Meet the New Forest Donkeys

As you drive into the New Forest National Park on your way to our Beaulieu hotel you’ll welcome the open heathland, beautiful ancient forest and miles of scenic winding roads, but the warm welcome to the New Forest usually comes from our beloved roaming residents; the ponies, pigs and donkeys. They may even stop in the middle of the road to ensure they’ve said a proper hello or you might meet them in doorways as you peruse the shops of our quaint villages.

Many guests at our Beaulieu hotel have come to love the visits from our New Forest donkeys but why are they roaming and where’s the best place to see them?

They may roam freely but the New Forest donkeys, as with the ponies, are not wild but are in fact owned by local ‘commoners’ who abide by ancient forest laws which give them the right for their livestock, which includes donkeys, to graze freely throughout the forest.

It’s an ancient practice that still stands today, with much of the New Forest land still owned by the Crown and managed by the Forestry Commission, Verderers, Agisters and commoners who all work hard to protect the heathlands and woodlands that have become an important home to National Park’s thriving wildlife.

There are around 200 donkeys roaming in the New Forest, and by allowing these grazing animals to wander freely helps to maintain the open habitats and aids biodiversity, their grazing helping to keep scrub growth under control, which in turn prevents dominance of certain plant species.

But why are there so many donkeys in and around the village of Beaulieu?

Our New Forest hotel is the heart of the National Park and here you will often come face-to-face with our donkey friends as you come and go from the hotel. But it’s also the grassy verges, sheltered nature of the village and attention from visitors that draws them here. Feeding the ponies and donkeys is strongly discouraged but they do seem to enjoy the human interaction, having become a local charm.

In fact, during your family hotel stay you’ll have the pleasure of meeting Monty the Donkey – the hotel’s very own mascot. He loves to join you on your New Forest family adventures, then at the end of the day there’s the opportunity to write all about your day out and escapades in Monty’s very own travel journal. For those who become very attached, you needn’t say goodbye, take him home with you (NB parents, a Monty is available to purchase from the hotel reception).

So where is the best to spot to see these loveable characters near our hotel?

As we’ve mentioned, you won’t often miss them in and around Beaulieu Village – head to the village green where they’re often snapped for socials.

Brockenhurst is a popular spot too, take a stroll to the riverside, over the green or walk into the forest for your chance to spot them, but we do advise to always give them space and remind visitors not to feed them – we’re in their home after all.

If you’d like to guarantee some time with the donkeys during your stay and get up close, plan a visit to Brockenhurst Donkey Walks in nearby Brockenhurst, where you can do just that, walk, talk, brush and spend time with their super-cute donkeys. Book your experience now.

More than just a photo opportunity though, our beloved grazing donkeys and ponies are a special part of our National Park; they are a reminder of tradition, part of the history of our ancient New Forest and that is something, at our Beaulieu hotel, that we treasure and hope you will too.