Best Dog-Friendly Holiday in the New Forest? Our Lovat Parks Review (with Freddie the Cockapoo)

Claire Woosey
7 days ago
15 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

🔍 TRANSPARENCY: Lovat Parks provided a complimentary stay. All opinions, photographs and recommendations are entirely our own.

Man in sportswear and dog stand in grassy field under blue sky with clouds. New Forest in the distance, peaceful and bright setting. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

We spent 4 days in the New Forest at Green Hill Farm Holiday Village with Freddie the Cockapoo. Here’s everything UK dog owners need to know.

After months of testing portable dog washers, GPS trackers and car boot liners for muddy British walks, it hit us: Freddie and I were overdue for an actual holiday. Not a day trip. Not a hurried weekend. A proper break, with long sunny walks, lazy mornings and the odd pub lunch.

The trick was finding accommodation that genuinely welcomes dogs. Not ‘pets tolerated’ with a hefty deposit and a list of small print. Somewhere that treats them like family.

That’s where Lovat Parks came in.

Lovat runs six parks across the UK (Cornwall, Norfolk and the New Forest) and offers one of the widest ranges of dog-friendly lodges and holiday homes we’ve come across. The little touches set them apart: treat stations along the paths, walking areas built into the layout, gated exercise and off lead dog walking field a hop from the shop.

Modern holiday lodges on a grassy hill overlook a small pond with rocks. Clear blue sky and sparse trees create a peaceful setting. — *Photo credit: lovat holiday parks*

There’s more to the story than the perks, though. Lovat Parks earned the UK’s first B Corp certification for a holiday park group in 2020. For the uninitiated, that’s a rigorous, audited commitment that a business takes its people, planet and customers as seriously as its profits.

The ethos shows up on park too: zero waste ambitions, local produce on the shop shelves, and those little Lovat details (poo bags on hand, doggy ice cream on tap) that turn a pets-allowed break into a properly dog-focused holiday.

They’re tapping into a clear trend. Around a third of UK households now own a dog, and 85% of UK dog owners would rather staycation with their pet than head abroad without them. Count us in.

We chose Green Hill Farm Holiday Village on the Hampshire-Wiltshire border for one big reason: a private gate straight onto the New Forest so we could check out the New Forest ponies. No piling back into the car for every walk. The park has an on-site shop and restaurant, sits eight miles from Lyndhurst (the Capital of the New Forest) and fourteen from Salisbury.

Confession: this was our first holiday park, and we weren't entirely sure it was our thing. Recent breaks have skewed pricier: a high-end Airbnb in Lyndhurst, three weeks in a Dordogne cottage, a long-haul adventure across Vietnam and Cambodia, a week in Egypt. A caravan park hadn't really been on the radar. To be honest, our expectations were modest.

⚡ Quick Verdict (If You’re in a Rush)

🏆 OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5 🌟

✅ BEST FOR: Walk-loving woofers ready for proper forest miles. Anxious pups in need of calm, quiet and a soft sofa. Couples chasing peace, paths and pine-scented air. Anyone wanting top-end without the top-end price tag.

❌ NOT IDEAL FOR: Families with teenagers who’d want nightlife or anyone wanting total seclusion, it is a holiday park after all.

💷 PRICE: From £300 for 4 nights (including up to 2 dogs)

Worth it? Yes. Scroll down for the full review ⬇️

Enjoy 10% OFF your holiday with discount code AFSB10UN

View Lovat Holiday Parks

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Our Review of Lovat Parks New Forest Dog-friendly Holidays

1. Arrival & First Impressions

2. The Accommodation

3. The Dog Amenities (The Main Event)

4. Nearby Dog Walks

5. The Practical Stuff

6. Our Verdict

7. How to Book & Final Thoughts

8. FAQs

9. Related Articles

Our Review of Lovat Parks New Forest Dog-friendly Holidays

1. Arrival & First Impressions

The Journey

The drive from Essex took us a touch over two and a half hours. We pulled in at Fleet Services for a leg stretch, a loo break and Freddie’s picnic lunch. Just six miles from the M27, Green Hill Farm is easy to find. By the time we turned in, Freddie had his nose pressed to the window.

Map showing southern England with a purple bed icon marking Green Hill Farm Holiday Village in New Forest National Park

(Tip: before you set off, take a look at our 10 tips for taking your dog on holiday to make sure tails are wagging from the get-go.)

Check-In Experience

Standard check-in is 4pm, and a Lovat rep was waiting as we pulled up. Paperwork ready, a park map with our lodge circled, a tidy information pack and a barrier pass for the automatic gate. Safe, secure and properly thought through.

Map, cookies, and keys on a table with a blurred dog in the background. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

The staff were genuinely dog-friendly, not just polite about it. They pointed out the private gate onto the New Forest and the enclosed dog field off lead dog walking. Both turned out to be among Freddie’s favourite features of the trip.

First Glimpse of the Park

The first thing that hit us was how clean and beautifully landscaped it was. Mature trees, lots of new planting, a gorgeous fishing pond, neat paths and litter bins in all the right places. Woodland tranquillity, in a phrase.

Cabin with gray railing in the foreground, safari tents in the background on a sunny day. Green grass and trees surround the setting. — *Photo credit: lovat holiday parks*

Then came the quiet. We visited in mid-May, not peak season, but the park was almost fully booked. Even so, we couldn’t believe how peaceful it felt. No screaming children. No barking. No music blaring from a neighbouring deck. The park sits well back from the road along a long sweeping drive, so even the traffic noise drops away.

Zen comes to mind.

2. The Accommodation

Layout & Space

We booked the Luxury 2-bed Holiday Home, Lovat’s most affordable option here. At 468 sq. ft it’s snug rather than spacious, but every inch is well used. South-facing French doors open onto the deck, big windows pour in the light, and the open-plan kitchen and living space means you can cook while your dog snoozes three feet away.

Curly-haired brown dog lying on a carpet by glass doors, looking outside. Floral curtains and balcony with greenery in the background. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

The cleanliness blew us away. The team spend ninety minutes turning round each home between bookings (I asked) and it shows. Show-home standard, every cushion to attention. We even checked under them. Spotless.

The website says it sleeps six with the sofa bed, but realistically it’s a two - four person place with room for a small dog. A cockapoo fits easily. A Labrador might find it a squeeze. There’s no enclosed garden, but the deck is fenced, sun-drenched and kitted out with a table and chairs.

Oh! and the parking is right next to the lodge, with a light for late returns.

Dog sits on steps of a holiday home in a park. A white car is parked on grass. Overcast sky and other mobile homes in the background. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

Dog-Friendly Features

Four days of Freddie-testing, here's what stood out.

A cockapoo dog eats from a bowl on a wood-patterned floor next to a kitchen with light wood cabinets and an oven, towel hanging nearby. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

The hard floors in the kitchen and hallway were perfect for muddy-paw moments. We also appreciated the carpets in the bedrooms and lounge, as they were cosier in the evenings when we wanted to curl up in front of the TV or plan the next day’s walks.

Curly-haired dog sits on carpet, looking up. Bed in background with yellow throw and three rolled towels. Bright and cosy room. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

The sofa and cushions shrugged off dog hair with a quick brush-down. Nothing more needed.

Our top tip: bring your own bowls and dog bed. Dogs can be anxious in new surroundings so familiar kit settles any pup fast.

3. The Dog Amenities (The Main Event)

This is where Green Hill Farm earns its dog-friendly stripes with the holiday village facilities.

Nearby Amenities (Within the Park)

Amenity	Distance	Dog-Friendly?
Reception / main office	5 min walk	✓ Yes
Dog washing station	5 min walk	✓ Yes
Shop / cafe	5 min walk	✓ Yes
Ember Pizzeria & Bar	5 min walk	✓ Yes
Dog Exercise Area	5 min walk	✓ Yes

Canine Camper Stations

Little snack bars dotted around the park, carrying fresh drinking water, a regularly refilled treat tub (resealable, so the contents stay dry) and a stack of poo bags. Simple, smart and properly useful. Dog waste bins are everywhere, so no plodding back to the lodge with a full bag.

Dog Exercise Area & Ball Library

Dogs must be on-lead around the site, but the gated Dog Exercise Area gives them off-lead freedom whenever you want it. And who doesn't need some off lead dog walking?

Lovatts provide a massive, gated field with a ball library at the gate, throwers and balls included if you’ve forgotten yours (we had!)

The location is the masterstroke. It sits right opposite the reception and shop. Morning routine sorted: a proper run for Freddie, a fresh croissant and a takeaway coffee for us, and the day starts with everyone happy.

Dog at a gate with a "Dog Ball Library" sign, tennis balls in a basket, and ball throwers attached. Green and purple colors dominate. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

Pets Corner & Doggy Ice Cream

The on-site shop has a whole section dedicated to dogs. Treats, shampoo, toys, water bottles, poo bags, the lot.

Freddie tried the Pawbeck doggy ice cream, made just down the road in Corfe Castle. It’s formulated to be gentle on sensitive stomachs so perfect for dogs. Freddie hoovered his. I treated myself to a human Honeycomb tub of my own. Fair’s fair.

Shelves labeled "Pets corner" display plush toys, treats, and pet supplies. A store setting with wooden flooring and various colorful items. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

Ember Pizzeria & Bar

Dog-friendly inside and out (weather permitting), with takeaway available. Stone-baked pizzas, salads, burgers and classics like battered cod and chips.

We loved the booth seating as it made it easy to keep Freddie settled without getting in the server’s way. Genuinely friendly staff, good value, and the pizzas were spot-on.

Pizza and wine on a wooden table. Two glasses of red wine, a bottle labeled "La Cour des Dames." A person is holding a fork. Cosy setting. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

Direct Access to Canada Common

Green Hill Farm’s secret weapon: a private gate straight onto Canada Common, part of the New Forest. Wild ponies and donkeys roam the heath, trails wind off in every direction, and the whole place feels peaceful in a way that’s hard to put a price on.

Two donkeys roam a grassy field under a cloudy sky in the New Forest. The foreground has a grey path. The mood is calm and pastoral. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

We put Freddie on lead near the New Forest ponies and donkeys, but they barely glanced our way. A circular walk of around 6.5km takes ninety minutes to two hours. It’s flat, so suits most ages and fitness levels.

Worth a mention: the Rockingham Arms, a proper dog friendly pub backing onto the common, sits about thirty minutes from Green Hill. Seriously, it's perfectly placed for a pause with a pint.

4. Nearby Dog Walks

The social side turned out to be a real treat. I spent plenty of time nattering with fellow holidaymakers, getting the low-down on why they’d picked Lovat and what they loved most. We came away with a notebook full of recommendations for dog-friendly days out. Freddie made fast friends of his own.

A holiday park is only as good as what’s nearby. Here’s what we discovered within a short drive.

Whitefield Moor

Curly-haired dog wearing a green harness sits on a pebbled path by a calm pond. Lush, leafy trees form a tranquil forest backdrop. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

🐾 Distance from park: 13 miles

🐾 Parking: Forestry England car park charges. Some only accept payment via the RingGo app, so we recommend downloading it in advance as mobile signal can be a bit patchy.

🐾 Length: 40 minutes to 1 hour

🐾 Dog restrictions: Year-round, off lead

A gorgeous woodland walk following a babbling brook with small wooden bridges to cross. Cool, dappled shade on hot days; plenty of tree cover when the rain rolls in. One of hundreds of New Forest woodland walks within easy reach.

Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway

Brown curly-haired dog with harness sits on grass by a pond with lily pads. Lush green trees and colorful bushes in the background. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

🐾 Distance from park: 18 miles

🐾 Parking: Large car park with easy access to gardens, cafe and toilets

🐾 Length: 40 minutes to 3 hours

🐾 Dog restrictions: On lead

Easy, flat paths through 200 acres of gardens, with a cafe, dog bins, picnic area and a steam railway running through. We visited in spring and caught Exbury’s world-famous rhododendrons and azaleas in full bloom. The sheer scale and relaxed pace set it apart. It reminded us a little of Kew Gardens.

Bucklers Hard

Man with a cap walks a fluffy dog on a gravel path in front of old brick houses under a blue sky with scattered clouds. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

🐾 Distance from park: 18 miles (opposite side of the Beaulieu River to Exbury)

🐾 Parking: Large car park, easy access to the museum

🐾 Length: 1 to 2 hours

🐾 Dog restrictions: On lead

Like stepping back in time, only with tearooms and better cake. Bucklers Hard has been around since the 13th century, when Cistercian monks owned the land. By the 18th century it was a busy shipyard turning out wooden warships for Nelson’s Navy. Pretty good CV.

Stroll the charming village, soak up the maritime history at the museum, or hop on the River Cruise (April to October, dogs welcome). Feeling energetic? A 2¼-mile riverside path winds through woodland, grassland and salt marsh to Beaulieu, home to the National Motor Museum.

Walk	Distance from Green Hill	Dog-Friendly?	Difficulty	Best For	Price
Whitefield Moor	13 miles	✓ Off lead	Easy	Cool forest walks	Car park charge
Exbury Gardens	18 miles	✓ On lead	Easy	Garden lovers	Garden + railway entry
Bucklers Hard	18 miles	✓ On lead	Easy	History and river views	Car park charge; museum & cruise charge

5. The Practical Stuff

Pricing & Value

Let’s talk money. Dog-friendly holidays can add up quickly.

Item	Cost	Notes
Accommodation (4 nights mid-week)	From £300	Luxury 2-bed holiday home
Dog fee	£50 per dog
End of stay cleaning	Included
Parking	Free	On-site
TOTAL	From £300	4 nights, up to 2 dogs

Is it worth it? For a 4-night Luxury Holiday Home stay, absolutely. We had enough space for the two of us and Freddie, but if you want proper room to spread out (especially with a bigger dog) and storage space, the Exclusive 2-bed is the smarter shout. Almost double the floor space with a considerably bigger deck albeit at extra cost.

It's considerably cheaper than a New Forest dog friendly cottage (£600-1200). Same forest, same wild ponies, less of your savings. Yes, you'll trade the cottage character and private garden for park amenities. But for our money, the dog-focused extras and direct gated access onto Canada Common, which most cottages can't match, win.

Other Pet Friendly Accommodation at Green Hill Farm

Map of Green Hills Holiday Village on a green board in a rural area, showing site layout with icons and text. Blue sky and hedges in the background. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

There’s a wider range here than just the Luxury 2-bed we tested.

• Luxury Holiday Home (468 sq ft). Entry-level, the one we stayed in. Snug but cleverly laid out. Ideal for two adults and a small or medium dog.

• Premium Holiday Home (468 sq ft). Same footprint, upgraded fixtures and fittings. A step up if you want the compact layout with a bit more polish.

• Exclusive Holiday Home (800 sq ft). Nearly double the floor space. This is what we’d book next time. Room to spread out when the British weather has other ideas.

• Luxury Lodges (2, 3 or 4 bed). Around double the size of a traditional holiday home, with a touch of luxury throughout. Ideal for families or multi-dog households.

• Safari Tent. Canvas tent on a wooden platform, with proper beds, a kitchen and plenty of character. The romance of camping, none of the faff.

One to note: Lovat’s Shepherd’s Huts and the new-for-2026 Glamping Pods at Green Hill Farm Holliday Village aren’t pet friendly, so steer clear of those listings.

All have great wifi, tvs in the lounge area plus master bedroom, and there's a lovely little welcome pack with tea coffee and biscuits (nice touch), some even come with a hot tub on the decking.

House Rules (For Dogs)

The official Lovat’s list: maximum 2 dogs per accommodation; dogs on lead within the park; dogs never left unaccompanied. That’s it. Three rules. All sensible.

It’s a refreshing change. We’ve stayed in Airbnbs with house rules so detailed they basically had appendices. No dogs upstairs. No dogs on the sofa. No dogs within three feet of a throw cushion.

If you’ve ever met a dog, you know how that goes. Freddie would honour a “no sofa” rule for exactly as long as it took us to pop to the loo, then he’d be up there, head on a cushion, watching the world go by.

What to Pack

Dog bowls and food, a familiar bed or blanket, leads and harness, plenty of poo bags, towels for muddy clean-ups, favourite toys and a waterproof coat for rainy walks. That’ll cover most weather and most moods.

If you're interested we also have a range of guides and recommendations on car seat covers, car seats and boot liners to protect your car (details and links later in the article).

Car trunk open with gray lining and blue toy, labeled "SMART BARK." Sunny day, green bushes in background, relaxed outdoor setting.

6. Our Verdict

❤️ What We Loved

• The peace, properly. Mid-May, almost fully booked, and still it felt like the kind of quiet most people drive an hour into the country for.

• Walks for every mood. New Forest trails straight off the private gate, plus a clutch of bigger crowd-pleasers within a 30-minute drive.

• Dog-friendly to the core. Even a stroll around the park felt like a proper outing, with treat stations and waste bins everywhere you’d want them.

• The lodge itself. Clean, well-equipped and properly comfortable. Show-home standard.

• The thinking behind it all. Welcoming staff, smart organisation, attention to detail throughout.

And we’re not alone. Lovat scores 4.8/5 on Feefo, an independent platform that collects verified customer ratings.

⚠️ What Could Be Better

Here’s what would lift Lovat from really good to properly great.

• Snug rather than spacious. The 2-bed Luxury is well-designed but tight. If your budget stretches, the Exclusive 2-bed gives you proper breathing room.

• A shop with its limits. Strong on essentials, light on fresh produce and bakery. Stocking perishables in a rural park is no small ask, but a slightly broader fresh range would be the cherry on top.

• The pastry paradox. When the fresh pastries are in, they’re out of this world. The catch? They’re not always available. We’d cheerfully set an alarm for first dibs.

• The missing welcome pack. The website mentions a dog welcome pack with treats and a blanket. Ours never arrived. Hopefully an oversight rather than the new norm.

None of these are deal breakers. Small fixes, all of them. None would stop us booking again.

Who Should Book Lovat Parks?

✅ BOOK IF: You want genuinely dog-focused facilities, value sustainability, and want a holiday surrounded by nature without a top-end price tag.

❌ SKIP IF: You prefer total seclusion or want nightclubs, waterparks or evening entertainment.

Would We Return?

Came in cautious, left as converts! The combination of dog-friendly facilities and proper peace made this one of the best UK dog-friendly holidays we've experienced.

We'd return in a heartbeat, especially off-peak when it's quieter and more affordable. Freddie's already circling the dates for round two.

A curly-haired dog sits on grass near a trimmed hedge with purple flowers. Trees and a road in the sunny background create a serene setting. — *Photo credit: smart bark*

Overall Rating

Category	Rating	Comments
Accommodation Quality	★★★★☆	Wide range of types and budgets
Dog Amenities	★★★★★	Everything you could hope for
Location & Nearby Walks	★★★★★	Direct access to the New Forest
Value for Money	★★★★☆	Strong off-peak
Staff Friendliness	★★★★★	Outstanding service
OVERALL	★★★★☆ 4.5/5

7. How to Book & Final Thoughts

Booking Lovat Parks

We'd recommend checking the Lovat website for the latest offers and prices. They often offer substantial saving if you book way in advance.

Also, as not all their available accomodation is pet friendly, we'd recommend booking early, to grab the right holiday home for you and your four-legged friend.

Plus if you are booking more than 8 weeks in advance of your arrival date, you can secure your holiday with a deposit of only £50. The balance is payable 8 weeks before arrival.

Clearly if you are booking within 8 weeks of arrival, you will need to pay the full amount of your holiday at the time of booking.

Enjoy 10% OFF your holiday with discount code AFSB10UN

View Lovat Holiday Parks

Final Thoughts

Lovat Parks delivered on everything they promise. This isn’t ‘pet-friendly’ accommodation with a grudging nod to dogs. It’s genuinely dog-focused, from the B Corp values to the canine camper stations.

Would we recommend it? Absolutely. Pack your dog’s bed, set the satnav for the New Forest, and prepare for a properly relaxing break where your dog is welcomed, not just tolerated.

We’re seriously considering booking another break with Lovat, so the big question is, should we return to the New Forest or sample one of their other holiday parks?

8. FAQs

Q1: Are all Lovat Parks dog-friendly?

Yes, every Lovat park welcomes dogs. Four in Cornwall (Padstow, Cornish Meadows, Penmarlam, Sun Haven), one in Norfolk (Waxham Sands) and Green Hill Farm in the New Forest. Facilities vary park by park, so check the specific listing if there’s something you don’t want to be without.

Q2: Is there a dog size limit?

No published limit. We saw everything from tiny terriers to bouncing retrievers. The accommodation matters more than the rule. If you’ve got a Labrador or bigger, the Exclusive 2-bed or one of the lodges will be far comfier than the Luxury.

Q3: Can I leave my dog in my holiday home while I go out?

Lovat asks that dogs aren’t left unaccompanied. New environment, new smells, barking that carries. In practice, plan days out around dog-friendly venues (the New Forest has plenty: pubs, gardens, historic villages) or take turns if you’re travelling as a pair.

Q4: Are the nearby beaches and walks dog-friendly year-round?

The New Forest is open to dogs all year, on-lead where livestock graze. The spots we tested all allow dogs year-round. South coast beaches are a different story: Lepe (the nearest to Green Hill Farm) operates seasonal restrictions on its main bathing area between May and September. Worth checking the local council’s beach policy before you set off.

Q5: Is Lovat Parks suitable for puppies?

Yes, with two caveats. First, you’ll meet plenty of other dogs, great for socialisation but potentially overwhelming for a nervous pup. Second, the on-lead rule across the wider park. Puppies who aren’t yet rock-solid on the lead might find it frustrating. The gated Dog Exercise Area helps.

Q6: How does Lovat Parks compare to other dog-friendly accommodation?

Lovat sits at the higher end of the price scale but earns it on depth of dog-focused thinking. Plenty of holiday parks tick the “pets allowed” box. Few have treat stations along the paths, a ball library, dedicated pet sections in the shop and direct gated access to a national park. If your budget is tight, you’ll find cheaper. If you want proper dog focus, Lovat sets the bar.