Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park

The heavy horses here are proper impressive - massive Suffolk Punches and Percherons that tower over you when they amble across the paddocks. You'll spend a couple of hours wandering around seeing them work, often ploughing or hauling carts the way their ancestors did for centuries. The farm sits just outside Fordingbridge, and it's a genuinely good afternoon if you've got kids who aren't too impatient, though anyone fascinated by working horses will get far more out of it than someone just ticking off attractions.

The whole operation feels low-key rather than slick. You're watching these animals do their thing - pulling loads, moving around the fields - which is exactly the point. There's something quite calming about it, if you're into that sort of thing. Some visitors reckon it's a bit slow-paced; others find that's precisely what makes it worth the drive.

Based near Fordingbridge, you'll be well positioned to combine this with a broader New Forest visit. Hill Cottage Farm Caravan & Camping Park sits just 2.9 miles away and rates consistently well, making it a solid base if you're staying put for a few nights. Ashley Heath and the Shorefield properties at Forest Edge and Oakdene are all within easy striking distance too, so you could do this as a half-day outing and fill the rest with forest walks or visits to nearby villages.