The Hordle Cliffs Accessible Trail offers a concrete starting point for planning your trip: the coastal path is 2 miles long and follows surfaced paths. Other topics associated with Hordle include public rights of way, diverse habitats and historic buildings.
Coastal Trails and Local Paths
There are 8.55 km of footpaths within the parish of Hordle, and the network of public rights of way comprises 18 routes. Some of these rights of way lead to the coast and the heathland of the New Forest National Park north of the parish. The figures describe different scales: the trail is a single 2-mile coastal route, the 8.55 km refers to footpaths within the parish, and 18 is the number of routes in the public rights-of-way network. Since route details and conditions can change, check the latest information before setting out.
The Hordle Cliffs car park has six accessible parking spaces, accessible toilets and a café. Visitor facilities may change, so check the latest information before your visit.
Landscape, Woodlands and Geological History
The northern part of the parish of Hordle extends into the New Forest National Park at the hamlet of Tiptoe. Within the parish, former coppiced woodland and species-rich meadows provide habitats for a wide variety of plants and animals. There are 19 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) in Hordle and along the parish boundaries. Most are characterised by broadleaved woodlands classified as ancient or semi-natural. A 2008 survey strongly suggests that Golden Hill Woods has features of ancient woodland.
Hordle Cliff consists of relatively soft sand and clay cliffs containing fossil-bearing Upper Eocene sediments. The sediments contain well-preserved remains of turtles, crocodiles, mammals and swamp cypresses. For travellers interested in nature and geological history, this offers a distinct perspective: the focus here is on rock layers and fossils, rather than the parish’s present-day habitats.
Coastal History and Historic Buildings
The former coastal village of Hordle was destroyed by the sea. Around 1100, Hordle’s first church mentioned in historical records stood near the coast at Hordle Cliff; it was served by Augustinian canons from Christchurch Priory. In the 19th century, the New Forest Shakers lived in the parish of Hordle.
The Church of All Saints in Hordle was built in 1872 by CE Giles in the Early English Gothic style. The Parish Church of All Saints is open for quiet reflection on weekdays from 9 am to 12 noon. Check visiting hours in advance, as arrangements may change.
Other buildings also offer their own historical highlights: Hordle War Memorial is a Grade II listed building commemorating the war years of 1918 and 1945. Barn Cottage in the parish of Hordle is a late-medieval timber-framed building with red brick infill. While the memorial’s designation and dates take centre stage, Barn Cottage is notable for its age and materials.
Discover more destinations: Hound, Nursling, Eversley, Hayling Island, New Milton, Ringwood, Hamble-Le-Rice, Waterlooville
For the regional travel overview: Hampshire.
