Summer

Long, lazy days. Warm nights. Bright mornings and endless evenings, what’s not to like about summer in the Forest?

The New Forest is the place to get outside and enjoy yourself all year round, but never more than in summer. Take a walk along our many waymarked paths through gladed woodlands, across the purple heather-clad heathland or along our beautiful coastline. See if you can spot our adorable, free-roaming new-born New Forest foals and baby donkeys (although please just look, take photos, keep your distance and don’t touch them - their mothers are very protective).

Cycle some of our off-road trails, ideal for families and those wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of our towns and villages. If you haven’t brought your own bike along then that’s not a problem, there are several places where you can hire bikes within the New Forest and our cycling pages give lots of information on suggested routes you can take.

Take to the sea from one of our 43 miles of coastline for a true, open-water swim or, if that’s too cold, try a little yoga or mindfulness on the beach.

Family fun in the summer
 

There is a huge amount of family fun to be had in the New Forest during the summer. The area is a popular holiday destination for the summer months and our campsites and holiday parks are hives of activities, many of which offer children’s entertainment and family activities.

Your little ones will quite probably enjoy a paddle in one of our forest streams, a great way to cool down on a hot summer’s day or perhaps a game of 'Pooh Sticks' from one of the bridges – Puttles Bridge, near Rhinefield is great for this!

Summer is also a good time to go fording – taking your car through one of our many fords and watersplashes (kids love this!). But always check the depth and flow of the water before you enter, and never attempt it after heavy rainfall.

Take a torch and map and try an evening or night-time walk. There’s very little light pollution here so you can often see the evening sky dazzling with stars. Apart from the beauty of the stars, you may spot a rare nightjar flying over the heath, its wide mouth open to catch the moths. You’ll almost certainly hear some of the owls that live in the forest and maybe even spot some bats.

It probably goes without saying that summer is also one of the best times to enjoy our world-class attractions. Exbury Gardens and its wonderful miniature steam railway is a delight for all ages, even Her Majesty the Queen is a fan! There are plenty of trails throughout the gardens to help burn off energy and dogs are very much welcome to visit as well. 

Paulton’s Park, with its roller-coasters and thrill-rides is a firm family favourite. The ‘Lost Kingdom’ is ideal for dinosaur fans and younger members of the family will no doubt enjoy exploring Peppa Pig World.

National Motor Museum, Beaulieu is great for car enthusiasts and also offers regular school holiday events throughout the Summer. You can also visit the Historic Shipbuilding Village of Bucklers Hard on Beaulieu River, where you can take trips along the country’s only privately owned river.

See if you can spot some of the UK’s native reptiles by stopping by at the New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst and be sure to head to Bolderwood to watch the rangers feeding the deer from the deer-viewing platform.

Alfresco dining and tasty New Forest treats
 

Summer in the Forest is a time for long drinks on the terraces and in the gardens of our award-winning hotels and restaurants. Sip champagne in the gardens at Montagu Arms Hotel, or luxury Lime Wood, or try taking afternoon tea outdoors at five star Chewton Glen Hotel.

Taste some New Forest ice cream from one of the ice cream vans you will find dotted around the Forest or in our coastal towns and villages, sample the sweet tastes of summer at Burley Fudge Shop or tempt yourselves to some homemade cakes at one of our cafes or tearooms.

Summer is also a time for fun and festivals; from Smoked & Uncut, The Pig Hotel’s laid-back summer celebration, to Lymington Seafood Festival, back for its second year in August 2018 after a super-successful launch in 2017. There are many foodie events taking place at our hotels and restaurants and why not head to one of our regular markets to pick up some fresh seasonal produce? Ideal for rustling up a feast!

If you're thinking about having a BBQ in the forest, please find some important information below:

To reduce the risk of damaging wildfires, campfires are not allowed without the landowner’s permission. Disposable BBQs are welcome at Bolderwood, Blackwater and Wilverley where stands and water are available. Raised non-disposable BBQs are allowed on the hard-standing areas of car parks, providing water is available. You can hire fixed stand party-sized BBQs from the Forestry Commission (call 0300 067 4601) and from Hampshire County Council at Lepe Country Park (hants.gov.uk/lepe or call 023 8089 9108 in advance).

Outdoor adventures in the sun
 

Take to the waters of the New Forest for the ultimate outdoor adventures. Learn how to use a stand up paddleboard on a lesson at Milford on Sea from The New Forest Paddle Sport Company (seasoned paddleboarders can also hire boards to paddle to Hurst Castle), kayak or canoe along the Beaulieu River with New Forest Activities, wakeboard or take on the inflatable challenge at the New Forest Water Park or set sail on a romantic sunset cruise out into the Solent with Escape Yachting. Our water sports will leave you feeling both energised and relaxed!

Use the summer months to indulge in some forest bathing, the Japanese art of appreciating the world around you. Research shows that even just being in a forest improves your mental and physical health.

Top tips on having a safe and enjoyable summer break in the New Forest
 

The New Forest National Park is a wonderful place to visit and you can help it stay that way by being a Forest friendly visitor.

Your food and litter could harm the ponies and donkeys. Please take your litter home if bins are full.

For more information about how to look after the forest & yourselves whilst out and about, please head to our Caring for the Forest page.

Top ten things to do in summer in the New Forest
 

1. Go fly a kite! So long as your kite is under 2m then you’re good to go in the New Forest National Park. Best spots for this type of aerial activity are Stoney Cross Common and Wilverley Plain.

2. Swim in the sea (or at least go for a paddle). From gentle family resorts such as Milford-on-Sea, to the wild coast of Lepe, to the tiny, secret scraps of sand and shingle near Lymington where you’ll be the only ones there, we have 40 miles of coastline for you to enjoy. And, if you’re very, very lucky, there are a few places where you may just get to enjoy the day with the New Forest ponies as they like a dip, too.

3. Get your foodie on at the Lymington Seafood Festival. With nearly 100 stalls on average – selling everything from fried calamari, oyster po-boys and divine chocolate hand-made in the New Forest – (Hello Miss Witt!) perhaps it should be called an Eating festival! Add to this the artisan drinks made in the surrounding area, plus the sweet sounds coming from the music tent and the demonstrations on offer from some of the New Forest’s top cooking talent and you just won’t want to leave. The festival takes place every August.

4. Go blackberry picking. Leave the mushrooms to the experts (you really should) but take your basket out to gather wild blackberries during August and early September. Spend a little money and you could even join a Bushcraft Course with New Forest Activities to get the best out of your foray.

5. Walk across the stepping stones. Getting from one side of a stream to another is one of life’s simplest pleasures. Enjoy this at the brook near Rockford Green near Ringwood. But bring a change of shoes – just in case!

6. Enjoy a tree top adventure at Go Ape! Ever wondered what it must be like to fly through a tree canopy on a zip wire, or to wobble your way across a rope bridge? Book a tree top adventure at Go Ape in Moors Valley and you’ll wonder no more. Perfect for a family trip, or adventure, or make it just for the kids, although the minimum age is 10 years.

7. Sign up for Smoked & Uncut. These boutique festivals are one of the New Forest’s best-kept Black Book secrets.

They take place every in July at the Lime Wood Hotel near Lyndhurst and at its sister hotel, The Pig at Brockenhurst, and combine a day of lazing, lovely foods and mellow sounds. Last time it was Dire Straits legend John Illsley and Razorlight headlining. In 2019? You’ll have to sign up and find out, won’t you?

8. Go crabbing. Grab some lines, buckets and some tasty morsels to tempt the crustaceans in. Then take the kids to Mudeford Quay, or maybe the Sturt Pond Bridge at Milford-on-Sea and get casting. And, once you’ve had a good old look, place them gently back. Because it’s the kind thing to do.

9. Show time! And not just any old show, either, but the New Forest and Hampshire County Show which takes place every July near Brockenhurst. Updated and upgraded, you will find everything from livestock, to traditional baking, to artisan food to sample, a Musical Drive by the Heavy horses, kitchen demonstrations and lots of country pursuits.
 

10. Dine al fresco. Whether you pack a picnic – just drop into some of our food stores to find locally-produced fare with the New Forest Marque – or check out some of our hotels, restaurants and inns with fab outdoor eating spaces, you won’t want to miss out.

For fine dining and beautiful garden views, try The Terrace at the Montagu Arms, Beaulieu. If you love art AND the idea of lazing by a river, pick The Mill at Gordleton.

There’s plenty of outdoor space, too, at The Bell Inn near Bramshaw. And keep checking thenewforest.co.uk for lots more ideas of the perfect places to eat in the sunshine.