The village of Ashurst sits on the A35 just outside Southampton and as such is known as the Gateway to the New Forest National Park.

It has a small parade of shops and cafes, a Co-op store as well as a number pubs and is handy for walks in Busketts, Deerleep and Churchplace inclosures.  The Camping New Forest campsite on the edge of the village is one of the most popular in the forest.

Ashurst’s railway station makes it an accessible start and end point for a walk and it is also on the Bluestar 6 bus route between Southampton and Lymington. It is also on the New Forest Tour open-top bus red route during the summer months. National Cycle Route 236 links Ashurst and Southampton.