new forest tour 2022

New Forest Tour

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New Forest Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

New Forest Guide

New Forest Tour Bus | 3 Open Top Routes [2024]

Touring the New Forest by open top bus is a lovely thing to do, even for locals like us who live on the edge of the National Park. This guide to the New Forest tour bus will tell you all you need to know about taking the three routes around the area .

An open top bus tour of the New Forest allows you to see the sights more closely while enjoying the sunshine. This is one of the warmest and driest parts of the UK, so you might even be pleasantly surprised by the weather. (Though we always pack a mac. Just in case.)

Highlights of the New Forest National Park are all included on the trio of routes offered by local operator morebus (who also run the Purbeck Breezer routes that head west from Bournemouth).

The New Forest lies to the east of Bournemouth and Dorset, and is located in Hampshire. To find out how to explore this National Park by local bus, read on to find out the New Forest bus timetable for each of the three routes. Plus everything else you need to know before you travel!

Let’s hop on board.

Why travel on the New Forest Tour bus?

The open top bus around the New Forest can take you to towns and villages like Ashurst, Barton-on-Sea, Burley, Milford-on-Sea, Brockenhurst, Fordingbridge, Beaulieu and Ringwood.

Routes depart from Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and Totton, and you can board the bus at any of the stops en-route. Tourist attractions like the New Forest Wildlife Park and accommodation such as Sandy Balls, Hoburne and Shorefields Holiday Parks can also be accessed via these buses. The Green route also calls at the Balmer Lawn hotel.

The buses even call at popular places to east and drink along the way, including the tearoom at Holmsley, the Needles Eye cafe, the Rising Sun pub and the Hobler Inn. You can even get to New Milton train station via the Blue Route, which offers direct services to London Waterloo. The Red Route also takes in Ashurst station.

Why take to the wheel when someone else can do the driving and navigating? If you’re visiting the area between late June and mid September, then why not take an enjoyable, scenic New Forest sightseeing bus to get around the area?

New Forest Tour routes

There are three New Forest bus routes to pick from. These are the Red, Blue and Green Routes from Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and Totton. All three are circular routes, starting and ending at the same point.

New Forest Tour Red Route

• Lyndhurst – Main car park
• Holmsley – Tea rooms
• Burley – Queen’s Head
• Ringwood – Meeting House Lane
• Fordingbridge – Salisbury Street
• Sandy Balls Holiday Park
• Brook – Green Dragon
• Cadnam – Southampton Road roundabout
• Ashurst – Post Office
• New Forest Wildlife Park
• Ashurst – Train station

New Forest Tour Blue Route

• Brockenhurst – Train station
• Thorney Hill crossroads
• Rising Sun Inn
• Hoburne Holiday Park
• New Milton – Train station
• Barton-on-Sea cafe
• Shorefield Holiday Park
• Needles Eye cafe
• Everton – Bus shelter
• Lymington – High Street
• Setler – Hobley Inn

New Forest Tour Green Route

• Totton – RC church
• Balmer Lawn hotel
• New Forest Adventure Golf
• National Motor Museum
• Beaulieu Garage
• Exbury Gardens
• Dibden Purlieu – St Andrew’s church
• Hythe ferry terminal
• Applemore – Tesco
• Beaulieu Road train station
• Totton – Shopping precinct

New Forest tour bus timetable

Each of the three colour-coded routes has its own timetable. The New Forest open top bus timetable for each route only operates between late June and mid September. Bikes and dogs are welcome on board. There is space for 4 bikes per bus.

During the period between around 9am and 5pm, there is generally one bus per hour for each route. View your chosen option via the morebus links below:

View the current Red Route timetable here

View the current Blue Route timetable here

View the current Green Route timetable here

New Forest tour tickets

The price you’ll pay to travel on the New Forest Tour bus depends on your age, how large your party is and how often you want to travel. Concessionary fares are also available for those who qualify.

The minimum ticket validity is one day, and the maximum a season ticket that applies throughout the operating dates. Season and 7 day fares only apply to New Forest residents. Visitors can buy tickets valid for 1, 2 or 5 days.

1 day tickets

A ticket valid for one day costs between £7.50 for a resident child and £18 for a non-concessionary, non-resident adult. A group ticket for up to 5 is also available, and will work out cheaper if there are enough of you travelling together.

2, 5, 7 day and season tickets

2, 5 and 7 days tickets can save you money – if you travel on the bus enough to recoup the cost. Don’t forget that 7 day and season passes are exclusively available to New Forest residents.

At £24, a 2-day standard adult ticket is just £6 more than a one day ticket. So it may well be worthwhile. The longer the ticket duration the bigger the discount, but it’s only worth it when you’ll actually use it!

To give you an idea, a 5 day standard adult ticket costs £36 for non-residents. While resident fares are cheaper, verification is required. You’ll thus need to demonstrate you really do live in the New Forest by showing some proof of your address.

Check all the current New Forest Tour fares here

morebus ways to pay

You can pay for morebus tickets in various ways. You can usea contactless credit or debit card, cash, or Android or Apple Pay on the bus. It’s also possible to purchase in advance via the website. To do this, you can create an account, then receive a digital ticket to show on your smartphone.

Will you take a trip on the New Forest Tour bus?

If you wanted to know about New Forest bus routes, I hope this guide has clarified your options. In summary, there’s a trio of colour-coded routes to choose from, and together they can hlep you discover the entire area.

Taking this New Forest open top bus tour operated by a local transport network is a very affordable and efficient way to explore this part of Hampshire. By using this service, you can access places to stay , train stations, tourist attractions and the Forest’s prettiest towns and villages. What’s not to love?

Find out how to get to Brockenhurst from London here .

Note –  This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy via these, I may earn a small fee. This has absolutely no effect on the price you pay. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

New Forest Tour

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New Forest Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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The New Forest Tour Sportive

17 sep 2022 - southampton.

• Nearby Events

The New Forest Tour cycling event takes riders on an adventure through the beautiful New Forest National Park through the wide sweeping roads often lined with the local roaming livestock.

All four routes start at Gang Warily recreation ground in the South East corner of the Forest and head immediately south to the coast at Lepe. You'll be able to see out to the Isle of Wight before turning back into the heart of the New Forest.

The Long route takes in the whole boundary of the National Park so you'll be in for 160km of charming scenery, magical woodlands and not to mention the possibility of spotting some of the local deer community due to the event taking place during rutting season.

Our New Forest events are always incredibly popular so if you're thinking about taking part, don't leave it too late and enter as soon as possible.

Of course you’ll be rewarded for all your efforts as you cross the finish line to receive a finishers medal, beer from Freedom Brewery and other goodies from our partners at Jimmy’s Iced Coffee and OTE sports. We look forward to seeing you on the start line in September.

Our Tour Series events are designed to give you the chance to ride in some of the most beautiful parts of the UK and challenge yourself to distances you wouldn’t do every weekend.

• 17 Sep 2022 7:30am Up to 155 km (96 miles)
• Tickets On Sale From 10.00 GBP
• The New Forest Tour Sportive The New Forest Tour Sportive Southampton , UK Unknown Riders
• Up to 155 km (96 miles)
• From 10.00 GBP
• Unknown Riders

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The New Forest boasts an impressive array of uncommon and special butterfly species. Being...

Five species of deer found in the wild in the UK call the New...

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The New Forest National Park has over 30,000ha of open access countryside and 325km...

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New Forest Tour

Enjoy grandstand views of the National Park from the open top New Forest Tour each summer.

Choose from three scenic routes around magical landscapes, picture postcard villages and popular attractions such as Exbury Gardens and the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu .

Hop on and off the New Forest Tour where you like and switch routes – all on the same ticket. You can even bring your bikes (up to four carried free). Also, well-behaved dogs are welcome.

• Green Route: serving Hythe & Hythe Ferry , Lymington, New Forest Adventure Golf ,  Beaulieu , Exbury Gardens , Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst
• Red Route: serving Burley, Ringwood, Fordingbridge, Sandy Balls , Ashurst, New Forest Wildlife Park and Lyndhurst
• Blue Route: serving Brockenhurst, Burley, Hoburne Bashley , New Milton, Barton-on-Sea, Shorefield Country Park , Milford-on-Sea and Lymington.

Please note that the New Forest Tour is a seasonal service and runs this year from Saturday 1 July to Sunday 17 September.

Added extras

• each route has a special commentary about the landscape, history and culture of the national park.
• you can travel for free on either Hythe Ferry or a connecting bus service to access the Tour
• discounts at Beaulieu National Motor Museum, the New Forest Wildlife Park, Exbury Gardens and local businesses participating in the Go New Forest discount card scheme.
• New Forest National Park residents can download the morebus app and gain 25% off the daily ticket price

So take a look at www.thenewforesttour.info for full route details and book your ticket.

The New Forest Tour – helping you and helping our environment

The New Forest Tour is a key part of our aim to encourage more people to leave their cars at home. Over 40,000 people explored the New Forest National Park on the New Forest Tour bus instead of by car last summer.

The three scenic routes saved an estimated 220,212 private car miles last year, even on a reduced operating schedule. The Tour also provides a boost to local businesses. Last year, it contributed an estimated £660,000 to the New Forest economy while stopping at local villages and attractions.

The Tour stops at local cycle hire centres within the Forest. With each Tour able to carry up to four bikes, it gives access to the area’s quiet country lanes and 100 miles of waymarked cycle tracks .

The Tour is operated by morebus in partnership with the New Forest National Park Authority and is sponsored by local businesses.

Gillie Molland Lead Ranger

'To reduce the risk of damaging wildfires, campfires or BBQs are not permitted in the New Forest.'

More New Forest Family activities

The New Forest is a wonderful place for families to enjoy time together.

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Open-top New Forest Tour returns for 2022 season – New Forest National Park Authority

DISCOUNT FOR LOCALS Great to see the return of the New Forest bus tours, with a 25% discount for local residents. The New Forest Tour starts back on Saturday! The open top bus is just the ticket for exploring this beautiful area. Leave the car behind and hop on! Find out about the residents’ discount too! 👇

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New Forest Tour returns with highest demand ever expected

The New Forest Tour, operated by Go-Ahead owned Morebus and Bluestar, is set to return on May 29 in partnership with the New Forest National Park Authority.

With demand expected to be “higher than ever”, an extended season will run until 12 September to support the economy and reduce traffic in the National Park.

The tour is part of the Park Authority’s aim to encourage people out of cars while in the area. New Forest National Park Authority Chairman Gavin Parker says last year it saved an estimated 61,800 private car miles last year, despite operating on a reduced schedule, while injecting £274,800 into the New Forest economy.

Meanwhile, Morebus and Bluestar Managing Director Andrew Wickham says work has been underway to ensure buses are safe for duty. That includes stringent cleaning regimes with particular focus on touch points, socially distanced seats and driver screens.

“This is wonderful news for the area’s tourism industry, and for the New Forest’s retail and hospitality businesses,” he adds. “Our team is very much looking forward to helping people enjoy privileged views of the National Park’s many gems – from wandering ponies and quaint villages to the dramatic purple heathland and sparkling blue coastline.”

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Green tour: New Forest’s scenic, coastal open top bus

Green route from the new forest tour.

• This route serves Attractions
• This route serves Forests
• This route serves the Seaside

The original tour of the New Forest - travelling through the most glorious scenery in Hampshire - and you get to experience that from the top deck of an open-top bus!

The new forest tour will return in 2024.

The New Forest Tour runs during the summer only - check back in May for details of when the New Forest Tour will return for 2024. Subscribe to our newsletter to be kept up to date!

Does this service run all year or seasonal

This is a Summer only service

Route frequency

Buses run roughly hourly every day of the week

Concession passes

Sorry, we don't know about concessionary bus pass acceptance on this route.

Places to visit & things to do along the way

Brockenhurst

New Forest Adventure Golf

Hatchet pond.

Exbury Gardens

Beaulieu Road

Green route :  lyndhurst to lymington & hythe loop via brockenhurst, beaulieu & exbury gardens.

The original tour of the New Forest – travelling through the most glorious scenery in Hampshire – and you get to experience that from the top deck of an open-top bus!

Timetables & more:

For more information about this service visit the website or call on 01202 338 420 .

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Fares, tickets & passes to enjoy your day out

Concessionary bus passes.

Sorry, we don't currently have any information about concessionary bus pass acceptance on this bus route.

1 day ticket »

Best for: a day out.

Valid for one day's travel on The New Forest Tour routes. Ticket also gives discounts to various attractions in the New Forest .

Any 2 out of 5 day ticket »

Best for: a couple of days exploring.

Valid for two days travel in any 5 day period on The New Forest Tour routes. Ticket also gives discounts to various attractions in the New Forest .

Any 5 out of 14 day ticket »

Best for: a week's stay in the forest.

Valid for 5 days travel in any 14 day period on The New Forest Tour routes. Ticket also gives discounts to various attractions in the New Forest .

Lyndhurst is often referred to as the ‘capital’ of the New Forest. The Court of Verderers has been held here since medieval times – making it the longest-running court in the country – controlling the number of ponies which can graze in the Forest.

Right beside the Tour stop is the New Forest Visitor Centre (free entry) – with museum, gallery, information centre, and shop – a good place to plan your New Forest adventure.

Hire bikes from The Woods Cyclery

Brockenhurst sits right in the heart of the Forest, so it’s a great place to hop off the Tour to hire a bike and try out one of the many off-road cycle routes into the Forest.

Cyclexperience  operate cycle hire and are based by the rail station (across the footbridge from the New Forest Tour stop).

The historic market town of Lymington, with its charming cobbled streets and old buildings, is a great place for a spot of shopping or a meal out. Its location at the mouth of the Lymington River has resulted in a colourful history of smuggling, shipbuilding, and sailing. Watch fishing boats and yachts coming and going from the Quay.

The picturesque 7000-acre estate and village of Beaulieu is home to the National Motor Museum (20% off) with one of the world’s greatest car collections, including the legendary Bluebird.

You can also wander through the peaceful ruins of Beaulieu Abbey and the splendour of Palace House, seat of the Montagu family.

An easy walk or cycle away along the Beaulieu River is the historic hamlet of Buckler’s Hard, where they built the ships for Nelson’s navy.

Stretching across 200 acres of woodland,  Exbury Gardens  (20% off) are home to an extraordinary collection of plants and trees from all over the world, as well as the narrow gauge Exbury Steam Railway. Enjoy colourful summer blooms, shady riverside walks and delightful picnic spots.

Next stop is the waterside village of Hythe, where you can stroll the promenade and ride on the world’s oldest pier train. Take a trip across to Southampton on Hythe Ferry (20% off) and back to get up close to the liners and cruise ships and hop on the next Tour.

Then we head back toward Lyndhurst, across vast heather heaths past the remote Beaulieu Road station, where pony sales are still held five time a year.

This listing was last updated on 3rd November 2023

We can't guarantee that all information on this website is 100% accurate. You must always check with the operator's website before travelling. We can't be held responsible for any costs incurred because of inaccurate or misleading information. For more information, please read our terms and conditions .

New Forest sightseeing bus An open topped tour you can hop on, hop off too!

      New Forest Sightseeing Tour Bus 01 July 2023 until 17 September 2023 No more tours for 2023  

The New Forest sightseeing bus in this stunning UK National Park is called the New Forest Tour . It makes exploring and discovering this UK National Park so easy. It helps keep the forest "green" as less cars travel over this beautiful environment too.

My biggest tip?

The New Forest sightseeing bus tour really does cover an awful lot of this wonderful area. It's a bit like if you visit Disneyland - there's so much to see and enjoy but if you don't plan it you can miss bits which you may regret later.

Study the 3 routes below, see where they stop and decide if you want to get off and explore and visit certain areas. Then decide if you will have enough time to pack it all in. You can buy multiple days which is good and during your ride on the New Forest sightseeing bus you wont have to drive, find a parking space or even pay to park either! 

How great is that - and you're being very "green" so well done you.

Why do I recommend the New Forest sightseeing bus?

I'd really recommend a day out on the New Forest Tour sightseeing bus. It's open topped and is hop on, hop off and you can take your bike! Sit upstairs if you can.

I haven't done the tour for a few years now but see the buses trundling along throughout the summer with happy visitors taking in the views. Make sure you check with the latest routes etc from the New Forest Tour website

  Read my archive info on the   New Forest Tour Bus Review and also my New Forest Tour Red Route Review. Look at the photos and see what it's like to explore the New Forest from the open top deck! We're all trying to make the New Forest greener so please help by taking the New Forest Tour! New Forest Tour Bus 2023 dates . This year there are 3 New Forest Tour Routes starting on Saturday 01 July to Sunday 17 September. Additional stopping places to enjoy farm animals, wildlife and the Hythe ferry have been added as the New Forest National Park is trying to become as "green" as possible and discourage as many cars as is feasible from cruising around the forest. Green Route   2 hour duration approx

Travels through Lyndhurst - Holland's Wood campsite - Brockenhurst (mainline rail connection)- Lymington - Beaulieu (National Motor Museum) - Exbury Gardens and steam train- Hythe and  Hythe Ferry  (connects to Southampton) - Debden Purlieu - Beaulieu Road rail station - Lyndhurst.  Red Route    2 Hour 15 mins 

I took this tour a while ago, so read where I discovered in my review !

Lyndhurst - Helmsley tea Rooms - Burley (Queen's Head pub) - Ringwood - Fordingbridge - Sandy Balls Holiday Village - Brook (Green Dragon pub) - Cadnam Stores - Ashurst Post Office - Longdown Activity Farm - New Forest Wildlife Park - Ashurst rail station- Lyndhurst.

Blue Route 2 hours 5 mins

Brockenhurst rail station - Helmsley Tea Rooms - Burley Queen's Head pub - Thorney Hill Crossroads - Bashley Rising Sun pub - Hoburne Bashley Caravan Park - New Milton rail station - Barton on Sea Beachcomber Cafe - Shorefield Country Park - Milford on Sea Needles Eye Cafe - Keyhaven Road Memorial - Lymington High Street - Brockenhurst rail station.

 New Forest Tour updates and offers

• New Forest Tour customers can enjoy some bargains. You could discover the whole of the New Forest by bus if you planned your trip using the booking offers.
• Visitors from Southampton can enjoy a free cruise across on Hythe Ferry to join the Tour in Hythe, when they buy a New Forest Tour ticket from Hythe Ferry in Southampton.
• Tour passengers can also enjoy free bus travel to and from Salisbury, Southampton and Bournemouth on selected scheduled services. Simply buy your New Forest Tour ticket on scheduled bus services leaving these locations.

Here's some helpful info

• New Forest Tour Bus info
• Routes  
• Fares  

Looking at the prices I think you can really have some good days out by planning your routes and buying a 2 day pass or more. It can get you right round the New Forest seeing all the sights at a good price. By the time you take petrol and car parking into account you may save money! Don't forget it stops at most of the major campsites and you can take your bike too.

Here's what the New Forest sightseeing bus can offer you on your days out  

This really is a New Forest sightseeing bus! Open topped views of villages, woodland, beautiful coast, heaths, and all the animals are fantastic. I found you can be really nosy on that top deck and peek into gardens - don't tell anyone.

Circular tour with stops in Brockenhurst, Lymington, Beaulieu Village and the chance to stop off and visit the National Motor Museum, Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway and Lyndhurst.

Hop on, hop off - there are stops throughout the circular route to get back on the bus again - we stopped off at Lymington for an hour.

Pick ups outside Hollands Wood and Denny Wood campsites - very handy for a fun day out from camp.

The audio guide gives you a really interestin g insight into this stunning UK National Park.

The Brand New Forest Card gives you discounts on attractions, gifts, local food and produce and cream teas too!

Discounts and offers to various places you stop at on the way and a half price offer on your next trip on the New Forest Tour Bus.

The New Forest Tour Bus Guide gives a chance to explore on a couple of walks - the map is included in the guide - and a 6 mile cycle route which you may want to explore on your day out.

Glorious views throughout the journey across the fantastic New Forest landscape mean you really get to explore a nd understand this wonderful landscape and wildlife haven fully. Find out where and read my New Forest review

The New Forest sightseeing bus tour - why did we love our day out?

We really enjoyed our day out on this fantastic New Forest sightseeing bus. It was good value for money because

• We travelled over a wide area which you could explore at your leisure
• We were totally "green" and environmentally friendly
• No traffic jams in our car
• No car park fees
• Freedom to hop on, hop off and walk or cycle
• Discounted entries etc
• A real insight into the New Forest UK National Park
• You see far more from the open topped seats than a car - the views across lots of the open New Forest were spectacular

I hope your stay in the New Forest UK National Park is a truly memorable one and that you see lots of the wonderful wildlife sights on offer and learn and enjoy all about this beautiful landscape.

It can't get much better than an open topped, hop on and hop off sightseeing bus can it?

Enjoy your New Forest sightseeing bus Tour experience and come back soon!

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Working for wildlife in the New Forest National Park

Guided wildlife tours

We offer a wide variety of guided wildlife tours in and around the New Forest to suit all ages and abilities, including regular scheduled walks and private bespoke tours. We also offer seasonal walks, focussing on topics as diverse as bird song, bats, and fungi, as well as wildlife identification workshops and shorter walks aimed at kids and families (including our popular Halloween walks).

We have a 5* Trip Advisor rating, see our latest reviews here

Welcome to the New Forest Walks

Our scheduled ‘Welcome to the New Forest’ walks depart from main Forestry England car parks across the New Forest and serve as a great introduction to the New Forest. These shorter walks generally take place in the afternoon and are designed to take in a mix of habitats while discussing all aspects of the New Forest, from its rich and varied history to management and conservation, and of course the important role of free-ranging livestock in making the New Forest the wonderful place it is today. Our Welcome walks are 1.5 hours and the cost for adults is £12.50, with children under ten going free.

New Forest Discovery Walks

Our scheduled New Forest 'Discovery' walks depart from or close to the main hubs of Brockenhurst, Burley, Lyndhurst and Lymington (see map here ), and provide an excellent introduction to the New Forest and an opportunity to see fantastic scenery and wildlife, while learning about the special qualities of the New Forest and responsible recreation. All hubs have convenient parking and toilet facilities, a wide range of accommodation, cycle hire and café options, and Brockenhurst and Lymington are also accessible by train. Our Discovery routes all take approximately 3 hours, but we apply a flexible approach depending on weather conditions and what wildlife appears! Costs for adults range from £17.50 - £20  per person, with children aged ten and under going free.

" Our walk with Marcus around Lymington Marshes yesterday was great. Lots of interesting snippets of information about the area and clues to identification of species. Of course, the weather was glorious too, and so thoroughly  enjoyed ". Karen and  David, Sept 2020.

New Forest Explorer Walks

Our scheduled New Forest 'Explorer' Walks are typically about 5-8 km long and 2-3 hours duration, and provide  opportunities  to explore and learn about some of the New Forest's special habitats and species through the seasons. If you want to explore parts of the the New Forest you haven't  visited   previously , or want to learn more about seasonal wildlife on a  regular  route, then these walks are  for  you!  Costs for adults typically range from £12.50 - £17.50 per person , with children aged ten and under going free.

" Thank you for leading this morning’s Fungi Explorer Walk. It was such an interesting experience with a wonderful variety of fungi and other insights into that area of the New Forest. Birds, butterflies and history too. I really enjoyed it all. Easy to book and clear instructions for everything " . Sheila,  Oct 2020.

Beaulieu River Boat Tours

Operating out of Bucklers Hard on the Beaulieu River our boat tours give the rare opportunity to explore this beautiful and secluded  corner of the New Forest. Most trips operate at low tide when the exposed shoreline is bustling with feeding waders and wildfowl, while the river is home to a broad range of species. The trips offer a good chance of seeing White-tailed Eagle and Grey and Harbour Seals, while enjoying the stunning scenery of the Beaulieu River. Cost for adults and children is typically £35, we will occasionally run longer trips across to Newtown Harbour on the Isle of Wight. Tea/Coffee and cakes are provided - note there are no toilets facilities on board.

" A truly incredible outing and a definite to do again and again!! Thank you Marcus!! " Wendy, Jan 2022

New Forest Private and Bespoke Guided Tours

In addition to the scheduled walks above, we also offer private and bespoke walking and cycling tours at competitive prices (on foot or by bike), which are suitable for individuals, families or small groups - if you are interested in a private tour, then please phone or email for further details.

" Very many thanks for such an enjoyable, wonderful and inspiring morning - it was like having a completely new dimension added to our patch! Really look forward to following Wild New Forest in the future, and hope we might organise a similar walk again in the future ". Andrew and Jenny, Apr 2021.

All of our wildlife walks are at a relaxed pace, but guests will need to have a reasonable level of fitness in order to complete the advertised route in the allocated time. Dogs and children are welcome on our walks, subject to the terms and conditions, which are available at the bottom of the page.

Our upcoming tour schedule can be found here  and can be booked via our online booking pages  here . Joining instructions, including directions to the meeting point for your tour, will be provided by email once your booking is confirmed and  normally  within 48 hours of the tour date.

Why choose Wild New Forest?

All tours are led by the Wild New Forest Directors, Russell Wynn and Marcus Ward, who have over 50 years experience in wildlife survey, monitoring and photography in the New Forest National Park; click  here  to find out more

All of our New Forest tours are operated under Forestry England permit, and are designed to minimise impacts on protected habitats while maximising opportunities to enjoy great scenery and encounter exciting wildlife

We are members of GO New Forest and are experienced tour leaders and public speakers, with full public liability insurance, outdoor first aid training, and recent advanced DBS checks

Wild New Forest CIC is a not-for-profit company, so by supporting us you are also supporting frontline wildlife research and conservation work in the New Forest; click  here  for examples of our research and see our blog  here  for details of our recent activities

We work with Forestry England, the New Forest National Park Authority and other forest organisations to support responsible recreation in the New Forest. We therefore promote and ask our clients to follow the New Forest code below:

What will I need to bring?

For both walking and cycling tours you will need appropriate clothing, ideally using a layering system with a light base layer, warm mid-layer, and waterproof shell. For walking tours, we recommend walking boots or sturdy trail shoes, and note that  some winter  routes may require wellies or waterproof boots (see route details on the booking page to check) . 

In bright, sunny conditions at any time of year we recommend using sunscreen, wearing suitable headwear, and reducing glare with sunglasses. In winter, gloves and a hat will help to reduce wind chill.

You will need sufficient drinks and snacks for a two- or three-hour tour; there are no facilities on the route, so we recommend bringing at least 0.5L of water and enough food for a couple of snack stops.

Binoculars are recommended, but don’t worry if you don’t have any as there will still be plenty of wildlife to see and hear at close range! Keen birders may wish to bring a scope for the Lymington walk.

For cycle tours you will need a mountain or gravel bike with suitable tyres for loose gravel trails. Please contact us for recommended bike hire outlets in all four of the New Forest hubs where we operate tours. Helmets are compulsory - spare inner tubes, puncture repair kits and basic bike tools are strongly recommended. Dogs are not permitted on cycle tours. 

Terms and conditions ​

Clients must disclose any pertinent medical information at the time of booking, to ensure their safety in potentially remote areas of the New Forest where help may be more than 30 minutes away; this includes asthma, diabetes and heart/lung conditions. Clients must also be sufficiently fit to complete the advertised tour within the advertised time.

We will automatically delete all clients’ medical data after 21 days. Clients retain the right to have their contact and other personal details removed from our records after 21 days in line with GDPR requirements - any retained data will be held securely in line with GDPR requirements, used for internal Wild New Forest purposes only, and solely for the purpose of improving future tour provision (note that Wild New Forest CIC is registered with  the  Information Commissi0ner's Office).

Clients can cancel bookings up to 48 hours for a walking tour and 7 days before a boat tour commences and will be offered the opportunity to rebook or be fully refunded. If clients cancel within 48 hours (7 days for a boat trip) of their tour commencing, we will offer the opportunity to rebook or will endeavour to sell the available slots in order to offer a full refund, however, clients will not be eligible for a refund if both of these options are not possible.  

We will usually cancel tours if weather conditions are forecast to be potentially dangerous or unsuitable for viewing wildlife, e.g. Met Office weather warnings for high winds, lightning storms, and/or heavy precipitation (rain, sleet, snow, hail). We will not cancel tours in the event of light rain or showers, so waterproofs and suitable headwear are strongly recommended! In the event of cancellations, we will endeavour to contact clients asap using the details provided. 

The New Forest is a working forest, and we monitor the latest Forestry England updates regarding car park and trail closures (e.g. due to pony drifts or tree felling operations) to minimise disruption to our tours. However, we reserve the right to alter tour routes and meeting places at short notice due to circumstances beyond our control and will endeavour to contact clients asap using the details provided.

Dogs are welcome on our tours but must be kept under control and on a lead at all times (with respect for social distancing measures). Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs, so please bring you own poo bags and dispose of them responsibly!

Children are welcome on our tours but must be accompanied by an adult, capable of walking or cycling the advertised distance (or being carried as appropriate) and kept under control at all times (with respect for social distancing measures).

We reserve the right to refuse clients who deliberately breach the New Forest code or any of the conditions listed above

Disclaimer: Wild New Forest maintain an up-to-date risk assessment for all guided walking and cycling tours and apply a consistent, professional and evidence-based approach to client’s health and safety. However, clients agree to participate in Wild New Forest tours at their own risk and are responsible for their own health and safety, including provision of suitable prescriptions for medical conditions. In addition, Wild New Forest does not accept liability for any loss, theft or damage to personal property or effects.

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The New Forest Tour 2022

upcoming Edition

The New Forest Tour

Saturday 17 Sep 2022 - Southampton

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