Sophie Collard on behalf of BudgetTraveller spends the day on the New Forest Tour – an open-top safari in the enchanting New Forest National Park.
Discover the New Forest’s History and Beauty
William the Conqueror created the New Forest in Hampshire, South England, as a royal hunting ground. Once a day’s horse-drawn carriage ride from London, today it’s just a 90-minute train journey to Brockenhurst, the largest village in the New Forest.
Take advantage of the special offer from South West Trains: a day return from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst for just £15 (or £7 for kids). The journey announces the New Forest, much like traveling through the Rockies announces Canada. “You’ve left the city!” it cries. The lush green trees and fresh forest air are a welcome change.
Your New Forest Tour Guide
From 28th June to 14th September, there’s a ‘travel concierge’ service outside the Italian restaurant at Brockenhurst station. It’s hard to miss in bright green. Visitors are encouraged to contact the concierge before arriving for advice on tour times and attractions. There’s also a ‘Tech Crèche’ where you can leave your gadgets safely, for free.
Eco-Friendly Exploration
The New Forest is not only green in color but also environmentally friendly. Leaving the car behind and taking the bus is an excellent way to explore the forest and coast. The open-top bus tour offers stunning views and a better chance of spotting some of the 9,000 animals living in the area. The New Forest Tour features three routes – red, green, and blue – allowing visitors to hop on and off as they please.
I covered the green and blue routes in one day but recommend choosing just one per day, or sampling a bit of each. A four-hour ride can be a bit much even for the most hardened traveler.
Highlights of the Blue Route
Many people favor the blue route, which passes the coast. You can look for fossils at Barton-on-Sea or take a ferry to Hurst Castle from Keyhaven. The route also includes Burley, known for its shops selling trinkets related to witches and fairies, believed to have lived in the area. Rent bikes from Forest Leisure Cycling to explore the heather-covered heaths. Both routes feature ponies, horses, and cows with right of way over vehicles.
Choosing the Green Route
If you’re not renting a bike and only have a day, I’d recommend the green route. It offers more forest flora and fauna and great stops. On the green and red routes, you can stop at Lyndhurst for a cuppa and visit St. Michael & All Angels Church, where Alice Liddell (Alice in Wonderland) is buried.
The green route also includes Beaulieu, known for its motor museum, Beaulieu Abbey, and its haunted reputation. Your tour ticket grants a 20% discount on the entrance fee to Beaulieu, but if you prefer, you can alight at Beaulieu village for a charming view of the abbey and a pleasant walk to Buckler’s Hard along the Beaulieu River.
Additional Attractions
The green route boasts Exbury Gardens with 20 miles of flower-bedecked pathways and a tiny steam train. In Hythe, ride the electric pier train, the oldest in the world, and take a 45-minute ferry to Southampton and back.
Plan Your New Forest Tour
For just £14 (10% discount if you book online), the New Forest Tour is well worth it, especially if you don’t drive. In Brockenhurst, be sure to find the donkeys and say hello from me.
The red, green, and blue routes traverse the national park. The green and blue routes start at Brockenhurst station. The red route can be joined from the blue route at Burley or the green route at Lyndhurst. Alternatively, there’s a station at Ashurst for the red route, with bus connections from Bournemouth, Salisbury, and Southampton.
PS: I didn’t have time to do the blue route, but check out this video of it. Not many people realize that the New Forest has a coast!
