Lepe Country Park on the south coast of the New Forest offer opportunities for walking, conservation, and the chance to enjoy nature and heritage.
About Lepe Country Park
Lepe Country Park is a beautiful coastal country park featuring a mile-long beach, pine fringed cliffs, and historic D-day remains. It’s a popular destination among tourists to the New Forest due to stunning views across the Solent and Dark Water estuary and is a haven for nature lovers.
In addition to the beach, where people can search for seashore crabs and children can make sandcastles, Lepe Country Park has woodlands and an accessible sensory garden for people to visit, as well as a lovely restaurant where visitors can enjoy panoramic views and get something to eat and drink.
The Country Park is open throughout the year and has several groups that run out of it, all of which benefit from the unique landscape. There are a variety of friendly and inclusive groups at Lepe Country Park, offering opportunities to enjoy nature, socialise, and get involved in conservation with activities including wellbeing walks, birdwatching, and supported volunteering, with options suitable for a range of abilities and support needs.
Taking part in activities at Lepe Country Park can support physical activity, social connection, confidence, a sense of purpose and connection with nature, all of which can contribute positively to participants’ health and wellbeing.
Activities available
- There are several groups that meet at Lepe Country Park every week. These include:
- Wellbeing walks
- Wellbeing walks are led by rangers at Lepe Country Park every Thursday, meeting at 9.30am until 11am.
- Taking part in wellbeing walks can support physical and mental wellbeing through gentle exercise, spending time outdoors connecting with nature. Walking as part of a friendly group also provides opportunities to socialise, build confidence, and reduce feelings of isolation.
- The group is as inclusive as possible with people able to walk at different speeds. It will typically go to the Lookout restaurant for a hot drink and a chat after the session.
- Parking is free if attending the group.
- Ask at Reception at the Lookout to find out more.
- Birdwatching
- A birdwatching group runs every Wednesday at Lepe Country Park, meeting at 9am.
- The group will spend time in the hide, which can be reached using the sensory trail and will typically go to the Lookout restaurant for a hot drink and a chat after the session.
- Birdwatching provides a calm and relaxing way to connect with nature, encouraging participants to slow down, focus, and spend time outdoors. Being part of an inclusive group can also help people meet others, share interests, and feel more socially connected.
- The birdwatching group is fully inclusive and individuals who use mobility scooters are able and encouraged to attend.
- Thursday Volunteers group
- Lepe Country Park’s Thursday Volunteers group has been running successfully since early 2025, meeting between 9am and 3pm.
- The group aims to encourage people into conservation work and is suited to individuals who may need some support. On some Thursdays, dependent on tasks, the group may join with the wellbeing walk but aside from that the participants help with survey work, conservation tasks, and can also help in the visitor centre.
- Volunteering at Lepe Country Park gives participants opportunities to learn new skills, build confidence, and gain a sense of purpose and achievement through meaningful conservation work. Working alongside rangers and other volunteers also encourages social interactions, teamwork, and connections with the natural environment, with support tailored to individual needs.
- Prior to joining the group, Lepe Country Park welcomes potential participants to meet with the rangers at Lepe so that both they and the ranger know how best to support them to get the most out of the group.
- Friends of Lepe
- Friends of Lepe is a group of volunteers who support the staff team at Lepe Country Park by carrying out conservation management and other maintenance tasks in the Park.
- One of the proudest achievements of Friends of Lepe is the creation of the Sensory Cottage Garden, which the group continues to maintain. Friends of Lepe can also help support events for both adults and children held at the Park, provide support to the reception desk at the Lookout restaurant, carry out wildlife surveys, litter pick, and generally act as ambassadors for the Park.
- Being a Friend of Lepe provides opportunities to stay active, meet new people, and contribute positively to the Park and local environment. Taking part in conservation activities, surveys, events, and visitor activities can provide a sense of belonging, purpose, and achievement, while regular social activities help build connections with others.
- Members can get four newsletters about the park with upcoming events and projects and can attend meetings and events such as evening talks, guided walks, and social events for just £5 a year.
- Wellbeing walks
Access and facilities
- Wheelchair accessible / level access
- Toilets available on-site
- Seating / rest points available
- Activities are outside
- Activities are inside and outside
- Suitable for older people
- Suitable for people with restricted mobility
What Lepe Country Park participants can expect
- Lepe Country Park participants can expect a relaxed and inclusive experience with opportunities to enjoy nature, meet others, and take part at a level that suits them.
- Activities are supported by rangers and experienced volunteers so no previous experience is needed.
- There are opportunities to learn new skills, build confidence, and become part of the Lepe community.
Where sessions take place
- Lepe Country Park is situated on the southern edge of the New Forest, nine miles south of Southampton.
- The address for the park is: Lepe Road, Exbury, Southampton, SO45 1AD.
Getting there
- Find visitor information including parking and accessible visits on the Lepe Country Park website.
When sessions take place
- Before coming along to any of the groups please either visit the reception at the Lookout, call on 023 8089 9108, or send your enquiry to lepe.enquiries@hants.gov.uk.
- Lepe Country Park and the Lookout is open from 9am until 5pm, April to October and from 9am to 4pm, October through to April.
Who can participate?
- Lepe Country Park is open to all to enjoy the surroundings.
- Wellbeing walks lasts around 90 minutes and so is best suited to those that can walk for that length of time and are ok with terrain that is mixed. Children would not be able to participate unless the are supervised by an accompanying adult.
- The birdwatching group is open to all adults over the age of 18. The route to the hide is fully accessible and so individuals that use mobility scooters are encouraged to come attend.
- The Thursday Volunteers group is open to all. The group has been designed to run with small numbers so that individuals that may for whatever reason require some support to attend be able to access and benefit from the group. Prior to joining the group, it is essential for volunteers to meet the ranger staff so that they can best support their needs.
- Friends of Lepe is open to all adults. The work can involve handling sharp tools and be on uneven terrain and so anyone that is keen to volunteer should bear that in mind when considering.
Cost
- For Friends of Lepe £5 per session.
How to book
- Email Lepe.Enquiries@hants.gov.uk or phone 023 8089 9108.
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Not the right group for you? Find our other groups and opportunities on the Green Health Hub, or search by activity. Find out how to enjoy the New Forest on your own through the National Park Authority.
