This year, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday 19th March. So there’s just under two weeks left to plan a day to remember and to celebrate just how amazing your mum is!
Fancy taking mum out for some tantalising food? Or whisking mum on a mystery tour of the New Forest? Or perhaps you want to try something new together or indulge in a spot of pampering?
We’ve got lots of ideas to help you plan your perfect Mother’s Day. Read on to find out more…
Treat mum to some amazing food and drink
Take the stresses of cooking away and book a meal out. Whether a special Mother’s Day themed lunch at one of our New Forest hotels or a traditional afternoon tea experience, you’ll find plenty of choice available (although we would strongly recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment).
Sandy Balls will be serving up a Mother's Day Sunday roast on the 19th. Mum will receive a complimentary glass of prosecco and dessert. Lunches will be served between 12noon-8pm in Aubrey’s Forest Kitchen and The Woodside Inn. The cost is: Adults - 1 course for £14.95 or 2 courses for £18.95. Children (under 12) - 1 course for £8.95 or 2 courses for £11.95.
Image - Furzey Gardens
For a leisurely day out, treat mum with an afternoon tea in the tranquil and relaxing setting of Furzey Gardens. Enjoy a stroll around the gardens as spring flowers such as magnolia and azaleas begin their beautiful displays. Follow this up with a delicious afternoon tea in the Furzey’s cosy thatched tea rooms on 17th-19th March. All afternoon teas must be pre-booked in advance.
Many of our other local tea-rooms and hotels will also be offering a special Mothers Day Afternoon Tea, including the wonderful Chewton Glen Hotel and peaceful Master Builders House Hotel.
Head to Steff’s Kitchen at Fairweather’s Garden Centre, in the picturesque village of Beaulieu for a meal. Provided your table is booked in advance (to eat on 18th or 19th March) your mum will receive a free dessert. Why not combine your meal with a browse of the garden centre and a wander through Beaulieu village afterwards?
Create special memories together
Spend treasured time together in the beautiful New Forest. Make memories for years to come by booking onto a Mother’s Day experience.
Whether you fancy something sedate such as spa experience or something with a little more adrenalin, you’ll find plenty of ideas across our website.
Image - Careys Manor & SenSpa
If you fancy giving cycling a go, then two of our local cycle companies are running special Mother’s Day offers;
With Cyclexperience in Brockenhurst, mum goes free this Mother's Day! Treat her to a unique and adventurous day out exploring the beautiful New Forest and the cafes and quaint pubs within. Choose from one of the bike-friendly routes and download Cyclexperience’s free route app for extra help in navigating the forest tracks. To book this offer: use code Mum-E for e-bikes and Mum-A on all terrain bikes when booking online. Minimum condition: one paying adult.
Image - The Woods Cyclery
With The Woods Cyclery in Lyndhurst, mums ride free across the Mother’s Day weekend (18th-19th March). Take a ride through the beautiful New Forest and make it a Mother’s Day to remember. And for those looking to treat their mother a little more, there’s a great choice of coffee, cake and sweet treats available at the Bikes and Brews café, with 10% off with every bike hire (shhh don't tell mum!). Terms and conditions: groups of two plus, mums ride free.
Love being out on the water? New Forest Activities is offering a wonderful paddle to the pub on the Beaulieu river. You'll enjoy a gentle guided tour through the idyllic Beaulieu river nature reserve, ending at the Master Builder's pub to enjoy a glass of bubbly by the riverside to celebrate all things, mum. So let mum relax, feel spectacular and take in the views whilst enjoying some boating and bubbles on the river - she deserves it after all.
Image - New Forest Activities
Or, if you fancy something with a bit of adrenalin thrown in then join Insight Activities for their family-friendly Woodland Archery & Axe Throwing across the Mother’s Day weekend. Offering family fun in a beautiful, secluded woodland, there will also be a 'Golden Arrow' trophy and tasty chocolate reward for the highest scoring Archery & Axe Throwing Mama!
Plan some precious days out
Take a walk together through the New Forest National Park, or perhaps a stroll along the seaside at Lepe Country Park or at Milford on Sea.
Spend time with the animals at Longdown Activity Farm or an explore of Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway (Exbury opens for the 2023 season on Mother’s Day).
Image - Exbury Gardens
For something a little different, you could catch the Hythe Ferry from Hythe over to Southampton Town Quay (and vice versa). This year, all mums can have a free ride on the ferry when accompanied by a fare paying child or adult. Added to this, they will also receive a small gift.
And although running 28-30 April, why not treat mum with tickets to BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair at Beaulieu. Set in Beaulieu’s stunning grounds, shop from over 100 exhibitors, meet the BBC show’s expert hosts, and spot imaginative garden designs at every turn. Taste delicious artisan food at the BBC Good Food Market and bop to plenty of live entertainment! A perfect gift for Mother’s Day.
Gifts to remember
If you are looking to arrange a gift for your mum then be sure to check out some of independent shops that you’ll find dotted around the New Forest. From chocolatiers to boutiques, you will find plenty of gift ideas for mum to treasure.
And if you fancy making something for mum then why not book onto the Hanging Basket Workshop being run at Lepe Country Park on 18 March? Here, you can create a unique hanging basket just in time for Mother's Day (pre-booking is essential).
Image - Lepe Country Park
We hope we’ve given you lots of ideas for what you can do in the New Forest for Mother’s Day. If you fancy making a weekend of it, then do take a look at our accommodation pages for plenty of ideas on places to stay. Wishing all the mums out there a lovely Mother’s Day!