24 Best things to see & do in New Forest

Superb cycling all year round for all ages and abilities, in a towering ancient forest criss-crossed with cycling tracks.

Easy and accessible walking trails through wondrous deciduous forest and postcard-perfect villages.

Home to dozens of specialist food producers, the New Forest is an under-the-radar gastro gem, offering everything from hand-made chocolates to cider, cured meats and cheeses.

Home to rare snakes, lizards and other British amphibians, visitors can also follow the Discovery Trail through the Forest, and picnic in the grounds.

Just outside Brockenhurst, Setley has been producing white, red and rose wine for twenty years, and offers pre-bookable tours and tastings.

This viewing platform, set above a large meadow area where fallow deer regular gather, offers the best chance of spotting these shy, beautiful creatures.

A New Forest institution, this artisan fudge-maker is the place to come for a bewildering array of over 30 fudgie-flavours, from chilli to Eton Mess. Vegan, gluten-free and alternative sugar varieties available.

In the picturesque village of Burley, New Forest Cider offers the chance to try different varieties straight from the barrel, all made with apples from their own orchards.

A local producer of natural, organic jams, preserves and chutneys that supplies many of the top luxury hotels in the UK. They offer jam-making classes and foraging tours from their base in Lymington.

Specialising in species that are native to the UK, the park is home to otters, badgers, bison and polecats, as well as ten different owl species, with regular feeding sessions that guarantee sightings.