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You are here: Home > Ideas & Inspiration > Ideas > Autumn
In terms of spectacular scenery and amazing colours, it’s hard to beat autumn in the New Forest. At this time of year, our Forest is positively glowing with reds, oranges, yellows and greens. Get outside and enjoy the spectacular colours of nature across our wonderful landscapes and ornamental woodlands – it’s the best free show around!
Not only will you find the amazing scenes of colour but look at the forest floor and you may see something quite different…
Our iconic New Forest ponies, the cattle and the donkeys are usually brought in off the forest over autumn. Why? One word: acorns. The fallen acorns are poisonous to these animals so the commoners bring them off the open forest. So, instead, you may well come across pigs that are roaming the forest floor. These pigs are taking part in the annual pannage, a tradition that goes back hundreds of years. Owned by the forest commoners, the pigs are released to feast on the fallen acorns. Unlike other animals, acorns are not poisonous to pigs. Pannage usually starts from mid-September and depending on the weather conditions can last into November or December.
Emerging from the leaf litter and some of our ancient trees you will discover the world of fungi. 2,700 different species of fungi can be found here in the New Forest, just some of the amazing flora and fauna you can discover here. Look out for foraging workshops that take place where you can learn about which mushrooms are safe to pick and eat.
One of the best ways to explore the autumn colours of the New Forest is on foot. Crunch your way amongst the fallen leaves as you take one of our walking routes through our woodlands. There are ample walks to choose from but we’d recommend the walking trails at Bolderwood for some spectacular colours from the beech and oak trees as well as the Blackwater Tall Trees Trail which features a collection of trees from around the world.
Walking in the autumn isn’t just limited to the beautiful colours in the Forest… it’s also a great time to head to the Forest’s 40 miles of coastline for a stroll among seabirds and salt marshes. Walk along the shore, watch the waves crash and take in some invigorating sea air with great views at Lymington, Milford-on-Sea or Lepe.
Taking place for a fortnight over the autumn, the annual New Forest Walking Festival is a popular event on the New Forest’s calendar. Organised by the New Forest National Park Association, there are over 70 different walks that you can join in with. Family walks, nature walks and much more. Come along and see different parts of the New Forest that you may not have discovered before.
Head out on a Guided Walk where they can help you find some of the top places for autumn colours in the New Forest. Let them show you some of the best walking trails on offer here and learn from their years of experience about the New Forest flora and fauna.
Exbury Gardens is famed for its rhododendrons and azaleas that bloom with vibrant colours in the spring months however it is equally as beautiful in the autumn. Take a wander through the small pathways that wind their way amongst the 200 acres of garden, there are some rare trees and shrubs here that offer an autumnal delight. Equally, take the twenty minute trip on the miniature steam railway that whisks you through a section of the gardens.
The small but intimate Furzey Gardens at Minstead is another fine garden to visit in the autumn. Autumn is a blaze of colourful displays and recent planting of tree stock has paid particular attention to trees that offer fantastic autumn colour including acer and sorbus.
Lookout for seasonal dishes on the menu at some of our top restaurants and country pubs or learn how to rustle up an autumnal feast at a cookery school workshop at Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, you could even be under the expert tuition of celebrity chef, James Martin! Sample the ciders at New Forest Cider in Burley or the seasonal fudge flavours at Burley Fudge Shop or head to Ringwood Brewery for a tour and some of the brewery’s famous ales.
Autumn is a quitter time of year with less traffic and therefore quieter roads. It makes an ideal time for coming here for a bike ride. Either bring your own bike or hire one from the many cycle hire shops around the National Park. We have more than 140 miles of off-road tracks and low speed-limit roads, and our off-road network is easily accessible from the mainline railway, with regular trains heading to the New Forest from London Waterloo.
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