Places in the New Forest that’ll trick you into thinking you’ve travelled the world
There’s a special kind of magic in the New Forest – a way the light filters through the trees, how the land opens out into big skies, and the way it quietly surprises you around every bend. Sometimes, those surprises feel... familiar. Like you've suddenly stepped into another destination altogether.
So we’ve rounded up some of our favourite places that’ll have you double-checking your location. One minute you're in Hampshire – the next, you could be halfway across the globe (without ever leaving the Forest).
Let the daydreaming begin…
Rhinefield Ornamental Drive = Canada / Pacific Northwest
Towering pines and redwoods, misty mornings, and that dramatic forest-road-feel. With the right soundtrack, this could easily be a moody Vancouver Island road trip.
New Park Manor Hotel = Italian Countryside Escape
Striped parasols, olive trees, and sweeping views of fields and forest. It’s like a luxury stay in Umbria… just with more deer.
Image credit - Bramble & Beach Photography
Open Heaths = Montana Ranch
Trust us on this one. A dry day, scattered free-roaming ponies, and the vastness of the open heath? It’s straight out of a wild west film.
Keyhaven & Lymington Marshes and Sea Wall = Dutch Wetlands
Flat, windswept landscapes. A maze of waterways. Wide, wide skies. It feels super Dutch-style.
Exbury Gardens = Kyoto, Japan
Bright blossoming flower paths, delicate bridges, and serene water features. Especially when the sakura bloom, it’s full Japanese garden dream.
Rockford Heath = Yorkshire Moors
Rolling heath, grazing animals, and winds that sweep across the land. It’s got real Brontë energy. Bonus points if the weather is suitably dramatic.
Woodland Forest Trails = Black Forest, Germany
Thick, mossy woodland. Twisting trails. The kind of place where fairytales feel like they could be real. Bring your imagination.
Canoeing on the Beaulieu River = Lake Mapourika, New Zealand
Still, mirror-like waters. Tree-lined banks. Peaceful silence all around. If you squint, you might just believe you’ve paddled into the South Island. Glaciers not included.
The Pig Hotel, Brockenhurst = Rustic Tuscany meets Napa Valley
Kitchen gardens. Honey-stone walls. Long lunches in the sunshine. Whether it’s Italian farmhouse or Californian vineyard, it’s got that slow, good-living feel.
Barton on Sea coastline = Cornish beaches
Clifftop walks, fossil-filled beaches, and long horizons over the water. It’s rugged, it’s wild, and you could easily mistake it for the southwest coast.
The Woods Cyclery and Woods Bikes & Brews = Berlin Bike Café Scene
Minimalist interiors, plants surrounding the tables, flat whites on tap. It’s very Kreuzberg – but with ponies instead of trams.
Burley Village = Fantasy Film Set
Witchcraft shops. Thatched cottages. Mossy forest trails. If you feel like you’ve wandered into a fantasy film, you’re not alone. All it needs is a hobbit or a vampire.
Beaulieu Abbey = Italian Ruins
Ancient stone, tranquil gardens, and a sleepy riverbank – it’s giving serious Chianti-country energy. Swap your hiking boots for sandals and a sunhat, just for a moment.
Photo credit - The Woods Cyclery
The Old Railway = New England Cycle Trails, USA
Especially beautiful in autumn, with old railway bridges and straight gravel paths lit by orange and amber leaves. Think Vermont in leaf-peeping season, but on two wheels.
Ready to take a trip around the world – without leaving the New Forest?
Sometimes all it takes is a shift in perspective. The New Forest holds more than one landscape – and more than a few stories. So next time you're out exploring, keep your eyes (and your imagination) wide open. Who knows where you’ll end up?
