the new forest tourist information

The New Forest National Park

A world capital for wildlife.

Ancient woodlands, wild open heathlands and stretches of beautiful coastline.

The New Forest National Park ’s landscape is unique and includes the largest area of lowland heath in southern England, a rare habitat that once covered this part of the country. The New Forest is not a natural landscape though, it has been shaped over hundreds of years by people, by history and by the animals that still graze it today.

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Care for the Forest

Help care for the unique landscape and diverse wildlife of the New Forest.

Discover wildlife

Wherever you go in the New Forest you are likely to see many different types of plants, trees, insects and birds.

Walk traffic-free trails

Miles of off-road walks and cycle tracks take you into woods, by sea, over heath or along rivers and streams.

Special qualities

Outstanding natural beauty: the sights, sounds and smells of ancient woodland with veteran trees, heathland, bog and an unspoilt coastline.

An extraordinary diversity of plants and animals of international importance.

A unique historic, cultural and archaeological heritage from royal hunting ground to ship-building, salt-making and 500 years of military coastal defence.

An historic commoning system, forming the heart of a working landscape based on farming and forestry.

The iconic New Forest pony together with donkeys, pigs and cattle roaming free.

Tranquillity in the midst of the busy, built-up south of England.

Wonderful opportunities for quiet recreation, learning and discovery in one of the last extensive, gentle landscapes in the south including unmatched open access on foot and horseback.

A healthy environment: fresh air, clean water, local produce and a sense of ‘wildness’.

Strong and distinctive local communities with real pride in and sense of identity with their local area.

Did you know...

Architects of the Forest

One of the first things you notice in the New Forest are the free-roaming animals.

It’s rare to travel more than a few miles without coming across these famous Forest residents grazing on gorse, wandering through villages or even crossing roads.

The ponies, cattle, donkeys and pigs are known as ‘the architects of the Forest’ because it is their grazing that creates the accessible landscape we all enjoy.

They are owned by local people called commoners, who take great pride in their animals and there is a strong commoning culture within the Forest.

The animals have an ever-changing pattern of grazing which could not be replicated by a single herd and commoning makes a positive contribution to the remarkable biodiversity of the New Forest.

Getting around

The New Forest is a welcoming landscape with lots of villages, good visitor facilities and excellent rail and road links. It is well-served by a public bus network and there are three open top New Forest Tour routes running throughout the summer.

Arrive by train

Let the train take the strain and enjoy unforgettable views as you travel to the National Park. Brockenhurst station is in the heart of the New Forest and there are six further rail stations in and around the National Park.

Cycling the New Forest’s network of permitted routes is an ideal way to discover the beauty of the National Park. It’s easy to hop off a train and head straight out for a cycle ride, so leave the car at home and experience the landscape up close.

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• 1.1 History
• 1.2 Towns and villages
• 1.3 Flora and fauna
• 1.4 Climate
• 1.5 Visitor information
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 2.4 By ferry
• 2.5 By taxi
• 3.1.1 Dog Walking Code
• 3.1.2 Horse Riding Code
• 3.1.3 Out and About guide
• 3.1.4 Cycle Code
• 4.1 On foot
• 4.2 By bike
• 5.1 Northern Forest
• 5.2 Southern Forest
• 8 Eat and drink
• 9.1 Camping
• 10 Stay safe

The New Forest is a major tourist area and a national park in Hampshire . It is immensely popular with British campers, as it is one of two national parks in the densely populated South East of England .

The name 'New Forest' is somewhat misleading, as it is neither new (it was established in 1079), nor a forest in the current sense of the word. It is rather it is a patchwork of areas of open heath and gorselands, intermixed with forested 'enclosures'.

It was established by William I as a royal deer-hunting reserve, and it is this which was the original meaning of the word "forest". He introduced the Forest Law, a strict and savage legal code which forbade the local peasantry from doing anything that would interfere with his pursuit of deer, forbidding them from enclosing land for agriculture, for example, erecting fences or barriers, or even owning a bow. In slight recompense, they were given the right to graze their ponies, cattle and pigs in common (i.e. running free) across the forest. The result of this regime, together with the Royal Navy's need for oak trees during the Napoleonic wars (which led to the development of the forested enclosures) has given us a unique, if very much man-made, landscape.

The New Forest has an area of about 148 sq mi (380 km 2 ), and can become very busy on a spring or summer weekend. Road traffic can be a problem on the narrow unfenced roads, which all have a 40 mph (64 km/h) speed limit to safeguard the animals. Off the paved roads, however, there are miles of unpaved forest roads ideal for walking and cycling.

The New Forest was designated a national park in 2005.

Towns and villages

Although a largely rural area, there are several towns and large villages that have good pubs and restaurants to dine at, attractions to see and supermarkets to stock up on.

• 50.87 -1.58 1 Lyndhurst — main town of the New Forest
• 50.74 -1.78 2 Christchurch
• 50.82 -1.45 3 Beaulieu
• 50.78 -1.73 4 Bransgore
• 50.83 -1.7 5 Burley
• 50.82 -1.58 6 Brockenhurst
• 50.920278 -1.579722 7 Cadnam — an important crossroads between Southampton and the towns of Dorset
• 50.93 -1.79 8 Fordingbridge , including Breamore and Rockbourne
• 50.75 -1.55 9 Lymington
• 50.85 -1.78 10 Ringwood

Flora and fauna

The New Forest has several important or unusual habitats including both wet and dry heathland, alder carr (think of a semi-flooded woodland) and deciduous forest. Heaths and carrs are typical of southern England, but rare on the international scale. Semi-wild ponies, cattle and pigs still roam across the forest, sharing it with several species of wild deer and leading to a very special flora and fauna driven by their grazing.

There are several rare insect species including the southern damselfly and the mole cricket.

As with the rest of the UK, the weather in the New Forest is notoriously unpredictable. In the winter, it will often be rainy or overcast, with frost and occasional light snow. In the summer, temperatures will range from 12 °C (54 °F) to 28 °C (82 °F) making staying in the Forestry Commission campsites only very occasionally a bit hot as there are no swimming pools. Spring and autumn can be anywhere in between. The best time to camp is early summer; however, visits are possible all year round, provided you don't mind getting a bit wet!

Visitor information

• New Forest visitor information
• National park website

Southampton Airport ( SOU  IATA ) in Eastleigh is served by domestic and short-haul international flights and has the advantage of a direct train connection to Brockenhurst.

Bournemouth Airport ( BOU  IATA ) in Bournemouth is a small international airport on the edge of the New Forest so it is easy to reach by car.

The London airports have the best connections so it is recommended to fly to one of them and then use the train or car from there. Heathrow Airport ( LHR  IATA ) is the closest and has the best international connections.

Brockenhurst has a station on the mainline railway from London Waterloo to Bournemouth via Southampton, which is served by at least one fast train from each of those cities every hour. It is also served by longer-distance train services from Birmingham and the north of England.

There are smaller stations within the forest serving Lyndhurst and Beaulieu, but in both cases the service is infrequent and the stations are isolated and not close to the places they serve.

There is also a branch line railway from Brockenhurst to Lymington , principally to provide connections with the ferry service from there to the Isle of Wight .

Train times can be found on the National Rail Planner or by calling 08457 484950 from anywhere in the UK.

From the north and east, the New Forest is best approached by the M27 motorway. For Beaulieu leave the M27 at junction 2 and follow the signs. For Lyndhurst and the north of the forest, leave at junction 1 and again follow signs. For Brockenhurst, use either of the above to, then follow signs for Brockenhurst from Beaulieu or Lyndhurst respectively.

From the west, you can approach the forest from Bournemouth by the A337 via Lymington to Brockenhurst, or by the A35 direct to Lyndhurst. From further west, use the A31 trunk road which bisects the forest (with very few intermediate junctions) and turns into the M27.

From the south, you can reach Lymington from the Isle of Wight by the Wightlink car and passenger ferry which runs every half-hour.

The Hythe Ferry operates a half-hourly passenger ferry and pier tram service across Southampton Water from Town Quay, Southampton to the small town of Hythe, on the eastern edge of the New Forest. During the 12-minute journey, if they are in port, the ferry passes the berth of the liner Queen Mary II.

There are a couple of local taxi companies providing local and long distance travel services from major airports, towns, bus and rail stations to New Forest. New Forest Taxi and Soton Taxi and Southampton Airport Transfer Taxi provide instant cab/taxi booking facility.

Wilts & Dorset and Bluestar operate across the New Forest, including the New Forest Tour in summer.

Fees and permits

Entrance to the park is free.

Long-term conservation and preservation are goals of the Forestry Commission. Following their simple rules will help to maintain this delicate area. In the New Forest the well-being of the animals and the needs of the countryside come first. The Codes below are provided by The Forestry Commission.

Dog Walking Code

• If you cannot control your dog, keep it on a lead.
• A dog out of sight may be out of control. It must not be allowed to disturb or chase livestock or wildlife.
• Keep to the existing tracks on the forest when birds nest on the ground (1 March - 31 July). At this time, keep your dog close by or you may be asked by a forest ranger or keeper to put it on a lead.
• Prevent your dog fouling on footpaths and around car parks. If it does foul, remove the waste.
• Groups of dogs can be intimidating to other forest users and wildlife. Keep them under control.
• Be considerate to other forest users, particularly children at play and picnickers.
• Keep well away from any work taking place in the forest.
• Prevent excessive barking from your dog.

Horse Riding Code

• Keep to the tracks when the ground is soft or muddy. When there is no alternative, keep to a slow pace.
• Take an alternative route to avoid soft slopes. Riding straight up and down causes erosion.
• Avoid widening existing tracks, or creating new ones. Keep off re-seeded areas and recently reinstated rides.
• Vary your route on the forest to spread the wear and tear.
• Keep to the tracks when birds are nesting on the ground (1 March - 31 July).
• Slow down and call out a warning when approaching other forest users. Be courteous and friendly.
• Do not build jumps or create lunging areas on the forest.
• Never ride more than two abreast. Limit groups to a maximum of eight horses on the road.

Out and About guide

• Be safe and plan ahead - follow any signs and aim to be out of the forest by dusk.
• Close all gates behind you unless they have been fastened open.
• Do not pick or remove plants or flowers.
• Do not feed or disturb the common stock - ponies, cattle and donkeys. Give them space and do not touch them.
• Take your litter home and do not light fires.
• Keep below the forest speed limit (40 mph) and slow down when approaching walkers, riders or livestock.
• Do not park on verges or in gateways. Use one of the many car parks.
• Keep well away from any forestry work and obey the warning signs.
• Keep to the way-marked gravel tracks when cycling in the forest.
• Take extra care when nearing horse riders. When in a group, all cyclists should pass the horse on the same side.
• Do not startle ponies, cattle or wildlife. Go slowly and give them space.
• Avoid causing obstructions - do not ride more than two abreast. Always ride in single file on narrow roads.
• Keep well away from any work going on in the forest.
• Do not pass any vehicle loading timber until you have been told it is safe to do so.
• Use the map, and plan to be out of the forest by dusk.

The New Forest has an excellent network of footpaths, rides and forest roads which can be used by walkers and hikers well away from any motor traffic. Indeed you are free to wander where you wish in much of the forest area.

The distances involved are not insignificant, and the conditions underfoot can be very variable. Walking boots and decent walking clothing are advised.

For navigation, the best detailed map of the area is the Ordnance Survey's "Explorer" map OL22 .

With a good network of gravel rides and forest roads open to cyclists and walkers, but not to cars, cycling is a really good way to see the New Forest. The National Park Authority has a handy map showing all of the cycling routes in the region. It's great as an overview to see what routes go where, but for navigational purposes, you'll need OS "Explorer" map OL22. Because of its popularity, there is a good selection of cycle hire outfits, which can supply adult and children's bikes, trailers, etc., including New Forest Cycling in Burley , and Cyclexperience Bike Hire in Brockenhurst .

The New Forest Tour operates a tourist bus service around Lyndhurst, Beaulieu, Lymington, Brockenhurst and many intermediate rural locations, and runs with low floor easy access buses hourly throughout the summer check thenewforesttour.info for times.

Additionally there is a network of conventional rural bus services running on the main routes in the forest. Traveline provides an online travel planner for these services, which can also be contacted by calling 08712 002233 from anywhere in the UK.

The road network within the New Forest is fairly limited in its extent, although all the major villages are served. The roads are quite narrow and can get busy. As most roads are unfenced, drivers must be constantly aware of the possibility of encountering animals on the road, especially at night. For this reason, the forest is subject to a blanket 40 mph (64 km/h) speed limit. It's not unknown for the Forest to get hit by heavy fog at night reducing vision to a few metres.

The main thing to see in the New Forest is the forest itself. Throughout the forest there are areas of heathland, forested enclosures, upland streams and the free roaming New Forest Ponies.

However there are some more specific attractions, as described in the following sections.

Northern Forest

The Northern Forest is that part of the forest north of the very busy A31 road which bisects the forest and forms something of a barrier for both visitors and the local flora and fauna. Compared to the Southern Forest, the Northern Forest is higher and has more open heathland and less woodland. With a smaller population and fewer roads, this part of the forest tends to be less busy.

Other than the forest, there are a few other attractions.

• The Rufus Stone , near Cadnam , marks the spot where popular myth has it that King William II was assassinated. The actual location of William's death was probably a fair bit to the south, but no one really knows for sure.
• Breamore House and Countryside Museum , 3 mi (4.8 km) north of Fordingbridge , is an Elizabethan (late 16th-century) manor house with very fine furniture and paintings. Also onsite is an agricultural museum with a comprehensive collection of steam-powered farm machinery. It has a café.

Southern Forest

The Southern Forest is that part of the forest south of the A31. This is lower lying, with a greater proportion of woodland although heathland still occupies a significant proportion of the area. The Southern Forest is more inhabited, containing all the major forest villages, and tends to see more visitors.

• Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway , south east of Beaulieu, has a 200-acre woodland garden, with a famous Rothschild collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, and a narrow-gauge railway.

• Buckler's Hard — A pretty 18th-century village where, in Napoleonic times, the Royal Navy built its warships out of New Forest oak.

• Beaulieu Village — A very attractive village on the River Beaulieu (bigger than the picture shows!) with a handful of pretty good attractions - an Abbey, a Palace and a Motor Museum.
• New Forest Wildlife Park , east of Lyndhurst, have a lotta otter. Along with a fine owl collection, wolves, deer, quite a lot of butterflies and a few other odds and ends including a rare albino wallaby.
• A good way for a first-time visitor to see the New Forest by bus is the new New Forest Tour , an open top bus route which runs on a one-way loop through the forest serving Lyndhurst , Beaulieu , Lymington , Brockenhurst and many intermediate rural locations. Buses run every 60 minutes during the summer, and you can get off at any point and catch the next bus after you have looked around.
• Visit the adjoining town and small port of Lymington , and maybe even catch the ferry across the Solent from there to the very pretty (and even smaller) port of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight .
• Paulton's Park , north east of Cadnam , is a popular family theme park with over 40 rides, a small zoo, gardens and 'park within a park' Peppa Pig World
• Furzey Gardens , South West of Cadnam , is a beautiful country garden with adventure playgrounds, tree houses and mini fairy houses for kids to discover. There's also a museum and tea rooms.
• Walking Picnics , ☏ +44 1425 655 511 , [email protected] . May-Sep monthly (exact dates and times here ), or by appointment for groups . Join naturalist Nigel and his wife Christine for a guided walk of the forest. They will tell you about local history, and help to spot and explain the wildlife you encounter. Each walk is 3-5 miles (5-8 km), and takes place at a different location and time of day. At the end of the walk, Christine serves up a sumptuous homemade three-course picnic (with sides!). Special diets accommodated. BYOB. Booking essential. Adult (aged 16+) £15, child £8. Pay by BACS transfer . ( updated Apr 2021 )

There is a very good bike store in Brockenhurst , which will be able to supply most parts to allow you to make any repairs. They also hire bikes out.

There are camp stores in Lyndhurst .

Eat and drink

There are numerous campsites in the New Forest; see the town and village articles for specific grounds. Wild camping is not allowed.

The ponies here are feral and although pretty, are best left alone. Do not feed them as this encourages them to pester people for food and never get between a mother and her foal as they will kick out. The same applies to the deer who inhabit the park, with extra caution to be taken during the autumn rutting season , when the testosterone-fuelled males grow antlers and compete with one other for the right to breed.

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Places to visit in the New Forest

Breaks in the New Forest will leave you completely invigorated. Ambles through woodland lanes pausing at thatch-roofed tearooms and village pubs, canoe trips down bubbling streams and canters across open heathland; that's what weekends in the New Forest are made of. Cheeky New Forest ponies and donkeys stop the traffic as they cross between patches of common pastureland. They take their time. Look carefully and you see fallow deer dart between pines and oak trees and grass snakes slither through marshes in this National Park near the south coast. Stop off at Hampshire villages and market towns for jam factories, flour mills and medieval churches or the park’s coastal edge for views across the Solent and cobbled Georgian seaside villages. There are attractions for all the family in the New Forest.

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Pedal along 100 miles of off-road cycling tracks

Pedal the extensive, year-round network of cycling routes criss-crossing the woodland, heathland and quiet country roads of the New Forest.

Location: New Forest, Hampshire

Go on safari in the New Forest

Explore the Forest in a unique and exciting way. Hop on and off at villages, attractions and forest walks, or just sit back, relax and enjoy the view…

Walking in the New Forest

Twist and turn through vibrant gorse, imposing woodland and bubbling streams as you stroll through the Forest’s 143 miles of trails.

A foodie break in the forest

Get a taste of the New Forest where locally produced and caught food takes pride of place on the menu.

Plan a New Forest adventure

Remember family holidays? The rain hammering down on the caravan roof; the endless games of cards, and interminable bickering? All that can be a thing of the past.

Location: Hampshire

Enjoy countless attractions with one ticket at Beaulieu

Set in the heart of the New Forest, Beaulieu is an award winning day out where one ticket grants access to many of the village’s attractions.

Location: Beaulieu, Hampshire

Rise above it all with a stay at Chewton Glen’s treehouses

Escape to your very own luxury treehouse for panoramic views and nature at your fingertips at Chewton Glen.

Location: New Milton, Hampshire

Rainy Day Activities: Uncover history at the New Forest Centre

Learn more about one of the UK's oldest and largest royal forests at the indoor New Forest Heritage Centre.

Location: Lyndhurst, Hampshire

Stay in a luxury country house at Lime Wood Hotel

Bed down in one of the luxury rooms and sample the excellent local food at this quirky, luxury hotel and restaurant.

Eat local and stay in the luxurious rooms at The Pig

Foraged food and beautiful shabby chic décor are the order of the day at this unusual, but luxurious, country house hotel.

Location: Brockenhurst, Hampshire

Forage tasty mushrooms for your dinner at Fungi Foray

Get an insight into the wonderful world of mushrooms, and find out what you can pick, and what you should avoid.

Get back to nature with a cycling break in the New Forest

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life with a 5-star luxury log cabin break in the heart of the New Forest.

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Yorkshire Dales

With its patchwork green valleys, craggy cliff faces and farmland laced with limestone walls, it’s little wonder that the Yorkshire Dales National Park is a film star in its own right.

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New Forest Tourist Information

Tourist information for visitors to the new forest national park. historical locations, ponies and the new forest code., tourist info.

• Tourist Information & History
• About the National Park
• National Park Boundary

Tourist Attractions and Historical Locations

The New Forest is located in south central England and boasts an attractive coastline bordering the Solent, the stretch of water dividing the Isle of Wight from the mainland. This makes the small region rich in variety with respect to landscape, wildlife, flora and fauna, and if the New Forest Tourist fancies a day away from the heath and heather, they can board a boat in Lymington and spend the day on the water or cross to the island.

This area is hugely popular as a tourist destination due to the hundreds of miles of beautiful footpaths and open heathland, the attraction of the coastline and proximity of summer resorts such as Bournemouth, and to the many sites of historical interest such as Beaulieu Abbey, Buckler’s Hard, the (relatively) close Portsmouth Historic Shipyards, the Bronze Age barrows scattered over the area as well as Hurst & Calshot Castles to name a few.

There are also a plethora of family entertainment venues such as those found at Paulton’s Park , The National Motor Museum , a variety of forest wildlife parks, Calshot Activity Centre .

England’s smallest National Park

Granted National Park status in March 2005, the New Forest National Park covers approximately 220 square miles of Hampshire and southern Wiltshire. The area was famously named a Royal Forest in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, and with the exception of the inevitable road and rail networks spidering their way throughout it, the landscape has remained largely unchanged for thousands of years.

For King William 1 the area was an ideal hunting ground, covering over 200 square miles of ancient woodlands and heathlands close to the royal capital of Winchester. In the 14th century the royal interest in deer conservation diminished as the demand for timber increased. The new scale of timber production for ship building and fortifications prompted the inclosure of thousands of acres of forest land for timber growing.

Today, after 900 years, more than 100 square miles of the Forest is still owned by the Crown but administered by the New Forest National Park Authority. The ancient system set in place to protect the woodlands and wilderness heaths still works today through the efforts of Verderers, Agisters and Commoners, the judges, police and land users of the Forest.

The New Forest code

Although the New Forest is a free and open place, there is a code you should observe whilst in the area. This code has been implemented by the Forestry Commission and is there for the well-being of the Forest and for the safety of visitors. Preservation and long-term conservation are goals of the Forestry Commission and following their simple rules will help. The well-being of the animals and the special needs of the countryside come first.

Driving at 40mph or below on all unfenced forest roads greatly reduces the number of accidents involving ponies, cattle and deer - especially at night.

Parking on the roadside causes congestion and great damage to verges. Use one of the 150 Forest car parks, but remember to lock your car and take valuables with you.

Cycling is extremely popular but also destructive if the cycle routes are not followed; please keep to marked paths and cycle tracks. Give way to walkers and horse-riders and please travel at moderate speeds and avoid wheel spins and skidding.

Ponies are wild animals and should not be fed by visitors. Feeding the ponies encourages them to stray onto dangerous forest roads. Ponies and donkeys can also be very aggressive if approached, and young children are particularly at risk.

Well behaved dogs are welcome in the National Park, and will have a great time. A Dog Walking Code is available on line at www.forestry.gov.uk . The area is famed for its wildlife and of course you must not allow your dog to chase or worry the livestock, deer or birds. If you cannot be sure of controlling your dog keep it on a lead. Please respect other Forest users. In car parks where bins are provided please pick up after your dog.

You may walk on any footpath or track unless it says otherwise. By keeping to paths you greatly reduce the risk of disturbance to wildlife and their habitats.

Fire is a great threat to habitats and wildlife. No picnic or camp fires are allowed but BBQ sites are provided by the Forestry Commission. To book, telephone the Forestry Commission on 023 8028 3141.

Litter should always be placed in litter bins or taken home with you.

newforesttourist

New forest ponies and their hairy friends.

Ponies have been present in the area for thousands of years, but today’s carefully maintained breed, recognised as a native pony breed of the British Isles, is the result of 1000 or so years of animal husbandry. William I brought horses across the channel when he invaded in 1066, and in the intervening period the quality of the breed has reached both highs and lows.

The results of this lengthy experiment can be seen clip-clopping around the Forest to this day, and are predominantly bay and chestnut up to about 1.5 metres in height. Owned by Commoners (residents of landholdings granted the Right of Pasture), the horses are free to graze the New Forest alongside their bovine, porcine and long floppy-eared equine counterparts. These animals help to maintain the unique landscape, which continued grazing has shaped over the last 900 years.

All such animals have right of way over the (mainly) 40mph limit roads, but despite this there are many road accidents every year involving hapless animals and cars. So watch out for them – steer clear and give them a friendly wave! Trust me – they’re smiling inside, despite their long faces.

Flora and fauna

The New Forest is now recognized as one of the most unique and important wilderness areas in Western Europe. It comprises 140 square miles of a diverse range of landscapes - heaths, bogs, pine forests, moorland, and of course the ancient and ornamental beech and oak woodlands for which it is famous. There is no other area in lowland Britain that contains such a mix, and many of these habitats are increasingly rare.

Our amazing habitats are home to thousands of common and rare species of flora and fauna, including five different species of wild deer. It is estimated that nearly half of the 2,500 species of butterfly and moth in Britain have been found in the Forest. In addition, 9 rare and 25 nationally scarce species of plant are recorded. Some of these, such as the wild gladiolus, are only found here. There are also nationally important birds and rare reptiles, such as the sand lizard and the smooth snake.

The Forest is free for you to explore at your leisure and there is an extensive network of footpaths and cycle paths to help you do this. Alternatively, you can visit one of the many wildlife attractions - all of which provide organised events and activities to help you enjoy the area's natural treasures.

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The 10 best things to do in the New Forest

From wild horses to cookery schools, the New Forest has exactly what you need for the perfect weekend away

Sometimes, you have to see the New Forest to believe it. Famous for its horses, ponies wander past you and deer come up to say hello. Cycle trails lead through thick forests and couples relax in hotel spas. New Forest is a National Park which covers parts of Hampshire, east Dorset and Wiltshire, so you’ll want to figure out the kind of trip you want before planning your trip. 

That’s where we come in. The best things to do across the New Forest range from scenic picnic spots to quaint tearooms, and local museums to postcard-perfect high streets. We’ve got where to see wild horses and where to have a picnic. We've got family activites and couples' retreats. Whatever you’re looking for, there’s a springboard right here for an ideal weekend away. Here are the best things to do in the New Forest. 

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New Forest things to do

1.  New Forest National Park

Where is it?  Almost the whole of the New Forest area, covering parts of Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire.  What is it?  Exactly what you’re here for. A magnificent, beautiful park of hiking trails, ponies and light poking through trees.  Why go?  New Forest National Park is a bit like stumbling into paradise. Get lost in the forest and eventually settle down to have a picnic, and you’ll most likely spot deer, horses and a ton of rare birds. And if you’re looking to splash out a bit, definitely stay at Limewood Hotel , which has its own cookery school and spa, and some incredibly luxurious cabin rooms. The River Test is just around the corner, so you can have a go at fly-fishing, but the deer sanctuary at Bolderwood in the heart of the New Forest is the main attraction. 

2.  St Barbe Museum and Gallery

Where is it?  Right in the middle of Lymington.

What is it? An excellent museum and gallery showcasing historic artefacts.

Why go?  This museum in Lymington has won plaudits for its fascinating displays which detail the history of the town and the wider New Forest. Its top-notch rotating exhibitions mean there’s always something original on show – no matter what time of year you visit.

3.  Brockenhurst

Where is it? In the middle of the New Forest National Park.  What is it? Brockenhurst is the most populated village in the New Forest, Hampshire. Why go?  Brockenhurst is beautiful. You'll find ponies, deer – even the odd donkey or cow – roaming the streets of Brockenhurst. Set up camp at thriving local hotel The Pig , which is home to a gorgeous kitchen garden, smoke house, wild flower meadow orchard, chickens and a paddock of, well, pigs. There are even spa treatment rooms, housed in a former potting shed and shepherds hut – and the restaurant serves the sort of uncomplicated British home cooking that always goes down well. Antique hunters should look out for collector’s fairs at nearby Brockenhurst Village Hall.

4.  Exbury Gardens

Where is it? Between Beaulieu and The Solent.  What is it? A 200 acre informal woodland garden in Hampshire. Why go? With two spectacularly pretty designated picnic areas – and a tearoom in which you can grab a locally-made ice cream – Exbury Gardens is ideal for a wholesome family day out. Adventure trails are devised for kids of all ages, but the real star attraction is the Exbury Steam Railway. A 20-minute journey carries visitors across the pond in Summer Lane Garden, along the top of the rock gardens, and into the beautiful American Garden.

5.  Burley Villa School of Riding

Where is it? New Milton.  What is it? Burley Villa offers both English and Western-style horse riding trails around the New Forest. Why go? Ever fancied yourself as something of a buckaroo? Live your Western fantasy without leaving the country at Burley Villa. Their ‘Paint’ and Appaloosa horses in full Western turnout are quite the sight trekking through the wooded enclosures, rippling streams and open plains of the New Forest National Park. Who needs those sweeping American deserts and canyons, anyway? The school provides an optional barbecue too, and yes, Cowboy Beans are on the menu. If that’s not your thing, super-popular Ferndene Farm Shop is nearby and stocks grass fed beef, sausages, fruit, veg and their own free range eggs. It’s a good pit stop if you’ve got a taste for the outdoors and decide to try out a fishing trip in nearby Orchard Lakes .

6.  Beaulieu

Where is it? South Hampshire.  What is it?  A pretty village, the National Motor Museum and the privately-owned Beaulieu River (formerly known as the River Exe), which is regarded as one of the most beautiful marinas on the south coast. Why go? Beaulieu is stunning. Family days out don’t get much better than the National Motor Museum, with its famous cars, pretty grounds, monorail and interactive play areas. Hang around to see the river (owned by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu), which runs through the centre of the New Forest, and is peaceful enough to navigate by canoe. Located on the banks of the river, New Forest Activities canoe base will get you started, with open ‘Canadian Style’ canoes and lessons starting from £25. If you get peckish, there are a few nearby dining options to choose from, including a Gourmet Rivière foodie pop up on the river bank. Captain’s Cabin Tea Rooms provides a decent afternoon tea, light lunches and hot and cold snacks.

7.  Lymington

Where is it? Right on the Solent, facing the Isle of Wight across the water. 

What is it?  A Georgian sailing town with cobbled streets and proper salty pubs.

Why go?  Lymington’s a refined seaside town with postcard-perfect high streets – but the boat-filled harbour is the main attraction. Get out on the water with one of the town’s sailing experiences, join a chartered fishing excursion or just watch the world go by with a pint from one of the wonky-fronted old pubs.  Go in August and you might catch Lymington Seafood Festival – or swing by Apple Court Garden & Nursery for a cup of tea and slice of cake in the sun. With an exquisite Japanese garden and tropical borders, the nursery is worth a look for those interested in picking up particularly unusual plants.

8.  Buckler’s Hard

Where is it? On the banks of the Beaulieu River.

What is it? The eighteenth-century naval village where Nelson’s fleet was built.

Why go?  To travel back in time: Buckler’s Hard is preserved exactly as it was more than 200 years ago. With its own Maritime Museum and a series of period homes, there’s loads and loads to learn about as you wander. And the Beaulieu setting is properly idyllic too.

9.  New Forest Paddle Sport Company

Where is it?  Milford on Sea. What is it? Fancy soaking up a bit of New Forest scenery from the water? Try paddleboarding. Why go? Based in beautiful Milford on Sea, The New Forest Paddle Sport Company offers up the chance to explore the New Forest coastline and salt marshes of Keyhaven from the water. They even provide extra-special options, like a post paddleboarding sunset picnic. With views of Hurst Castle and the Isle of Wight, it sure is a fun way to burn a few calories. Calories you can swiftly replace at nearby, award-winning fishmongers and restaurant Verveine , where seafood is served the best way - super-fresh and super-simple.

10.  Hurst Castle

Where is it? Milford on Sea.  What is it? An artillery fortress established by Henry VIII in the 1500s. Why go? Used as a prison for seventeenth-century captives, Hurst Castle was completed in 1544 under the reign of Henry VIII. It was deemed the ideal location to defend the western approach to the Solent (the strait separating the Isle of Wight from mainland England). Modernised during the Napoleonic wars, and again in the 1870s, it is now open to the public (managed by English Heritage). The castle sits on a shingle spit that extends 1.5 miles from Milford on Sea, and the end is less than a mile from the Isle of Wight. Enjoy the views from the top of the castle, or hire a boat from the Hurst Marine Fleet.

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Walks in the New Forest National Park

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The  New Forest National Park  offers more than 140 miles of tracks and footpaths. You’ll find long distance routes, short walks, circular walks and easy to follow signed routes adventuring through ancient woodlands, through quaint pretty villages and across open moorland. 

Whilst walking in the New Forest you will come across hundreds of free-roaming cattle, pigs, deer, donkeys and the famous New Forest ponies. The forest is home to many country pubs and cafes perfect to stop and rest your legs whilst enjoying a bite to eat. 

The New Forest can be easily accessed with excellent transport connections, train lines and plenty of car parking. For those walking a longer distance you’ll find plenty of accommodation along the way which welcome walkers. 

Discover more great walks across Hampshire

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Bolderwood Deer Spotting Walk

Bolderwood, New Forest

Fordingbridge Godshill Walk

Keyhaven Marshes Walk

Lepe Loop Walk

Lyndhurst Parish Walk

Moors Valley Country Park and Forest

New Forest Bishop’s Dyke Walk

New Forest Northern Commons Wildlife Walk

New Forest: Ashlett Creek to Calshot Spit Walk

New Forest: Ashurst Stroll Walk

New Forest: Beaulieu to Buckler's Hard Walk

New Forest: Brook to Minstead Village Walk

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The New Forest boasts an impressive array of uncommon and special butterfly species. Being...

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Calendar of upcoming events in the New Forest National Park.

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Explore the colourful military history of the New Forest. This full day plan is...

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The New Forest is globally important for wildlife across a landscape covering over 200...

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Horses and ponies are central to the cultural heritage of the New Forest. There...

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Dog walking

Dog walking is very popular in the New Forest National Park. It’s...

New Forest Tour

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Walking is a wonderful way to see the New Forest National Park close up.

Tall Trees Accessible Trail

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Make the most of cycling in the New Forest by trying our cycle routes. The National Park has many quiet country lanes, perfect for cycling, as well as over 100 miles of way-marked cycle tracks across the Crown Lands of the Forest. It's easy to hop off a train and go for a cycle ride. Make sure you take care of yourself and the environment by following our New Forest Cycling Code.

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New Forest visitor and tourist information

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The New Forest is located in the south of England, west of Southampton and east of Bournemouth, and centred around the towns of Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst. It falls mostly in the county of Hampshire.

Above all it is the forest and countryside itself that is the big attraction, and simply cycling (bike hire is available in several locations), walking or horse riding in the region are perhaps the greatest highlights, enjoying the natural beauty of this designated English National Park.

The National Park covers 571 square kilometres, and was listed in 2005, a great success since it will help ensure the region's protection from the development that has affected so much of southern England.

The area was more densely forested at the time of its creation by William the Conqueror in 1080, and significant areas have been cleared over the centuries, particularly for naval shipbuilding and for use during WW1 and WW2.

This clearance of the forest has given rise to large areas of unfenced pasture, where he ponies are free to wander  - you will see lots of the famous New Forest ponies as you travel around.

There are now about 18,000 hectares of heath and 3,500 hectares of woodlands and forest. there are also substantial regions of low lying wet and marshy areas. Each of these environments contains a wide range of wildlife and there are protected reserves in many parts.

But there is much more to see and do than simply exploring the forest. There are lovely towns and villages to visit, along with some fine manor houses and gardens, and numerous ancient monuments and prehistoric remains that should certainly feature on your agenda.

Many visits to the New Forest start at Lyndhurst , roughly central in the National Park and with lots of information about the activities available at the tourist centre. Hythe and Lymington are among the popular coastal towns in the region, which also includes several attractive beaches.

And remember - it's a place to relax. When you come across ponies, sheep or other animals in the middle of the road, it is them who have the right of way! In the summer especially, be very vigilant not to risk starting a fire.

New Forest villages and towns include:

Brockenhurst

• Fordingbridge *
• Lepe (once a village, Lepe was destroyed by a storm in the 17th century)
• Lymington *
• Lyndhurst *
• Milford on Sea

*The main New Forest tourist information centres are found at Lyndhurst, Ringwood, Lymington and Fordingbridge.

Other New Forest attractions

There are numerous attractions in the forest, including a good selection of children targetted activities, houses and gardens, and small local museums. The following is a shortlist of a few favourites in the region:

• walking through the Blackwater arboretum and tree collection
• Breamore Manor House and Countryside Museum
• Buckler's Hard and Beaulieu National Motor Museum, both part of the estate at Beaulieu
• Dorset Heavy Horse Centre (Verwood)
• 'High wire' (treetop) adventures at Moors Valley country park
• the Knightwood Oak (near Lyndhurst) - a famous and very old oak tree
• Longdown Activity Farm (fun for the children, feeding the animals)
• New Forest reptile Centre (near Lyndhurst)
• New Forest Water Park
• Rockburne Roman Villa

Map of New Forest and places to visit

New forest places to visit.

Fordingbridge

Fountains Abbey and its water gardens are a beautiful and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Popular places

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New Forest National Park

New forest national park information, a complete guide, new national forest: a complete guide.

The New Forest is a breathtaking landscape made up of a rare combination of forests and open areas that are important for ecology and conservation on a global scale. There are 1,000 old trees, large ponds and bogs, and open heathlands home to many rare plant and animal species that have long ago disappeared from other parts of the UK. We must all respect and care for the New Forest if we want to keep it a safe place to visit and preserve our unique natural environment.

Table of Contents

Explore the New Forest and help nature to reduce your carbon footprint by walking, cycling, and staying local. The National Forest is a unique place that is enjoyed all year round. 

New Forest Commoners

The roaming animals are one of the first things you notice in the New Forest. Ponies, cattle, pigs, donkeys, and sheep sometimes graze and forage in open, unfenced regions. These animals are owned by local families using their commoning rights.   

Commoners take care of their livestock year-round, so you may see them rounding up their ponies or checking on their cows while pulling trailers. It’s all a part of the long history of the New Forest. This ancient practice of commoning is essential for maintaining our rare habitats, which are a global hub for wildlife.

Caring for the Forest

The New Forest is the home of many rare animals and plants. The ancient trees that have stood in its woodlands for hundreds of years are evidence of its rich past.

A dedicated team from the entire community is committed to caring for the Forest and works year-round to do so. Here are just a few of the many individuals performing this vital work daily.

A dedicated team of Rangers from Forestry England and the New Forest National Park Authority monitor the Forest daily. The rangers help the wildlife, operate the facilities, and interact with thousands of visitors to ensure they have a good time and behave responsibly while they are here.

The monarch appointed New Forest Keepers. They are responsible for looking after the diverse wildlife in the Forest and ensuring enough habitats for them to survive. They also take care of a wide variety of animals, from the smallest butterflies to red deer, the largest mammal in the UK.

A group of Agisters from the Verderers Office is in charge of the well-being of these animals. They are on call 24/7 in case of emergencies. Additionally, they supervise an annual roundup of these animals to check their health and collect payments for marking.

• Forest craftspeople

Forestry England’s craftspeople maintain the thousands of gates, bridges, tracks, and fences across the Forest to allow animals to graze on the open spaces and to guarantee that everyone visiting the Forest stays safe.

• Community heroes

The community has always provided strong support for the New Forest. This includes numerous devoted organizations and people regularly picking up trash along the nearby beaches and in the Forest.

Free Walking Routes App

The New Forest National Park’s walking routes app makes New Forest walking routes easy. The Android and iPhone software offer 27 walking paths of varying lengths, from woodland strolls to beach strolls. GPS navigation is simpler because you can always see where you are. This makes it ideal for the casual walker because it removes the need to read a map or understand printed directions. The app’s routes also include sites of interest where you may learn important historical or environmental information.

Discover the New Forest

Witness the best views of the New Forest National Park, which offers unrivaled treetop views of free-roaming ponies, ancient forests, and picturesque villages.

Rent a bicycle or your vehicle to explore way-marked pathways and cycle routes. Take a ride on the narrow-gauge steam train for a more leisurely voyage. Children will like the wooden play structures along the “Play Trial” and the adventurous play sections. At Moors Valley, try the brand-new Nets Adventures by Go Ape. Moors Valley has a complete events schedule for adults and kids and is open all year round. With Treetop Challenge and Forest Segway, all thrill-seeking, family entertainment boxes are firmly ticked. If you are hungry, have some delicious meals at Seasons restaurant.

Listen to audio commentary clearly describing the New Forest’s history and characters. The benefits don’t end there, as you can get fantastic discounts at places like the Beaulieu National Motor Museum and the New Forest Wildlife Park.

An Important Place for Wildlife

The New Forest is a true haven for wildlife, with rare birds on the verge of extinction coming here from Africa to breed, Britain’s largest mammal, the red deer, calling it home, and all of the UK’s natural reptiles. There are still creatures in this area that have disappeared from other regions of the UK and Europe. This is just one of the factors contributing to the New Forest’s best conservation status and protections.

New Forest Woodlands

The New Forest’s woodlands provide stunning displays of bright autumn colors. Walk around the forest and explore a variety of mushrooms. The New Forest is a haven for many rare and endangered species, as well as ones still being found and new to science. Fungi are essential to the ecosystem and “web of life” of the New Forest, so kindly refrain from collecting them there. In addition to being important recyclers, they also give some animals food and are necessary to many insects so that they can complete their life cycles. Fungi are also fantastic to admire and are incredibly photogenic.

Buy Local Eat Local Stay Local

When in the New Forest, discover the New Forest Marque, which offers locally produced food. You’ll not only be supporting neighborhood businesses and preserving New Forest traditions, but you’ll also be getting fantastic local produce. Cozy pubs, charming tea houses, and high-end restaurants get the seal of approval and offer a variety of meals overflowing with foods obtained locally.

Throughout the year, the members of the New Forest Marque look forward to welcoming you. Many retail establishments carry delicious regional foods, beverages, and treats, so you may enjoy them while visiting or bring a taste of the New Forest home with you. Campgrounds, self-catering facilities, family-run bed and breakfasts, boutique hotels, and bigger hotels are all pleased to promote regional fare.

Exquisite woodcrafts made from locally sourced sustainable timber are inspired by the New Forest and magnificent arts and crafts, including photography, textiles, and paintings. The New Forest is also home to five wineries, gin distilleries, cider manufacturers, and beer brewers.

New Forest Information

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New Forest Visitor Map

Welcome to the New Forest Visitor Map from Merritt Cartographic , an interactive tourist and visitor map of the New Forest National Park.

Zoom in to reveal more detail and click on features to display additional information.

• Denny Lodge Inclosure

The main focus of this map is to provide information for visitors to the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, UK. As well as identifying a wide range of popular tourist and visitor attractions, this map highlights the most popular locations to participate in a wealth of leisure activities, including, amongst many others, walking and cycling, fishing, dog walking, golf, kite-flying, photography and watching wildlife. This interactive map shows the location of all the numbered route marker posts on the New Forest off-road cycle network.

The New Forest

The New Forest is situated in southwest Hampshire between the cities of Southampton and Bournemouth. The forest was founded primarily as hunting ground by William the Conqueror more than 900 years ago. The New Forest contains some of the UK's rarest wildlife habitats and is the largest surviving area of ancient pasture woodland in western Europe. Despite the name, nearly half of the New Forest SSSI is comprised of heathland. The mosaic of woodland, heathland and lowland mires (of which there are nearly 100 in the forest) on the scale as seen here is unique to the New Forest within the UK. The New Forest region is bordered by a coastline which in itself contains many nationally important habitats, comprising primarily saltmarshes and mudflats. The New Forest was established as a National Park in 2005.

Broomy Pond

The appearance of the modern forest is due at least in part to the ancient traditions of commoning still very much in practice on today's landscape. The rights of commoners (land owners within the forest) to graze their livestock (primarily ponies, cattle and pigs) within the forest helps to maintain the equilibrium between woodland and the more open landscapes and prevents certain areas from returning to a fully forested environment. However, it is the work of the Forestry Commission, who manage nearly half of the land within the National Park, that ensures the special environments found here are maintained for future generations to enjoy. Without their work and that of a range of other organisations, including the New Forest National Park Authority, I am under the impression that these environments would be very much under threat from the ever increasing pressures of tourism and human development. Having created this map, I am keen to point out the advice given here by the New Forest National Park Authority in terms of helping to care for the forest and the environments found within it.

The New Forest is one of the richest places in the UK in terms of its biodiversity. I have attempted, on this map, to locate the areas that are widely regarded as being amongst the best places to see the wildlife and livestock of the forest and wider region. Locations identified as being potentially good places to see the forest's wildlife and livestock are highlighted with a range of illustrative symbols. A full guide to the symbols used can be found in the map key. Symbols on the map marked with a star can be especially productive in so much as they are either located in areas widely regarded as being amongst the best locations to observe the noted species or special measures have been put in place to encourage and protect the wildlife found in these areas.

View from Hampton Ridge

In addition to my own data gathering and field surveys, carried out over the last few years, I am indebted to the authors of the following books, journals, reviews and websites, listed below, without whose expert knowledge this task would have been much more difficult. Combining my own data with information gathered from these sources, I have attempted to create an overview of the best locations to see the forest's wildlife and livestock.

BirdForum - New Forest (2013) https://www.birdforum.net/opus/New_Forest .

Brock, P. D. (2011) A Photographic Guide to Insects of the New Forest and Surrounding Area , Newbury, Pisces Publications.

Brooks, S. (2004) Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland , Gillingham, British Wildlife Publishing.

Butterfly Conservation Dorset Branch (2013) https://www.dorsetbutterflies.com/ .

Butterfly Conservation Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch (2013) http://www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk/ .

Clarke, J. M. and Eyre, J. A. (1993) Birds of Hampshire , Hampshire, Hampshire Ornithological Society.

Green, G. and Cade, M. (2010) Where to Watch Birds in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (Fourth Ed.) , London, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Butterfly & Moth Report 2008 (2009), Basingstoke, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch of Butterfly Conservation.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Butterfly & Moth Report 2009 (2010), Basingstoke, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch of Butterfly Conservation.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Butterfly & Moth Report 2010 (2011), Basingstoke, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch of Butterfly Conservation.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Butterfly & Moth Report 2011 (2012), Basingstoke, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch of Butterfly Conservation.

Hampshire Bird Report 2008 (2009), Hampshire, Hampshire Ornithological Society.

Hampshire Bird Report 2009 (2010), Hampshire, Hampshire Ornithological Society.

Hampshire Bird Report 2010 (2011), Hampshire, Hampshire Ornithological Society.

Heathcote, T. (1997) Discovering the New Forest: The Complete Guide , Tiverton, Halsgrove.

Inns, H. (2009) Britain's Reptiles and Amphibians , Old Basing, WILDGuides Ltd.

New Forest Local Group - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2015) https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/newforest/ .

Overton, D. (2015) Dragonflies and Damselflies of the New Forest: https://www.newforestdragonflies.com/ .

Reptiles & Amphibians of the UK (2015) http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/ .

Ritchie, P. (2015) Hampshire Dragonflies: http://www.hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/ .

Sibley, P. and Fletcher, R. (1986) Discovering the New Forest , London, Robert Hale Ltd.

Snook, A. M. (1998) Birds of the New Forest: A Visitor's Guide, Fordingbridge, Centurion Books.

Sterry, P. (1995) Regional Wildlife: New Forest, Dial House.

Taverner, J., Cham, S and Hold, A. et al. (2004) The Dragonflies of Hampshire , Newbury, Pisces Publications.

The Progress Project (2006) New Forest Wading Bird Survey, Forestry Commission.

Thornbury, A. (2015) Alan Thornbury's Hampshire Butterflies: https://www.purple-emperor.co.uk/ .

Walford, M. (2015) Going Birding?: https://www.goingbirding.co.uk/ .

Whitaker, J. (1997) A Field Guide to the Scarcer Breeding Birds of the New Forest and Surrounding Area, Leeds, Peregrine Books.

Wild About the British Isles (WABI) https://wildaboutthebritishisles.uk/ .

Wildlife & Wild places (1996), Curdridge, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Wildlife & Wild places (2013), Curdridge, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Winter, P. (2015) Localpatch: https://sites.google.com/site/localpatch/ .

Winter, P. (2015) Patchwatching: http://patchwatch.blogspot.co.uk/ .

I am hopeful that, over time and as more information becomes available, I will be able to add further wildlife information to this map. I'm also more than happy to revise any existing information that may currently be either inaccurate or out of date. Please let me know if any of the icons that I have placed on the map are incorrect or if they could be be positioned differently to better reflect the distribution of the species noted. Thank-you for your help.

Many of the species of wildlife found in the New Forest are in decline nationally and, generally speaking, a number of the sites highlighted on this map are home to species which are particularly sensitive to human disturbance. Any wildlife encountered either at the locations noted on this map or throughout the region in general should be treated with due care and respect. Please take care to avoid disturbing or damaging these sensitive environments and the wildlife found within them. For further information relating to the New Forest's wildlife and advice with regard to the protection of the habitats found here, please visit the relevant pages on the New Forest National Park website here .

Further information

The New Forest has something for everyone and is, therefore, a very popular destination for visitors and tourists. For that reason there is a large amount of useful information available online covering all aspects of the New Forest. The following list highlights some of the many excellent websites which provide information about the New Forest and the locations found within it.

Regional authorities, landowners and local government:

New Forest National Park Authority: https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/

Forestry Commission - The New Forest: https://www.forestryengland.uk/new-forest

New Forest District Council: https://www.newforest.gov.uk/

Hampshire County Council: https://www.hants.gov.uk/

Southampton City Council: https://www.southampton.gov.uk/

Bournemouth Borough Council: https://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/

New Forest Visitor Guides and Information:

New Forest Official Visitor Website: https://www.thenewforest.co.uk/

The New Forest National Park Website: https://www.new-forest-national-park.com/

New Forest | the Explorers Guide: http://www.newforestexplorersguide.co.uk/

New Forest Tourist: http://www.new-forest-tourist.co.uk/

The New Forest: New Forest National Park: https://www.newforest.net/

Cycle New Forest: http://cycle-newforest.co.uk/

Towns and Cities:

Barton on Sea:

Barton on Sea Web Site: https://www.bartononsea.org.uk/

Brockenhurst:

Brockenhurst - New Forest - Hampshire: http://www.brockenhurst-newforest.org.uk/

Fordingbridge:

Visit Fordingbridge: http://www.visitfordingbridge.co.uk/

Highcliffe:

Highcliffe, Dorset - community website: https://www.highcliffedorset.co.uk/

Lymington - Local information and tourist guide: https://www.lymington.com/

Milford on Sea:

A local guide to Milford on Sea: http://www.milfordonsea.org/

Visit Milford on Sea: https://visitmilfordonsea.co.uk/

References and Bibliography

In addition to those noted in the sections above, the following resources were consulted during the compilation of this map.

Branson, J. (2007) The Progress Project: Survey of off-road cycling, Southampton, GeoData Institute.

Moore, B. (2007) A Year in the Life of the New Forest, London, Frances Lincoln.

Ponting, G. (2000) Landmark Visitors Guide: New Forest, Landmark Publishing Ltd.

New Forest District Deer Management Plan (2005–2015) (2007), Forestry Commission.

The Progress Project (2005) New Forest Dog Study, Forestry Commission.

The Progress Project (2005) New Forest Horse Riding Study, Forestry Commission.

Tubbs, C. R. (1986) The New Forest: A Natural History, London, Collins.

Merritt Cartographic creates custom-made interactive maps and content, like this, to meet the requirements of your design brief. If you need an interactive map designed for your project, please let me know .

This map has been built in part with open data. Over time, as more or better information becomes available, I hope to add to this map and, more importantly, correct any errors or inaccuracies that are currently present. Please help me to make this map better by informing me of any errors that you notice. If I have omitted something that you think should have been included, please tell me. Thank-you for your help.

Data for this map has been sourced from the OpenStreetMap project. This map also makes use of OpenData from the Ordnance Survey as well as a number of other datasets released by the UK Government through the Open Government Licence . Many of the photographs used across the map have been obtained from the Geograph® Britain and Ireland project.

New Forest: Tourist and Visitor Attractions

An index of the New Forest's most popular tourist and visitor attractions. Navigate directly to these locations by clicking on the names below.

• Apple Court Gardens
• Blackwater Arboretum
• Branksome China Works
• Braxton Gardens
• Breamore House and Countryside Museum
• Buckler's Hard
• Burley Wagon Rides
• Calshot Castle
• Cuckoo Hill Miniature Railway
• The Eling Experience
• Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
• Fordingbridge Museum
• Furzey Gardens
• Hamptworth Lodge and Gardens
• Highcliffe Castle
• Hinton Admiral Gardens
• Hurst Castle
• Hythe Ferry Pier Railway
• Liberty's Owl; Raptor and Reptile Centre
• Longdown Activity Farm
• Matchams Leisure Park
• New Forest Centre
• New Forest Deer Safari
• New Forest Reptile Centre
• New Forest Water Park
• New Forest Wildlife Park
• New Park Showground (New Forest Show)
• Paultons Family Theme Park
• Ringwood Brewery
• Ringwood Town & Country Experience
• St. Barbe Museum & Art Gallery
• Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum
• Snowtrax Alpine Activity Centre
• Spinners Garden

New Forest: Camping and Caravanning

A list of the New Forest's campsites, caravan sites and holiday parks. Navigate directly to these locations by clicking on the names below.

• Acres Down Farm Campsite
• Aldridge Hill Campsite
• Ashurst Campsite
• Avon Tyrell Outdoor Activity Centre
• Bartley Cross Farm
• Black Hill Cottage Campsite
• Black Knowl Caravan Club Site
• Bournemouth & District Outdoor Club
• Brook Cottage CL
• Carron Caravan and Camping Site
• Chapelfield Campsite
• Cobbs Holiday Park
• Crabbswood Farm Caravan Site
• Croft Cottage Campsite
• Danestream Farm
• Deers Leap Holiday Homes Park
• Denny Wood Campsite
• Dot's Camping
• Downton Holiday Park
• Edengate CL
• Fillybrook Farm Touring Caravan Park
• Fish Pond's Bottom Campsite
• Ford Farm Caravan Club Site
• Furzehill Farm CL
• Glen Orchard Holiday Park
• Gorse Farm Caravan Site
• Green Hill Farm Caravan & Camping Park
• Green Pastures CL
• Green Pastures Farm
• Greenwood Campsite
• Harrow Wood Farm Caravan Park
• Hillcrest Campsite
• Hoburne Bashley Holiday Park
• Hoburne Naish Holiday Park
• Hoburne Park
• Hollands Wood Campsite
• Holme Leigh CL
• Holmsley Campsite
• Homefield CL
• Hurst View Caravan Park
• Lightfoots Farm Touring Caravan Site
• Little Paddock
• Long Meadow Campsite
• Longbeech Campsite
• Longfield Touring Caravan Park
• Lytton Lawn Touring Park
• Manor Meadows
• Martins Farm CL
• Matley Wood Campsite
• Minstead Manor Farm
• Miranda Campsite
• Mount Pleasant Caravan Park
• New Forest Caravan Club Centenary Site
• Ocknell Campsite
• Orchard Lakes
• The Parish Lantern Caravan Park
• Pipe Dreams Caravan Site
• Pondhead Farm Campsite
• Port View Caravan Park
• Pyesmead Farm CL
• Red Shoot Camping Park
• Roundhill Campsite
• Rushcroft Farm Caravan & Camping Park
• Sabines Farm CL
• St. Johns Farm Camping
• Sandy Balls Holiday Centre
• Setthorns Campsite
• Shorefield Country Park
• Solent View Campsite
• Stanley Holiday Centre
• Stonehill Farm Caravan Park
• Toms Field Camping
• Whinwhistle and Woodington Fisheries Caravan Site

New Forest: Forestry Commission Car Parks

A list of the New Forest's Forestry Commission car parks. Navigate directly to these locations by clicking on the names below.

• Abbots Well
• Andrew's Mare
• Ashley Walk
• Balmer Lawn
• Barrow Moor
• Beachern Wood
• Beaulieu Heath
• Beaulieu Road
• Blackwell Common
• Boltons Bench
• Boltons Cricket
• Bramble Hill Walk
• Bramshaw Wood
• Bratley View
• Brockishill Green
• Broomy Walk
• Burbush Hill
• Burley Cricket
• Busketts Lawn
• Cadman's Pool
• Cadnam Cricket
• Castle Hill
• Clay Hill Heath
• Crockford Clump
• Deadman Hill
• Dibden Inclosure
• Eyeworth Pond
• Football Green
• Godshill Cricket
• Godshill Pit
• Hatchet Moor
• Hatchet Pond
• High Corner
• Highland Water
• Hincheslea Moor
• Holmsley Walk
• Horseshoe Bottom
• Janesmoor Pond
• Knightwood Oak
• Linford Bottom
• Longslade Bottom
• Longslade Heath
• Longslade View
• Marchwood Inclosure
• Millyford Bridge
• Minstead Road
• Norley Wood
• Ober Corner
• Ocknell Pond
• Osmond's Bushes
• Picket Post
• Piper's Wait
• Puttles Bridge
• Reptile Centre
• Rufus Stone
• Setley Pond
• Shatterford
• Shepherd's Gutter
• Shirley Holms
• Smugglers Road
• Spring Bushes
• Standing Hat
• Stoney Cross
• Stoney Cross Plain
• Telegraph Hill
• Tilery Road
• Vereley Hill
• Vinney Ridge
• Whitefield Moor
• Whitemoor Pond
• Whitley Wood
• Wilverley Inclosure
• Wilverley Pit
• Wilverley Plain
• Woods Corner
• Wootton Bridge
• Yew Tree Bottom
• Yew Tree Heath

New Forest: Forestry Commission Cycle Route Markers

A list of the New Forest's Forestry Commission cycle route marker posts. Navigate directly to these locations by clicking on the names below.

• Godshill Wood Cottage
• Godshill Inclosure
• Hampton Ridge
• Ashleycross Hill
• Amberwood Inclosure
• Islands Thorns Inclosure
• Longcross Plain
• Coppice of Linwood
• King's Garn Gutter Inclosure
• Janesmoor Plain
• Broomy Inclosure
• Amie's Corner
• Roe Cottage
• Roe Inclosure
• Milkham Inclosure
• Broomy Plain
• Ocknell Plain
• Slufters Inclosure
• Bratley Plain
• Great Linford Inclosure
• Picket Hill
• Handy Cross Plain
• Upper Lazy Bushes
• Castle Malwood Walk
• Highland Water Inclosure
• Bolderwood Walk
• North Oakley Inclosure
• Woolfield Hill
• South Oakley Inclosure
• Burley New Inclosure
• Burley Old Inclosure
• Dames Slough Inclosure
• Burley Walk
• Burley Outer Rails Inclosure
• Anderwood Inclosure
• Knightwood Inclosure
• Bolderwood Arboretum Ornamental Drive
• Bolderwood Grounds
• Holmhill Inclosure
• Holidays Hill
• Holidays Hill Inclosure
• The Old Holmsley Railway Station
• Plain Heath
• Holmsley Inclosure
• Brownhill Inclosure
• Wootton Coppice Inclosure
• Wilverley Walk
• Set Thorns Inclosure
• Adlams Lane
• Gatehouse Cottage
• Culverley Green
• Burley Road
• Fletchers Hill
• Rhinefield Cottage
• Rhinefield Sandy's Inclosure
• Vinney Ridge Inclosure
• Rhinefield Ornamental Drive
• Poundhill Inclosure
• Hursthill Inclosure
• Brick Kiln Inclosure
• Goldsmiths Hill
• Black Knowl
• Aldridgehill
• Beechen Lane
• Parkhill Inclosure
• Ramnor Inclosure
• Hollands Wood
• Pignal Inclosure
• Perrywood Haseley Inclosure
• Pignalhill Inclosure
• New Copse Inclosure
• Hedge Corner
• Frame Heath Inclosure
• Hawkhill Inclosure
• Stockley Inclosure
• Furzey Lodge
• Brockishill Inclosure
• Furzy Lawn Inclosure
• Busketts Lawn Inclosure
• Lodgehill Inclosure
• Lodgehill Cottage
• Busketts Inclosure
• Costicles Inclosure
• Ashurst Wood
• Churchplace Inclosure
• Deerleap Inclosure
• Ashurst Walk
• King's Copse Inclosure
• King's Copse

New Forest: Waymarked Walking Routes

A list of the New Forest's waymarked walking routes. Navigate directly to these trails by clicking on the names below.

• Blackwater Arboretum Sensory Trail
• Blackwater Tall Trees Trail
• Bolderwood Deer Watch Trail
• Bolderwood Jubilee Trail
• Bolderwood Radnor Trail
• Knightwood Oak Stroll
• New Forest Reptile Centre Trail
• Ober Water Walk (red route)
• Ober Water Walk (yellow route)
• Wilverley Wander (green route)
• Wilverley Wander (yellow route)

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2022. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 .

Information

Tourist and Visitor Attractions

Camping and Caravanning

Forestry Commission Car Parks

Forestry Commission Cycle Route Markers

Waymarked Walking Routes

Crossing hazard

New Forest Access For All surveyed location

Pedestrian underpass

Accommodation

Caravan park

Guest house (bed and breakfast)

Holiday park

Hotel (travel or budget)

Youth hostel

Bicycle hire

Shopping centre (mall)

Street market

Supermarket

Food and drink

Ice cream van (popular location)!

Picnic site

Public house

Hospital (with Accident and Emergency)

Landmark or memorial

Listed building (Grade I or Grade II*)

Listed church (Grade I or Grade II*)

Site of historic significance

Stone or survey point

Dog walking (popular location)

Fishing or angling

Golf course or club (18 hole)

Golf course or club (9 hole)

Golf - pitch and putt

Kite flying (popular location)

Model aircraft flying (popular location)

Model boat sailing (popular location)

Photography (popular location)

Equestrian or riding school

Windsurfing (popular location)

Blue Flag beach

Country park

Dog activity trail

Nature reserve

Park or common

Recreation ground

Sandy beach

Shingle or stony beach

Wildlife hide or viewing screen

Place of worship

Tourist or visitor attraction

Tourist information centre

New Forest National Park local information point

Information board or display panel

Viewpoint or scenic view

Bus or coach station

Ferry terminal or landing

Railway station

Car park (pay and display)

Country park car park

Forestry Commission car park

National Trust car park

New Forest Tour - Red Route bus stop

New Forest Tour - Green Route bus stop

New Forest Tour - Blue Route bus stop

These are locations identified as being potentially good places to see the following wildlife and livestock. Symbols marked with a star can be especially productive in so much as they are either widely regarded as being amongst the best locations to observe the noted species or special measures have been put in place to encourage and protect the wildlife found there. Please show due care and respect to any wildlife encountered.

Birds of prey

Butterflies - coastal

Butterflies - downland or grassland

Butterflies - heathland

Butterflies - woodland

Dragonflies and damselflies

Fallow deer

Heathland birds

Miniature ponies

New Forest ponies

Wading birds

Woodland Birds

National Park boundary

Extent of New Forest access land

Primary route

Residential road

Service road

Driveway or parking aisle

Pedestrianised street

Public byway

Public restricted byway

Public bridleway

Public footpath

Other track or bridleway

Other path or footpath

Multiple track

Single track

Narrow gauge or miniature railway

Ferry route

National Cycle Network route

Long distance or waymarked footpath

Forestry Commission cycle network route

Forestry Commission cycle network route marker post

Forestry Commission waymarked walking route

Forestry Commission waymarked walking route - red waymarking

Forestry Commission waymarked walking route - green waymarking

Forestry Commission waymarked walking route - yellow waymarking

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6 Wild Swimming Spots in California, Beyond the Coast

The beach may beckon, but these freshwater swimming holes and hot springs show another side of the state: Granite canyons, emerald pools and ancient redwood groves.

By Dillon Seitchik-Reardon

The best of California is not its famous cities or coastline. The most authentic version of the state is its freshwater, in its many wild forms. At least, for my family.

My partner Caroline Clements and I write about water and wilderness and have spent much of the last 10 years documenting swimming around the world. Most recently, we returned to California to explore the state more deeply, piling into an old motor home with our toddler, and spending six months traversing the state in search of the best places to swim.

The variety of California’s environments continue to amaze us. Mountain lakes and redwood groves. Granite canyons and emerald pools. Volcanic peaks and thermal springs. The many long, slow river miles that nourish the state. It’s these wild, inland swims that stir us the most.

Below are six freshwater places that exemplify the best of the state. It’s by no means comprehensive but a starting point for your own adventures. Be safe and use good judgment. Drink them in with joy and share them with the people you love. Most importantly, treat them with respect so that others may enjoy them in the future.

Budd Lake, Yosemite National Park

Budd Lake embodies the best of Yosemite’s High Sierra, the vast granite sea of high-elevation mountains, meadows and lakes that is bisected by Tioga Road , a continuation of Highway 120. This little blue jewel is nestled in the Cathedral Range, a tiny sub-range of the Sierra Nevada entirely contained within Yosemite National Park . It’s a pocket-size playground of water and stone with endless combinations of backcountry hikes, swims and climbs. While many first-time visitors are rightfully drawn to the spectacular Yosemite Valley, the High Sierra still feels mercifully untouched by the modern world.

This is a backcountry hike, so stop at Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center to pick up a map and discuss the route. It is around five miles round trip to Budd Lake, starting from Cathedral Lakes Trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows. After about a mile, turn left onto an unmaintained backcountry trail used by climbers to reach Cathedral Peak, marked by a signpost with an illustration of a carabiner clip. Follow the rough trail along Budd Creek. As long as you keep following Budd Creek upstream you will get there.

Budd Lake sits in a perfect glacial cirque at the base of Echo Peaks and Cockscomb, two nearby summits. Polished granite slabs form gently sloping beaches into the clear, cold water. It’s easy to spend a whole day lounging in the sun with a book, lost in the elastic permanence of geologic time. It would have been exactly the same here 5,000 years ago (20,000 years ago, however, you would have been under 1,000 feet of ice). The only sign of the outside world is carried on the breeze from Cathedral Peak — the indistinct voices of climbers. It’s the perfect Yosemite experience, without the crowds (standard vehicle fee is $35 and a park entry reservation is required during summer months).

Gualala River, Mendocino County

The Gualala River pronounced (“wa-LAL-la”) marks the border between Sonoma and Mendocino counties in Northern California. Its sinuous form cuts a lazy path through ancient redwood groves to ultimately form an estuary beneath windswept coastal bluffs. Just inland, the river is breathlessly still, wrapping itself around Gualala River Redwood Park to form one of the best campground and swimming hole combinations in the state. A lacquered boom gate divides this sleepy campground from the outside world. There is no day use allowed, so you must be a registered camper or their guest to enter. Beneath the dense canopy, much of the property sits in a permanent twilight. The forest trails are dusted with soft redwood branchlets and needles, campsites are divided by wild sorrel and ferns. The silence here is so complete that it becomes addictive. It spreads across the forest like freshly fallen snow, distorting our sense of time. For once, my wife and I sleep like two people who are not living in an RV with a toddler.

The most coveted spots overlook the river, whose current carves deep green pools as it arcs around the pebble beach (a river-view campsite is $90 a night). As the fog retreats, sunlight pierces the impossibly clear water and warms the dark sand below. People dive in with whoops of delight. Native coho salmon and steelhead trout glide in the shadowy depths, seemingly unfazed by the commotion. Lost among the trees, Gualala feels like an outlier, setting its own rhythms and casting a spell on all who visit.

Purdon Crossing, Yuba River South Fork

The South Fork of the Yuba River carves a deep canyon from the crest of the Sierra Nevada to the Sacramento Valley. For much of the year it roils with white water, surging across the bedrock and cartwheeling into gorges. By late June or July, just as the summer heat becomes unbearable and cicadas reach their electric crescendo, the river drops to reveal placid, emerald pools and sandy beaches. Smooth granite slabs sparkle in the sun. It’s worth the wait.

For the nearby towns of Nevada City and Grass Valley, the South Yuba is the de facto public pool. People swim in almost every beautiful inch of this river, but Purdon Crossing, a historic steel bridge, has become our preferred access point. The bridge sits squarely in our swimming Goldilocks zone — just far enough from major roads to reduce would-be visitors, yet beaches are abundant and easily accessible from the parking area .

The South Yuba Trail traces the riverbank upstream. After about a quarter mile, a path drops down to Mother’s Beach. This wide, slow-moving section of the river has a gentle, sandy entrance, and is where families often gather. There’s plenty of space and you could happily spend the entire day here. But we like to go farther upstream one mile to China Dam, where the remnants of a mining diversion dam mark an exquisite pool flanked by high rocks. The cold, clear water is irresistible. Swims like this are the epitome of summer in California’s Gold Country. We immediately strip down and leap from the rocks. Clothing is optional here, but swimming is not.

Red Rock Pools, Santa Ynez River

The best wild swimming holes are a perfect expression of the environment and, by extension, the local culture. In the case of the Santa Ynez Valley, just north of Santa Barbara, the same conditions that make it an excellent wine region are what define it as a great place to swim. It’s hot and sunny, yet there is far more water than you would expect. Down in the valley, along the Santa Ynez River, is where the best swimming can be found.

To get there, drive along Paradise Road until it crosses the Santa Ynez River at First Crossing Kiosk ($10 day use fee). When water levels get high, in spring and early summer, rangers are quick to close the road to vehicles but still allow access on foot and bicycle. Over the next five miles the canyon walls grow higher and the swimming holes get deeper until the road dead ends at Red Rock Trailhead .

Even if it looks dry at the trailhead, there is always a place to swim at Red Rock Pools, which are fed by perennial springs. It’s an easy half-mile walk along the Gibraltar Trail to the largest and most reliable swimming hole. The singular Red Rock looms high over the water, with deep, cool pools at its base. It’s the kind of place you can spend all day luxuriating.

Big Sur River Gorge, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

For about 90 miles along the Pacific Coast, California’s Highway 1 bravely navigates the steep slopes of the Santa Lucia Range. People are often so preoccupied with driving the famed Big Sur region that they forget about stopping. But hiding among the many inland ridges and creeks are trails, campgrounds and swimming holes — the best of them is Big Sur River Gorge in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park ($10 day use fee). It’s not a secret spot, yet many people drive past.

The park’s 11-acre campground sits under a canopy of redwood trees as it straddles the Big Sur River in a sunny, alluvial valley. Day use visitors can park at lot No. 3 to reach the Gorge Trail, which starts between campsites 111 and 112; an unmaintained path follows the river upstream for about a mile of wading and rock-hopping.

On our first visit, we asked a park ranger for directions. He said, “keep hiking until you get to the most beautiful pool you’ve ever seen.” He wasn’t far-off. The river abruptly spills into a huge, natural amphitheater where the water is shockingly clear and deceptively deep. One after another, people arrive and stand for a moment of stunned reverence before huge smiles bloom across their faces. Like much of Big Sur, the phone service is thankfully terrible, so there is nothing to do but jump in and enjoy the day. (Portions of Highway 1 have been closed because of rock slides; access to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park from the north is currently unaffected.)

Tecopa Hot Springs

Our search for natural hot springs took us to luxury spas, silent meditation centers, nudist colonies and, of course, pristine wilderness areas. California has it all. And yet, Tecopa, an unassuming township near the Nevada border, just south of Death Valley National Park, remains one of the most memorable places we’ve ever visited. This, unlike the others, is one to bookmark for winter, as summer temperatures regularly exceed 112 degrees.

Set in the badlands of the Mojave Desert, the town has a surprising bounty of hot springs along with scattered palms, rusted cars and sun-bleached ranch homes.

Mineral-rich hot water bursts from the ground to create a ribbon of natural wetlands and supply four (at last count) small resorts and bathhouses. Delights Hot Spring Resort ($25 day pass) has the best views of the Nopah mountain range from its large communal outdoor pool, while Tecopa’s austere public bathhouse ($10 day pass) has the hottest water in town. The latter is single-sex nude bathing only, like a Japanese communal bathhouse.

For a town of 100 or so, there is a surprisingly varied culinary offering — barbecue, breweries, a five-seater steakhouse (reservations required), a cafe and the nearby China Ranch Date Farm — all operating different hours to avoid too much competition. We even heard a rumor about a nightclub. It’s the kind of place that will keep surprising you, which is what always brings us back.

Dillon Seitchik-Reardon is the photographer and co-author with Caroline Clements of “Places We Swim California” published by Hardie Grant USA.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

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Local Information Points

Local information points are places where you can go to find out more about   the New Forest   and the local area. Information points have friendly staff on hand to assist you as well as maps, leaflets and publications available on what to see and do.

You'll find local information points in the following places:

New Forest Activities Hazel Copse Farm, Beaulieu, SO42 7WA Tel: 01590 612377

Cyclexperience Downside Car Park, Rail Station, Brockenhurst, SO42 7TW Tel: 01590 624808

Shappen Stores Ringwood Road, Burley, BH24 4AB Tel: 01425 402205

Herald Publishing 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH Tel: 02380 845700

Landford Village Stores & Post Office Lyndhurst Road, Landford, Nr Salisbury SP5 2AJ Tel: 01794 390242

The Village News 74 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD Tel: 01590 645595

Minstead Community Shop The Green, Minstead, Lyndhurst, SO43 7FY Tel : 02380 518166

Sway Post Office Station Road, Sway, SO41 6AA Tel: 01590 681713

Woodland H, Hoburne Bashley Hoburne Bashley Holiday Park, Sway Road, New Milton, BH25 5QR Tel : 01425 612340 / 07749 24248

Woodgreen Community Shop Hale Road, Woodgreen, SP6 2AJ Tel: 01725 512467

Some other locations to visit for Visitor Information while you're out and about are:

Lepe Country Park   is another location where you can find out more and the  Forestry England   run an information and interpretation unit at Bolderwood during weekends and school holidays from April to October.

You can also visit our Visitor Information Points when you’re out and about. Our VIPs display a comprehensive  map  for discovering the New Forest plus information on what to see and do displaying local   attractions ,  places to eat and drink , leisure  activities   and much more.

Updated annually the Visitor Information Panels are located throughout the New Forest. With 19 sites at; Barton on Sea, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Burley, Fordingbridge, Hythe, Lymington, Lyndhurst, Milford on Sea, New Milton and Ringwood.

New Forest Visitor Information

Follow visit the new forest on instagram.