The village of Ashurst is known as the Gateway to the New Forest National Park.  Its railway station is on the main London – Southampton – Bournemouth line and, sitting on the A35, Ashurst is a short drive or cycle ride from Southampton.

Ashurst has a small parade of shops and cafes, a Co-op store as well as a number of family-friendly pubs. Woodland walks can be enjoyed in nearby Busketts, Deerleep and Churchplace inclosures.  Or you can enjoy longer walks to other villages – including Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst. The Camping New Forest campsite on the edge of the village is one of the most popular in the forest.

The railway station makes Ashurst an accessible start and end point for walks. It is also on the New Forest Breezer 86 bus route between Southampton and Lymington. During the summer months, the New Forest Tour open-top bus red route stops in Ashurst. National Cycle Route 236 links Ashurst and Southampton.