If you love to get outdoors then The New Forest is a perfect destination for you. Let us entertain you with nature-based activities, things to get your pulse racing and create memories from the wonderful forest adventures you have enjoyed.
Whatever the season, we have a wide-range of activities so whether you fancy a fresh walk in the winter or some of our water sports in the summer there is plenty of choice on offer.
If you are here on a family holiday, away with friends or you simply fancy trying something new, let us inspire you below with our great outdoor and adventure activities…
Great activities for groups
Archery and Combat Tag make ideal activities for groups of people, so whether you are here as a family group, as a bunch of friends or for a stag or hen party, practice your aim with some archery lessons!
Battle it out by playing combat games with ‘Battlefield Live’ at New Forest Activities in Beaulieu or try your hand at axe-throwing with Insight Activities. Or perhaps ‘Zombie Killing’ is more your thing! There are plenty of ways to get your adrenalin going here in The New Forest.
Family fun outdoor adventures
Bring out your inner Bear Grylls on a New Forest bush craft adventure with New Forest Activities. Do you and your family have the skills to make it through the ‘Family Survivor Course’?
Or take to the skies with New Forest Activities at Beaulieu. Both centres offer a high ropes course – perfect for anyone who fancies monkeying around in the trees and taking in a totally different perspective of the area!
Take to our waters
With a long stretch of coastline and several lakes and rivers, it’s no wonder that water sports are popular activities here in the New Forest.
Take to our waters by kayaking along the Beaulieu River, near Buckler’s Hard or around the lake at the New Forest Water Park.
You can also try wakeboarding or water-skiing at the New Forest Water Park or embark on their inflatable obstacle course which all makes for a great family day out.
Learn how to paddle board with the New Forest Paddle Sport Company based in Milford on Sea. For more experienced paddle boarders there’s the opportunity to paddle from Milford to Hurst Castle on a guided paddle, a fantastic way for you to soak up the fabulous wildlife and scenery and learn a little of the history of the New Forest coastline.
Take to the seas by yachting with Escape Yachting, where you can learn to sail or simply sit back and enjoy the coast of Lymington, the Solent and Isle of Wight.
Alternatively, practice sailing at Spinnaker Sailing Club, near Ringwood or charter a boat from Lymington or Keyhaven for a spot of fishing.
Enjoy an active break in the great outdoors
If you are keen on cycling then there are loads of fantastic routes (many of them car free) you can enjoy which weave their way through our National Park. If you don’t have your bike with you then that’s not a problem either as there are several places where you can hire bikes here in the New Forest. There are several cycling routes which you can download to help you plan your day out so whether you fancy a short journey or one of our long-distance routes, there are lots of options available no matter what your ability or fitness levels.
The New Forest is a walker’s dream with miles and miles of country lanes, off road paths and coastal walks to be enjoyed. There are long-distance walking routes or short trails and accessible routes that you can download from our website giving you a wealth of walks. If you are here in October then we’d recommend checking out the New Forest Walking Festival, organised by the New Forest National Park Authority, which has a variety of different walks that you can join in with taking you all over the National Park.
If you have a passion for horse riding then why not embark on a countryside hack from one of our equestrian centres? Alternatively, if you have your own horse then there are several places to stay which offer accommodation not only for you but for your horse as well!
Nature-based activities
Of course if you walk or cycle in the New Forest then you’ll be immersed in our wonderful nature. However, if you’d like to get really close to it then why not look at some of our specific nature-based activities. Take a guided snake walk with a licensed ecologist and discover more about some of the species of snake that can be found locally.
Make a trip to Blashford Lakes nature reserve, near Ringwood for a wide-range of activities on offer from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Try your hand at pond-dipping or bug hunting at Moors Valley Country Park and get hands-on with nature at Lepe Country Park.
Finding your perfect New Forest activities
Take a look below for other ideas of activities you can do in the New Forest and discover more by using the search box to find your perfect outdoor activities.
Don’t forget to purchase a Go New Forest Card for just £10 which gives you nearly 400 fantastic money-saving discounts off attractions, activities, places to eat and drink and much more around The New Forest.
If you are looking for a place to stay whilst in the New Forest then our accommodation providers are usually more than happy to welcome those with muddy boots, cycles and even the family dog on holiday here, just check the individual entries for details.
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