Hatchet Pond
The largest pond in the New Forest, where ponies and donkeys often drink at its edge on open heathland, a classic spot for photographing forest ponies.
Hatchet Pond lies on heathland about 2 km southwest of Beaulieu and is the largest body of water in the New Forest. The flat, open grassland by the pond is where freely grazing New Forest ponies, donkeys and cattle come to drink and feed, while swans and waterbirds gather in flocks. The reflections at sunset are beautiful. There is a free car park by the road and a summer ice cream van, and you can combine it with Beaulieu and Bucklers Hard for a half-day trip. Please do not feed or touch the ponies: they belong to local commoners and may kick or bite.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Beaulieu (National Motor Museum, Palace House & Abbey)
- Buckler's Hard
- New Forest Wildlife Park
- Exbury Gardens
- Lymington
- Brockenhurst
- Lyndhurst
- St Michael and All Angels Church, Lyndhurst