Burley is a small village situated in the south west of the New Forest which has been a settlement since Saxon times or even before. In centuries past its location only a short distance from the coast made it a well known haunt of smugglers and outlaws. In more recent times, during the 1950’s a ‘White’ witch named Sybil Leek lived in the village. Apparently, she was often seen walking around the village in a long, black cloak with a jackdaw on her shoulder. As a result of her notoriety, two of the gift shops in the village are now devoted to witchcraft items!

Ponies and donkeys frequently stroll around the village making it popular with tourists. It also has its fair share of tea rooms and gift shops plus a couple of pubs but little else to really recommend it in terms of buildings or architecture apart from Burley Manor Hotel which was built in 1852 on the site of former manor houses dating back to the 13th century. Nowadays its grounds house a riding stable where you can book rides through the Forest plus a herd of farmed Red deer which can often be seen from the village car park. If you want to get closer, deer safaris on tractor and trailer operate during the summer holidays.

One of the village highlights of the year is the annual cider festival held held over a weekend in mid October.