Blog

This year more than ever before, it is so important to shop locally and support small businesses. Although we can’t pop to our favourite New Forest retailers at the moment, many of them are operating online, so we can still buy fantastic local products for our friends, family and colleagues!

While your wedding might look a little different, the love, joy and festivity won't. 2020 has no doubt shaken up your wedding plans with celebrations limited to a maximum of 15 attendees. But downsizing your guest list doesn't mean your day has to be any less meaningful.

After everything that’s happened during 2020, it seems almost more important than ever to gather with those we can and enjoy ourselves as much as possible. Our wonderful hotels, pubs, restaurants and attractions are just waiting to welcome you to a heavenly host of lunches, seasonal activities and celebrations.

Filled with English charm, the 17th century country house hotel, The Montagu Arms in Beaulieu lends itself beautifully to an intimate wedding amongst your dearest friends and family; a day that will be truly personal to you.

Although it may be getting colder, November is still a great time to get out crunching through those autumn leaves and to take in the warm colours of the trees before winter descends here in the New Forest.

Shop 4 Less in the New Forest this Autumn with our amazing Go New Forest Card which gives you access to over 300 exclusive offers at top businesses in the area, including a huge choice of retail deals!

Spooky fun, fancy dress, chocolate and sweets, that’s what Halloween is all about! And this year, Halloween falls on a Saturday, making it a perfect time for everyone to get involved in lots of fa-boo-lous fun – to lift everybody’s ‘spirits’!

As the temperatures drop and the days shorten, the trees in the magical New Forest explode with colour; from brilliant scarlet to bright gold, hot pink to flaming orange. Then there’s the heathlands; bursting with purple heather and the flare of the gorse.

With autumn in full swing, make the most of the beautiful outdoors by taking in all that the New Forest has to offer in October. Here we explore some of the top things to do in the New Forest this October…

Why not join us at Sandy Balls for a ghoulishly good time this October half term? With beautiful woodland walks, cosy accommodation and a whole host of an un-boo-lievably fun activities, there is something for the young, and the young at heart to enjoy!

Now the kids are back to school, it’s time to start planning ahead and organising a fantastic October Half Term for the whole family… and there’s no better place to enjoy a staycation than in the New Forest!

Festivals have been few and far between this year but there’s one which always takes place no matter what’s happening – harvest festival. So what better time to visit the New Forest and sample some of the fabulous food and drink that’s produced at this time of year?