Burley - The witches village
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Disclaimer: The content of this post is independent and has not been compensated in any way. Opinions are my own.
The village is famous for its free roaming ponies and cattle, witchcraft, tales of smuggling and dragons. Burley is the only place in the New Forest that I have seen pigs roaming with the horses and ponies.
There is plenty of parking for both cars and coaches, and also a modern and very well kept public toilet block in the car park behind the Queens Head pub.
You can find the ‘Burley Wagon Rides’ in the same car park behind the Queens Head.
Burley was once home to Sybil Leek, a self-confessed white witch, who lived in the village in the 1950s, widely deemed as being responsible for the villages tourism celebrating witchcraft. She claimed to be a descendent of Molly Leigh who was accused of being a witch in the 18th century, and added that she could trace her family back to 12th century Irish witches. Sybil was often seen walking around the village with her pet Jackdaw on her shoulder.
The Witchcraft Act was repealed in 1951, and although many were nervous of speaking up, Sybil Leek was one of the few. She became a subject of media focus and attracted a lot of tourists to the village of Burley. She also started one of the first covens in the New Forest - the ’HORSA‘ coven, which exists today. Sybil eventually moved to the the US after falling in love with the country after travelling to promote one of her books, but not before she named one of the shops ‘A Coven of Witches’.
‘A Covern of Witches’ is pretty well dedicated to selling witch related wares, such as crystals, spells and spell candles, herbs, pagan parchment scrolls and jewellery.
The Skellmuir Hill Circle Ley Line lays less than 5 miles from the village, a Ley line is “a straight line connecting three or more prehistoric or ancient sites, sometimes regarded as the line of a former track and associated by some with lines of energy and other paranormal phenomena”.
Dragons are mentioned in local folklore, a dragon had his den at Burley Beacon, about 3 miles about east of Bisterne, at Burley. There are several versions of the tale, with a knight defeating the dragon, the a popular version of the tale says that the fight raged throughout the forest, with the dragon finally dying outside the village of Lyndhurst, his corpse turning into a hill which is known as Boltons Bench. According to legend, though the knight had defeated the dragon he had been mentally broken by the battle, and after thirty days and thirty nights he went back to Boltons Bench to die alone atop it, his yew-wood bow falling on the ground beside his body and eventually sprouting into the yew tree which can still be seen today.
Caraccios - ‘The Burley Sweet Shop’ - is a favourite with the children, with rows and rows of old fashioned sweets in jars, you can make your own pick‘n’mix. They also stock New Forest Ice Cream cones and lollies as well as Giggis Italian gelato and sorbet which are handmade locally by the man himself. Inside the shop, you will find New Forest souvenirs & handmade sweet cones.
In keeping with the village’s witchy reputation, there are several shops who are a must visit if this makes you happy, ‘Away with the Fairies’ is a fabulous little shop with a great collection of jewellery and other china and fairy related gifts. Visit the website here. ‘Cobwebs and Crystals’, ‘Witchcraft’ are also well worth a visit & both have other witchy related treats in stock for varying budgets.
‘Burley Fudge Shop’ is another well visited establishment in Burley Mall which is also a tourist magnet, Burley is well known for its fudge due to Burley Fudge. A family business, they have been making fudge since 1998 and I can confirm, it is amazing. Visit the website here.
Also in the Burley Mall is ‘The Burley Stores Tea House’, which serves hot and cold drinks, pastries, cakes, New Forest ice cream and other refreshments. It looked a little different the last few summers due to covid, pre-2020 it was a lovely little cafe with tables and chairs both inside & outside in the Mall.
‘Burley Coach House’ has been a staple in the village since it opened in 1968 selling Country Wines which have become famous. There is a large selection of confectionary, Jams, marmalades, chutneys and ciders sold.
‘The Old Shed’ is a small, family run business selling hippy, festival, boho and fairtrade clothing, you can see their website here. ‘The Cider Pantry New Forest Cider’ is also in the village, a wonderful traditionally brewed cider can be bought in person or on their website - website and online shop can be found here.
‘Shappen Stores’ occupies a building where a similar type of shop has been since 1908, under different names, there is more to their history on their own website. Within the store, you’ll find local produce, meats, deli and drinks as well as the village post office. Their website can be found here.
I love the concept of ‘Noohn Wild’, for a pre-bookable picnic or cafe with a focus on sustainability in the centre of Burley. For a special occasion, a New Forest picnic really is a fantastic idea. They also stock gifts in the form of art prints, candles, honey and jewellery. For more information, their website can be found here.
We keep our bikes inside our caravan, but for the day trippers or those who leave their bikes at home and fancy a ride for a day, the ‘New Forest Cycling’ is the place to go for cycle hire, conveniently placed for exploring the wider Burley area & the open forest which is a short ride from the shop. website can be found here.
Pubs are the Queens Head & The Burley Inn, both in the centre of the village.
Burley Manor is historic, first recorded with the Lord of the Manor in 1212, the current manor building was constructed in 1852 and became a hotel in 1933. It now offers an adult only weekend breaks, weddings, occasions and wellbeing. Having never stayed there, I can’t hand on heart recommend but it looks beautiful and the reviews are great.
Burley is a magical place, rich in history & is one of my favourite places in the New Forest.
We hope you love it as much as we do.
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