The UK’s most unique landscape…
Updated: Jul 23
The New Forest National park is one of the most wonderfully eye catching destinations the UK has to offer. With wild roaming animals and beautiful scenery this unique National Park offers a great place to immerse yourself in nature. Combining a mixture of luscious woodlands and open habitats, you could describe it as a UK safari! Here I have assembled a list of the best things to do on your visit to make it unforgettable!
Things to do in New Forest
Go for a Bike ride
This is the best way to explore New forest. Exploring by bike means you can go into the depths of forest where you will find the most beautiful scenery. All of the towns within new forest have bike hires if you don’t bring your own. From each town there are many different cycle routes for different abilities. On a bike ride you will be able to cover a lot of ground and see more of the wonderful sights off the beaten track. You are likely to find plenty of wildlife as new forest is famous for its Wild horses, donkeys, cows and deer! A lot of mountain bike/hybrid routes have the opportunity to stop at a riverbank and relax, or even take a dip! If you prefer sticking to the roads there are some of the most scenic in the country with plenty of places to stop and admire the views.
2. Brockenhurst
Brockenhurst is a lovely quaint village with an array of shops and eateries including a delicious local bakery and some relaxed pubs. There is a railway station offering easy access to the village. The surrounding area is filled with gorgeous fields and forest. You can hire a bike in Brockenhurst and cycle through the majestic forest, I recommend stopping for a picnic by one of the elegant rivers that wind through the nearby area. The Brockenhurst river beach (Lymington River) is a very popular spot with a beautiful river bank where people relax and swim in the river. The River has alternating depths making it suitable for all ages to take a dip in the summer sun! There’s an endless amount of forest walks with plenty of spots to park, so park up and get lost in nature!
3. Beaulieu
Beaulieu is Beautiful! A tiny village in the south east of the new forest with a winding estuary traversing through the centre makes for one of the most picturesque places in the UK! Famous for the National motor museum, you will often find an array of old fashioned classic motors in and around the area transporting you back in time. As well as the National motor museum, you can also visit the stunning palace and abbey. There are several places to eat and shops to buy souvenirs. They also have a local chocolatier and ice cream shop! Much like the rest of new forest, It is the perfect location for a picnic, surrounded by gorgeous scenery along the peaceful riverside. There are a few beautiful walking routes including a 4.7mile route to Bucklers hard, another great tourist attraction in the new forest. Bucklers hard is a 18th century Shipbuilders village and tourists can walk around it and explore its unique history.
4. Lymington
Lymington is a bustling port town in the south of the new forest. The Georgian town boasts picturesque, cobbled streets leading down to the quay, with a multitude of local businesses and high street shops. There are plenty of restaurants and eateries including several ice cream shops as the quay makes the perfect spot to enjoy a few scoops while watching the boats go by. Quayside you will also find some adverts for boat trips onto the river Solent, there is a variety from fishing trips to pirate cruises. There is busy market that runs through the center of the high street every Saturday 8am - 4pm. Lymington isn’t like the rest of new forest with trees, wildlife and walks however it makes a good little stop for lunch or dinner and a ponder around the quayside. There is however a few nice countryside walks linking the town to Brockenhurst, although these are quite lengthy walking routes, alternatively you can catch the train.
5. Burley
Burley is a village situated in the middle of New Forest and is known for its ancient origins. It is very well know for its connections to witchcraft, with several shops dedicated to the village’s medieval history of witches and dragons. There is plenty to do in Burley such as the deer safari on Sundays which takes you via tractor and trailer to see some of the deers that occupy the area. There is also Burley wagon rides who host a horse drawn carriage ride around the area. There is a bike hire in the village due to the multitude of wonderful routes in the nearby area as the village is surrounded by beautiful dense forest. I would personally say Burley is the most magical place in the New forest with it’s medieval history and free roaming horses and donkeys, it really has its own unique atmosphere. I highly recommend visiting, there are several pubs, cafes, shops and an abundance of natural beauty alongside all of the witchcraft memorabilia. This is a ‘must-see’ place in the heart of the new forest!
6. Rockford common
A huge natural sand pit in the middle of the forest! Rockford common offers a great place to explore with free national trust parking next to it. The sand pit is mesmerising and out of the ordinary, it is a great place to let your kids run wild. Rockford common brings more to the table than just its golden sands, there is a glorious walk at the top where you will be surrounded by some of the New forests traditional beauty including plenty of wildlife. This is a hotspot for the local wild horses, donkeys and cows which patrol the area. Adjacent to the sandpit is a stream with rope swings that children and dogs love to play in. I recommend bringing a picnic to enjoy beside river bank or on the sandpit, there is usually an ice cream van in attendance too.
7. Bolderwood Deer sanctuary
Bolderwood is undoubtedly the best place to see the wild deer of the New Forest. There is a purpose built platform overlooking a large meadow where the fallow deer like to congregate. They often get fed by the forest keeper which encourages them to graze in this meadow, giving you a better chance of seeing them. The car park is very close to the viewing platform and there is also a big picnic field (with public toilets) to enjoy lunch or maybe play some sports. There are also a few graded walks in the area from the car park. New forest is all about nature and wildlife so I recommend visiting the deers at Bolderwood!
Places to eat
The Ship inn
The Ship in is located on the Quay in Lymington, you can’t miss it as it’s usually bustling! There is a beer garden facing out to the River Solent that gets packed on a sunny day. The Ship inn is considered a premium pub, bar and restaurant, serving country pub food with a relaxed atmosphere. The interior decor is very stylish and aesthetically pleasing. The menu has a wide variety of different meals and is unique in the sense that you will find things that aren’t served at many other UK pubs, despite this they also have traditional pub food too and serve Sunday carvery. If you’re planning on going out for dinner then I highly recommend the Ship Inn.
2. The Bakehouse (Brockenhurst)
The Bakehouse in Brockenhurst is a multi award winning local bakery. They serve a range of traditional baked goods including pasties, sweet treats, filled baguettes and fresh bread. All of these baked goods are made fresh every morning by the master bakers. The fillings for the baguettes are all locally sourced within the New Forest. If you fancy a picnic this is the place to buy it! There are many beautiful spots surrounding brockenhurst such as the Brockenhurst river beach where you can enjoy lunch on the river bank!
3. Shappen Cafe
The Shappen Cafe is situated in Burley alongside the main road. It is the perfect place to stop for a coffee and cake after a bike ride. Aside from this they also serve a great selection of breakfasts, all day brunches and lunches! They have a wide range of Pizzas in the evening for thier pizza nights. The cafe has a lovely atmosphere, always busy with people enjoying thier visit to Burley. They have parking at the back of the cafe and the cafe is dog friendly. There is seating outdoors which is a great spot to enjoy a quick pitstop on a beautiful sunny day.
Where to stay
Coming soon…
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