Discover Deer at Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, New Forest

Spotting Deer at Bolderwood

The chances of seeing some deer are good as they are fairy tolerant of humans but they are wild, so sightings cannot be guaranteed.

According to the New Forest website, the deer are fed a snack of maize regularly anytime between 12.30pm and 2.30pm from April to September. The deer can appear anywhere but, as the meadow is large, they could be far away.

The Viewing Platform

We saw the deer as soon as we reached the viewing platform. There were three eating in the meadow and another four or five in the trees. They were beautiful, with spotted backs reminiscent of Bambi.

As we watched, more and more appeared – lying in the shade, springing across the meadow and feeding out in the open. We even saw a baby feeding from its mother, which was delightful. It was easy to understand why this is one of the most popular spots in the New Forest.

The Deer Watch Trail

The viewing platform is very close to the car park. It can be found by following the Deer Watch Trail (0.5 miles), which starts in the picnic area. It is a very short trail – we crossed the road and arrived at the deer viewing platform after walking for less than 5 minutes along a fairly easy path with a gentle slope.

Along the fence at the side of the meadow are some benches and other places to stand and observe the deer. To reach these you need to go a little way down the hill.

The Other Trails

From the viewing platform you can choose to venture further into the forest by following two other marked trails – The Jubilee Trail (1 mile) or the Radnor Trail (2 miles). These meander through the forest, past ornamental trees, towering redwoods and old, gnarled trees. Along the way there are places to build dens and play in the leaves.

A Steep Hill

With the exception of the Deer Watch Trail, each of the trails start with going down a fairly steep hill and end with going back up it. We managed it both ways with a buggy but it took effort, especially with other children toddling around the buggy. There is a bench half way up if you need a rest.

Deer Everywhere!

Shortly after finding the Gruffalo, an eagle-eyed child suddenly shouted, “A deer!”. At first I couldn’t see anything…

Can you?

…and then I saw them, three deer about ten feet away, moving slowly and silently through the trees towards the feeding area. We were all mesmerised – I have never seen the children so silent and still! It was a magical moment to share with them and a perfect end to the day.

Nearest Town: Lyndhurst, New Forest, near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO43 7GQ will take you as close as possible but be sure to follow the signs once they appear.

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Picnic area, barbecues, toilets and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: With the exception of the steep hill, I did not have any access issues with an all-terrain buggy.

Parking: There is a car park but this can become congested during busy times.
Cost of Parking: Free with a box for donations.

Wildlife You Might See: Deer, insects and birds.

Information Written: June 2017

Our visit to Bolderwood in the New Forest, near Southampton, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.