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National park in southern England
Photo: Jim Champion, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The New Forest is a major tourist area and a national park in Hampshire. It is immensely popular with British campers, as it is one of two national parks in the densely populated South East of England.
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Join naturalist Nigel and his wife Christine for a guided walk of the forest. They will tell you about local history, and help to spot and explain the wildlife you encounter. Each walk is 3-5 miles (5-8 km), and takes place at a different location and time of day. At the end of the walk, Christine serves up a sumptuous homemade three-course picnic (with sides!). Special diets accommodated. BYOB.
By train
Brockenhurst has a station on the mainline railway from London Waterloo to Bournemouth via Southampton, which is served by at least one fast train from each of those cities every hour.
By car
From the north and east, the New Forest is best approached by the M27 motorway. For Beaulieu leave the M27 at junction 2 and follow the signs.
By ferry
The Hythe Ferry operates a half-hourly passenger ferry and pier tram service across Southampton Water from Town Quay, Southampton to the small town of Hythe, on the eastern edge of the New Forest.
By taxi
There are a couple of local taxi companies providing local and long distance travel services from major airports, towns, bus and rail stations to New Forest.
By bus
Wilts & Dorset and Bluestar operate across the New Forest, including the New Forest Tour in summer.
By bike
With a good network of gravel rides and forest roads open to cyclists and walkers, but not to cars, cycling is a really good way to see the New Forest.
By bus
info for times.
By car
The road network within the New Forest is fairly limited in its extent, although all the major villages are served. The roads are quite narrow and can get busy.
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Southampton · Regional · SOU
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