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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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With over 2,000 acres of downland and woodland, Queen Elizabeth Country Park is the ideal place to explore, keep fit and enjoy the great outdoors.
Rich in history, with a small beach and miles of open fields, Royal Victoria Country Park is a hidden gem on the south coast.
Staunton Country Park is the perfect green getaway. Based in the heart of Havant, the park is a peaceful idyll away from busy city life. The lake is popular with anglers and the petting farm is a must for families looking for a fun day out with young children.
With a rare breeds farm, the south coast’s largest ornamental glasshouses, beautiful gardens and 1,000 acres of country park to explore there’s something for everyone to see and enjoy at Staunton Farm. Children can feed the farm animals and join in with fun animal encounter sessions, then let off steam in George’s play barn, which includes a soft play toddler zone. Relax in the beautiful walled gardens, take in the sights, sounds and smells of the sensory garden or enjoy a stroll in the beautifully landscaped parkland. See the fantastic brand new outdoor play area with its fully accessible play equipment.
Lepe Country Park has something for everyone. The long stretch of shingle beach is popular with kite surfers and wind surfers, families and holidaymakers. From the shoreline you can look across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Watch yachts, ferries and cargo ships on their way to and from the harbours and marinas dotted along the south coast.
This Country Park, on the banks of the Hamble estuary, is an ideal place to play, picnic, relax and explore. Enjoy a ramble around our fantastic ancient woodland and delight in all the seasonal changes; from bluebells in spring to the fantastic autumn colours. Discover the abundant wildlife from curlews along the river and skylarks in the fields, plus an amazing array of wildflowers, insects, and reptiles.
