Lepe Beach and Solent Shore
Exbury, Hampshire
Lepe Country Park sits where the Hampshire coast meets the Solent at the edge of the New Forest, with views across to the Isle of Wight throughout the walk. It is flat, accessible, and good for a half-day out.
The beach is shingle with a wide foreshore at low tide. Within half a mile of the car park, at low tide, you can see the concrete mats laid on the foreshore in 1944 to support D-Day tanks - Lepe was one of the main departure points for the Normandy landings and the evidence is still there underfoot.
Your dog can walk the main beach from October to April. From May to September the family beach section is closed to dogs, but a year-round alternative coastal route runs alongside it and is always available.
The currents at Lepe Spit and Stansore Point are extremely strong. The National Coastwatch Institution warns they are too powerful even for strong swimmers. Keep your dog clear of those points. The calmer section in front of The Lookout cafe is safer in settled conditions at low tide.
The Lookout restaurant has outside seating with Solent views and welcomes dogs.
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs go on the beach at Lepe all year round?
Not on the main family beach. Dogs are banned from the family beach section from approximately May to September. The boundaries are marked by a flagpole and a signed cable pole. From October to April, dogs are welcome on the family beach. Year-round, there is an alternative coastal path where dogs are welcome, running alongside the restricted area.
Is it safe for dogs to swim at Lepe?
In the calmer sections in front of The Lookout cafe, swimming is possible in settled conditions at low tide. However, the currents at Lepe - particularly at Lepe Spit and Stansore Point - are extremely dangerous. The National Coastwatch Institution warns that currents at these spots can be too strong even for an Olympic swimmer. There are no lifeguards on duty at any point. Do not let dogs swim near Lepe Spit.
What is the D-Day connection at Lepe?
Lepe was a major departure point for the D-Day landings of June 1944. Twelve thousand tons of supplies and 2,500 vehicles were processed here daily. Six massive concrete caissons built at Lepe were towed across the Channel to form the Mulberry harbours used in Normandy. The concrete mats laid on the beach to support tanks are still visible less than half a mile from the car park - best seen at low tide.
Are New Forest ponies a concern on this walk?
The ponies do not graze within the country park itself. However, the park is within the New Forest National Park and ponies roam freely through the surrounding area, including on the approach roads. On the extended Lepe Loop (takes you inland on country lanes), encounters with roaming ponies and cattle are likely. Keep dogs under control and on lead near all New Forest animals - they are semi-wild and unpredictable.
Plan this walk with live weather and dog-safe route info