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New Forest
 

Covering 145 square miles the New Forest is a place of ancient history, fascinating wildlife and stunning beauty. Originally a royal hunting preserve, the thriving working forest that you see today has survived for nearly 1000 years.

How to get there:

Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, and Burley are the nearest towns or villages.
OS Grid Reference: SU297082

From Southampton, London and the east. Junction 1 off M27.
From west country, Bournemouth any exit off A31 past Ringwood.
Rail
Stations at Ashurst, Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst, Sway, New Milton.
Bus
Routes encompass most Forest villages.

Start your visit from:

Pig Bush Car Park
Horse Riding in the New Forest
Hatchet Pond Car Park
Coarse Fishing in the New Forest
New Forest Reptile Centre
Wilverley Barbecue
Whitefield Moor
Wilverley Plain
Knightwood Oak
Bolderwood
Blackwater
Bolton's Bench Car Park
The Rufus Stone
Anderwood
Winter Car Park Closures
Couple walking in Mark Ash wood

Facilities:

ToiletsInformationParkingEasy AccessParking Charge

Activities:

WalkingCyclingFishingCampingBarbecuePicnicWildlife ActivitiesForest DriveEducationalHorse RidingHeritageOther ActivitiesArboretum
walking

People enjoy freedom of access on foot in the New Forest. The bountiful opportunities to enjoy a short stroll and brisk walk or an all day hike through ancient woodlands, plantations and heathlands will keep you coming back time after time.

cycling

There are over 100 miles of approved, way-marked family cycle routes across the Crown Lands of the New Forest. These follow well-defined, surfaced tracks. Cycling off these routes is against the byelaws. A map showing all these cycle routes can be downloaded from this website (top right of this page) or can be obtained by contacting the recreation section at The Queen's House, Lyndhurst, SO43 7NH, Tel:023 8028 3141. You can also get copies from New Forest cycle hire shops, campsites and other retail outlets in the New Forest.

horse riding

Horse-riders have the freedom to ride throughout the New Forest without the need for a permit. Some areas are restricted to protect wildlife and we ask riders to observe the signs.

Contact:

General Enquiries

023 8028 3141
e-mail: enquiries.new.forest@forestry.gsi.gov.uk


active woods
What's of interest
Why not download and listen to one of our podcasts of the New Forest whislt on your walk to see the Deer at Bolderwood or on a visit to the Knight Wood Oak. To access these features click on the podcast link under related pages.

View the New Forest Network Cycle MapView our cycle map (PDF file)

New Forest codes (all PDF files)
- Dog-walking
- Horse-riding
- Out and about
- Cycling


What's on
Related pages
Useful sites
Find out more
What's the Forestry Commission doing about sustainable forestry or biodiversity? Try these links to find out.
Search our publications database for more indepth information, or look at Forest Research.

Follow the Forest Code at all times.


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