There are lots of ways that you can get out and explore the National Park. See Forest Seasons for a guide to what to look out for throughout the year and look at the links below for some ideas on what to see and do. With lots of hands on activities, events and places to visit there is something for everyone.
The New Forest Tour
This open top bus takes you on a circular tour of the New Forest stopping off at a range of exciting places such as the New Forest Centre at Lyndhurst, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu and Exbury Gardens with its miniature steam train. The tour runs from May to September and you can hop on and off. There are several walks and cycle routes that join up with the Tour bus so why not take your bike along too? Click here for more information.
Official Visitor Site to the New Forest
For a comprehensive list of what’s on and which events are happening in the National Park have a look at the Official Visitor Site for the New Forest.
Caring for the New Forest
People and nature live together harmoniously in the New Forest National Park. To ensure that we continue to do so we ask everyone to follow a simple code of behaviour.
Access: Keep to tracks to avoid disturbing wildlife. Plan your route to be out of the Forestry Commission Crown Lands by dusk
Dogs: The New Forest is a great place to walk dogs but please keep them within sight and under control at all times. To help birds rear their young safely keep dogs on the tracks between March and July. Some beaches are out of bounds to dogs during the summer; look out for local restrictions.
Parking: Use a designated car park and lock your car, taking any valuables with you.
Driving: The 40mph speed limit on unfenced roads greatly reduces the number of accidents involving animals. Slow down and give ponies and other forest animals a wide berth; they have little road-sense! Be especially careful at night.
Fire: Because uncontrolled forest fires are a great threat, campfires are not allowed in the New Forest without the permission of the landowner. Barbecue sites are provided for hire at Wilverley and Anderwood car parks by the Forestry Commission (023 8028 3141) and at Lepe Country Park by Hampshire County Council (please book in advance: 023 8089 9108).
Disposable barbecues can be used only on the specially provided metal plates fixed to the picnic tables at Bolderwood, Wilverley and Blackwater. Raised non-disposable barbecues are welcome at Anderwood, Blackwater, Bolderwood, Hatchet Pond, Linford Bottom, Whitfield Moor, Wilverley Plain and Wilverley Inclosure car parks where running water is available.
Cycling: Keep to the waymarked tracks. Give way to walkers and horse riders, and call out a warning when approaching them. Ride in single file on narrow roads and never more than two abreast. Wear bright colours to be visible and always use lights in the dark.
Forest management: Take notice of any warning signs and keep a safe distance from work sites. Only pass a vehicle loading timber when told it is safe to do so.
Litter: Please take your litter home.
Ponies: There is plenty of natural food for the ponies so please don’t feed them. It’s against the byelaws and human food can harm them. Hand-fed ponies tend to gather near roads where they are vulnerable to traffic accidents and some become aggressive with people who, quite rightly, keep their picnics to themselves. Even stroking ponies is dangerous - they may look friendly but they can bite and kick especially mares with foals.