country Park

River Hamble Country Park, on the banks of the Hamble estuary, has 400 acres of peaceful woodland and scenic shoreline to explore.

From the land, visitors can venture out on the dedicated walking trails, picnic beside the river, have a go at crabbing, or explore the marine-themed play areas for the kids.

The River Hamble Country Park is also the perfect spot to get out onto the water and try stand up paddleboarding or kayaking on the River Hamble.

The brand-new visitor centre has all the information you need including trails, activity packs, and crabbing nets, and a café.

Find out more about River Hamble Country Park

Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Hampshire’s biggest country park sits within the South Downs National Park and has over 2,000 acres of downland and woodland to explore including Butser Hill, the highest point in Hampshire.

From Queen Elizabeth Country Park, walkers can enjoy spectacular views across the South Downs and shorter hikes can be extended to long distance trails including the South Downs Way, the Staunton Way, the Shipwrights way and the Hangers Way.

Queen Elizabeth Country Park is also a brilliant place for cyclists with mountain bike trails and skills areas, and four-legged friends will love the dog activity course. 

Find out more about Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Royal Victoria Country Park

Instantly recognisable by its chapel that was once part of the British Army’s first military hospital, Royal Victoria Country Park is in a wonderful location beside the Southampton Water and views are best enjoyed from a tour of the chapel’s tower.

Royal Victoria Country Park has 200 acres of Hampshire countryside to enjoy including parkland, woodland, and shoreline. There’s also a play area, fairy garden, a miniature railway, a café with a pizza oven, and BBQs available for hire in the summer.

Find out more about Royal Victoria Country Park

Staunton Country Park

Staunton Country Park in Havant is a listed Regency estate surrounded by beautifully landscaped parkland including an ornamental lake, woodland, follies, a maze, and the largest Victorian Glasshouse on the south coast housing tropical flowers and plants from around the world.

Staunton Country Park has trails for walkers and cyclists, an orienteering course, and a seasonal calendar of events.

Staunton Farm is a delightful petting farm that is a perfect day out for young families where they can meet and feed farm animals including pigs, sheep, Shetland ponies, chickens, and alpacas. There’s also a Play Barn with a soft play area and a climbing frame for rainy days.

Find out more about Staunton Country Park

Find out more about Staunton Farm

Lepe Country Park

A fabulous coastal country park, Lepe sits on the eastern edge of the New Forest with sweeping views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.

Lepe beach played a vital role in the D-Day landings, and is today enjoyed by walkers, water sports enthusiasts, children playing, and visitors enjoying the view from this unique location.

Lepe is also a renowned nature reserve with its meadows and woodlands providing protected habitats for wildlife and there are walks throughout the country park including the Lepe Loop, a five-mile waymarked circular walk that covers coast and country.

Find out more about Lepe Country Park

Find out more about country parks in Hampshire

Sign up to our newsletter and stay up to date with the latest news, events and offers.

Follow our Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook pages for lots more ideas and inspiration for what’s happening in Hampshire.  We’d love to see your photos of visiting and enjoying the county so please tag us in your pics.