The best way to experience the New Forest isn't always from behind the wheel. Whether you're arriving by train, choosing to leave the car behind for the day or looking for a more sustainable way to explore, travelling car-free allows you to slow down, discover hidden corners and experience the New Forest at a gentler pace.
You'll also be helping to reduce traffic through this protected landscape, making the roads safer for the New Forest's free-roaming ponies, donkeys, cattle and wildlife.
From cycling and walking to open-top buses, horse riding and river adventures, here are some of the best ways to explore the New Forest without a car.
Explore the New Forest by bike
With more than 100 miles of off-road gravel tracks winding through woodland, heathland and picturesque villages, cycling is one of the best ways to explore the New Forest.
Forgot your bike? No problem. Our local cycle hire businesses offer everything from family bikes and e-bikes to trailers, child seats and adaptive cycles, helping everyone enjoy a day on two wheels.
Where to hire a bike
- Cyclexperience Bike Hire - Brockenhurst
- New Forest Cycling - Burley
- The Woods Cyclery - Lyndhurst
- NF Bikes - Lymington
- Jaunt-e Bikes - Milford on Sea
Need somewhere to start? Try our Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst Loop for an easy ride through woodland, or head north for longer adventures across open heathland and rolling countryside.
Discover the New Forest on foot
Some places can only be discovered by walking. Gentle woodland trails, peaceful rivers, secret viewpoints and hidden ponds all reveal themselves at walking pace, making hiking one of the most rewarding ways to experience the New Forest.
Whether you're looking for a short family stroll or a full day's hike, you'll find walking routes across every corner of the National Park.
For something extra special, join a guided walk with Wild New Forest Guided Tours, whose expert guides bring the landscape to life through fascinating stories about its wildlife, history and unique way of life.
See the Forest from horseback
The New Forest has been shaped by ponies for centuries, so what better way to explore than from the saddle?
Burley Villa School of Riding offers guided hacks across beautiful woodland and open heathland for riders of all abilities, while experienced riders can also explore designated routes across the Forest.
Prefer to take things a little slower? Burley Wagon Rides offers traditional horse-drawn carriage rides through the Forest, allowing you to soak up the scenery from a completely different perspective.
Leave the car behind and catch the bus
Travelling by bus is a wonderfully relaxing way to discover the New Forest. The New Forest Tour open-top buses connect many of the National Park's most popular villages, attractions and beauty spots throughout the summer, allowing you to hop on and off wherever takes your fancy.
For year-round exploring, the New Forest Breezer bus network links towns, villages and visitor attractions across the area, making it easy to enjoy a car-free day out while taking in some beautiful scenery along the way.
Explore the New Forest by train
With eight train stations across the New Forest, arriving and exploring by rail is easier than you might think. Stations including Brockenhurst, Lymington, New Milton and Ashurst put you within easy reach of forest walks, cycle routes, towns, villages and the coast - without needing to get behind the wheel.
Brockenhurst is particularly well connected, with direct trains from London Waterloo, and makes a brilliant starting point for a car-free New Forest adventure. Step off the train and you can hire a bike, head out for a walk, stop for lunch or connect with local bus services to explore even further.
Why travel car-free?
Exploring without a car encourages you to slow down and notice the little things. You hear more birdsong. You discover quieter corners. You stop more often. And perhaps most importantly, you help protect one of the UK's most special landscapes by reducing traffic on roads shared with free-roaming animals.
Sometimes, the journey really is just as memorable as the destination.
