May Cottage Guidebook
Food and Drink Milford on Sea
All of these resturants, pubs and cafe are walkable. Most are just 5 mins away. Milford green is the hub of the village and you will find people take their own chair/blanket and a picnic to spend the afternoon/evening on the green.
Saltwater cafe is highly recommended and one of the best breakfasts in Hampshire. You can find it just opposite the green, 100 yards away.
12 locals recommend
saltwater cafe
60 High StSaltwater cafe is highly recommended and one of the best breakfasts in Hampshire. You can find it just opposite the green, 100 yards away.
Just 200 yards away on the green the Paddle serves up good food and coffee plus some lovely fresh baked treats.
The Paddle on the green
4 Church HillJust 200 yards away on the green the Paddle serves up good food and coffee plus some lovely fresh baked treats.
Good food and great garden for kids to climb trees. Go past the green (on your right) and head out of Milford up the hill, this hotel can be found at the top of the hill on the left.
23 locals recommend
The Beach House, Milford on Sea
Park LaneGood food and great garden for kids to climb trees. Go past the green (on your right) and head out of Milford up the hill, this hotel can be found at the top of the hill on the left.
Lovely food and just over the road from the cottage there is a little gravel path which takes you along Sturt pond upto the Lighthouse and Keyhaven. Takes about 20-30 min walk. (check tide times as sometimes the walk can be a little wet if high tide)
17 locals recommend
The Lighthouse
Hurst RoadLovely food and just over the road from the cottage there is a little gravel path which takes you along Sturt pond upto the Lighthouse and Keyhaven. Takes about 20-30 min walk. (check tide times as sometimes the walk can be a little wet if high tide)
The Cave
2 Church HillFine wine and tapas on the green
Whilst you can sit in this lovely restaurant they also do takeaways and it is delicious. You won't be disappointed.
27 locals recommend
Britannia Thai
1 High StWhilst you can sit in this lovely restaurant they also do takeaways and it is delicious. You won't be disappointed.
If you have kids this is the place to be. Large sunny garden with great play area for the kids and good pub food.
21 locals recommend
The Smugglers Inn
88 High StIf you have kids this is the place to be. Large sunny garden with great play area for the kids and good pub food.
Lazy Lion
32 High StAnother great pub with good family friendly garden.
Mister Pink's
Church HillNo holiday is complete without a Mr Pinks.
This is a special place for us as we got married here, its a family run small tea room looking out to a lovely rose garden.
Braxton Gardens
This is a special place for us as we got married here, its a family run small tea room looking out to a lovely rose garden.
Newly refurbished pub serving great locally sourced food. Lovely place to go for a special occasion. You can also tag it on to a walk around the Keyhaven marshes.
24 locals recommend
The Gun Inn
Keyhaven RoadNewly refurbished pub serving great locally sourced food. Lovely place to go for a special occasion. You can also tag it on to a walk around the Keyhaven marshes.
Really nice sandwiches and cakes. They also do takeaway picnic lunches.
6 locals recommend
Coastal Bakery
25 High StReally nice sandwiches and cakes. They also do takeaway picnic lunches.
City/town information
Lymington is a 10 min drive away. It is a pretty Georgian coastal town with independent shops and a cobble street leading to the marina. On Saturdays there is a market on the highstreet.
224 locals recommend
Lymington
Lymington is a 10 min drive away. It is a pretty Georgian coastal town with independent shops and a cobble street leading to the marina. On Saturdays there is a market on the highstreet.
Christchurch
Beaulieu
Picture perfect countryside meets water
New Forest District
https://www.thenewforest.co.uk/things-to-do/walking
Sightseeing
You can walk, takes about 1hr along the coastal path or catch a little ferry to Hurst castle. Ferry trips can be booked in the village next to the co-op.
113 locals recommend
Hurst Castle
You can walk, takes about 1hr along the coastal path or catch a little ferry to Hurst castle. Ferry trips can be booked in the village next to the co-op.
Take a boat tour to the island or head to Milford beach to enjoy the view of the needles.
91 locals recommend
The Needles Landmark Attraction
Alum Bay New RoadTake a boat tour to the island or head to Milford beach to enjoy the view of the needles.
Things to do
Lots of family friendly things to do.
Lymington Sea Water Swimming Baths
Bath RoadFun for the kids
Milford and Keyhaven is the perfect place for paddle boarding, beginners or advanced. You can hire boards in the village and they also provide lessons.
23 locals recommend
The New Forest Paddle Sport Company
Milford and Keyhaven is the perfect place for paddle boarding, beginners or advanced. You can hire boards in the village and they also provide lessons.
Golf for all the family - this includes adventure golf aswell.
15 locals recommend
Lymington Golf Centre & New Forest Adventure Golf
South Baddesley RoadGolf for all the family - this includes adventure golf aswell.
This is a little further afield, takes about 45-50 mins in the car. Your kids will have an amazing time, and you should grab a takeaway on the way home to recover!
360 locals recommend
Paultons Park Home of Peppa Pig World
This is a little further afield, takes about 45-50 mins in the car. Your kids will have an amazing time, and you should grab a takeaway on the way home to recover!
Lots of petting and feeding of animals plus bumpy tractor rides, takes about 40 mins in the car.
77 locals recommend
Longdown Activity Farm
Deerleap LaneLots of petting and feeding of animals plus bumpy tractor rides, takes about 40 mins in the car.
Make a day of it. Mudeford has a long sandy beach and you can take the small ferry over to the spit and view the 250k beach huts! The Noisy Lobster is nice place to stop for lunch but can get very busy.
95 locals recommend
Mudeford Quay
Mudeford QuayMake a day of it. Mudeford has a long sandy beach and you can take the small ferry over to the spit and view the 250k beach huts! The Noisy Lobster is nice place to stop for lunch but can get very busy.
This is more than just strawberry picking, it usually has other fruits available. Plus a lovely cafe for cake and sand pit for the kids to play in. Over the road is adventure golf.
6 locals recommend
Goodall's Strawberries
This is more than just strawberry picking, it usually has other fruits available. Plus a lovely cafe for cake and sand pit for the kids to play in. Over the road is adventure golf.
Keyhaven has the perfect crabbing bridge, paddle board lagoon and stunning walks. Take the gravel path along Sturt pond (just opposite May Cottage)
33 locals recommend
Keyhaven
Keyhaven has the perfect crabbing bridge, paddle board lagoon and stunning walks. Take the gravel path along Sturt pond (just opposite May Cottage)
Walks
If the weather is bad this is great place to come for a walk where you will be a sheltered from wind and rain a little, takes about 10-15 mins drive. Could also stop in the Hare and Hounds in Sway for a drink or pub lunch.
8 locals recommend
Wilverley Inclosure
If the weather is bad this is great place to come for a walk where you will be a sheltered from wind and rain a little, takes about 10-15 mins drive. Could also stop in the Hare and Hounds in Sway for a drink or pub lunch.
Turn left from May cottage and this will take you to Keyhaven. This walk goes along a section of the Solent Way and takes in Keyhaven's marshes. Along the route there are views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and the Needles and opportunities to watch the ever-changing bird life of Keyhaven Marshes. The path then cuts inland to follow an ancient highway behind the reserve before returning to Keyhaven.
https://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/things-to-do/keyhaven-marshes-walk-p1474481
9 locals recommend
Keyhaven Marshes
Turn left from May cottage and this will take you to Keyhaven. This walk goes along a section of the Solent Way and takes in Keyhaven's marshes. Along the route there are views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and the Needles and opportunities to watch the ever-changing bird life of Keyhaven Marshes. The path then cuts inland to follow an ancient highway behind the reserve before returning to Keyhaven.
https://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/things-to-do/keyhaven-marshes-walk-p1474481
Take a right from May Cottage, head past the green on your right and up the hill until you reach The Beach House hotel. From here you can follow the coastal path to your right. Nice pit stop in the hotel garden aswell overlooking the sea.
Hordle Cliff West
Take a right from May Cottage, head past the green on your right and up the hill until you reach The Beach House hotel. From here you can follow the coastal path to your right. Nice pit stop in the hotel garden aswell overlooking the sea.
The first easy walk you should do (but not at high tide) - You can get straight to Sturt pond by heading to the gravel track opposite May Cottage (should see a brown fence across the road) This easy 1.9 mile route takes you from Milford on Sea, down to Hurst Spit and onto Sturt Pond, 3 wonderful sights to see in one walk.
https://www.tidetime.org/europe/united-kingdom/milford-on-sea.htm
Sturt Pond
The first easy walk you should do (but not at high tide) - You can get straight to Sturt pond by heading to the gravel track opposite May Cottage (should see a brown fence across the road) This easy 1.9 mile route takes you from Milford on Sea, down to Hurst Spit and onto Sturt Pond, 3 wonderful sights to see in one walk.
https://www.tidetime.org/europe/united-kingdom/milford-on-sea.htm
More walks and maps can be found here: - https://www.komoot.com/guide/792730/hiking-around-milford-on-sea
33 locals recommend
Keyhaven
More walks and maps can be found here: - https://www.komoot.com/guide/792730/hiking-around-milford-on-sea
Food outside Milford
Some of our favourite eating places outside Milford
The Elderflower Restaurant
4A Quay StOn The Rocks
Bridge RoadThe Pig
B3055Lymington Kayaks
3-4 Quay RdCity advice
Getting around
Taxi
I recommend booking taxi in advance
Taxi Numbers:
Lymington taxi - 01590 688888
Brockenhurst taxi - 01590 615141 or 01590 545454
Galleon taxi - 01425 611111
a2b taxi - 07825 372184
Getting around
Bus
X1 - Bournemouth - Christchurch - New Milton - Lymington
https://www.morebus.co.uk/services/SQ/X1?date=2021-06-02&direction=outbound
The bus stop in Milford on Sea is called the Bus Shelter, it is opposite Britannia Thai and Bay trees.
From bus stop - May Cottage is a 5 min walk. If you head past the Coastal bakery and the village green on your left, keep walking towards The Smugglers Inn, walk past the pub on your right. Once you see the Saltwater Cafe you are at Lymore Mews, detached white building on your left. May cottage is situated at the rear of Lymore mews.
Getting around
Train
Travelling to Milford via the Train:
The closest railway station is New Milton at 4.5 miles typically 2 trains an hour. The station taxi firm is Galleon 01425 622222 or you can jump on the X1 bus to Milford on Sea
Brockenhurst railway station is 8.2 miles there are typically 4 trains an hour. From Brockenhurst there is a connecting train to Lymington. Once in Lymington you can get a bus (X1) or taxi to Milford (10 min drive away). Lymington Taxi 01590 688888.
Contact Brockenhurst taxi 01590 615141 if you prefer to get a taxi from Brockenhurst to Milford on Sea.
Don't miss
Tide Times
https://www.tidetime.org/europe/united-kingdom/milford-on-sea.htm
- Try to avoid Sturt Pond walk during high tide ( I made the mistake once)
- Low tide at the Hordle Clifftop beach is my favourite, it can expose the sand bar during spring tide.
Travelling with kids
Kids Essentials
- We provide some family games and kids toys
- We have crabbing lines, buckets and spade
- We have a highchair
- Please be aware you may want to pack a travel cot, bed guard, and stair gate
Book before you go
Food shop
All major food supermarkets deliver. I highly recommend booking yourself a food shop for when you arrive.