The bustling August days are heading behind us and the leaves are starting to turn. September is around the corner offering the perfect excuse for a New Forest break. Take a look at what you can enjoy this month…

Capture family moments at the end of the school summer holidays

It’s soon time to return to school, but in early September you can still take part in some fabulous family-friendly activities such as a brilliant maze and tractor rides at Summer Time @ Sunnyfields Farm and the self-guided family museum trail at the New Forest Heritage Centre. Both run until 4 September.


Image - Summer Time @ Sunnyfields Farm

Take a tour of parts of the New Forest you don’t know

How well do you know Milford-on-sea? Every Thursday in September, a guided walk will start from the village green. Costing just £10 per person, explore this pretty seaside village and the history that surrounds it.

You may know Beaulieu well but have you navigated your way along the Beaulieu River? Hop aboard at Buckler’s Hard with Wild New Forest for a low-tide cruise where you can expect to see some of the area’s amazing wildlife as you wind your way to the Solent and back. This tour is set to run on 3, 14 and 28 September.

If you are interested in birdlife, then explore the Lymington and Keyhaven marshes on a guided walk focused on the autumn migration. This walk will be run by Wild New Forest on 17 September.


Image - Guided Walk with Wild New Forest

Taste the New Forest

Here in the New Forest, we have some amazing local producers. We are super passionate about supporting the local economy and keeping New Forest traditions alive, take a visit our incredible local pubs, restaurants, cafés, shops and farms to try our delicious local food and drink. You can find out more about some of our producers at the Producers Roadshow being held at Hoburne Bashley on 3 September. With free entry, you will also love the live music and opportunity to take part in some nature workshops (please note, charges apply for the workshops).


Image - Sopley Farm Shop

Listen to the Forest

For a unique experience, pop along to the 'Painted with Sound: Listen to the Forest' event at the New Forest Heritage Centre running from 10 September- 2 October. Original soundscapes and ambient music combine with large cinematic projections for a mesmerising, immersive experience.

Calling all petrolheads

Love tinkering with cars? The International Autojumble is set to return to Beaulieu National Motor Museum on the weekend of 10-11 September. This long-awaited weekend of automotive enjoyment will bring together all manner of motoring spares, automobilia and historic vehicles for sale, with hundreds of stands to browse in the busy event fields. We’d recommend visiting the motor museum whilst you are here and also popping along to the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, near New Milton too.


Image - International Autojumble at Beaulieu

If you can’t make that weekend, then plan to visit to some of the car meets at Beaulieu. On 18 September it’s all about BMWs with the Simply BMW event and on 25 September, it’s the day of the Simply British Classics.

Book some evening entertainment

Whether you are staying for a short break or a week-long adventure, there’s plenty going on in the evenings at Hanger Farm Arts Centre this month, including TCV Virtuoso (7 September) and Tannahill Weavers (15 September). Other evening entertainment events this September include London Touring Players present: The Comedy of Errors at Furzey Gardens until 3 September and LIVE DJ at The Lodge Kitchen & Bar at Balmer Lawn on 2, 3 and 4 September. Other events are also happening during September here and at other arts venues, pubs and hotels across the forest, check our events listings for full details.


Image - Furzey Gardens

See the autumnal colours begin to descend on the forest

The leaves will be beginning to change this month. See the autumn spectacle for yourself by taking a walk or cycle through our stunning national park. We’ve lots of different routes for you to choose from, simply browse our walking and cycling pages for inspiration.


Image - Walking in the New Forest. Credit - Pete Elliott Photography

Exbury Gardens’ displays will be a spectacle this month, take a stroll around or hop aboard the site’s miniature railway for a nostalgic journey through some of the grounds.

This month also sees the start of pannage season. This is when New Forest commoners can release their pigs into the forest to eat the fallen acorns. This tradition is incredibly important to the New Forest as acorns are poisonous to our New Forest Ponies and cattle.


Image - Pannage Pigs at the Portuguese Fireplace

Book yourself a last-minute break

Take a look at our accommodation pages and choose the type of accommodation to suit your needs this September, whether it’s five-star luxury, a spot of glamping, a cosy B&B or a home-from-home self-catering cottage.