New Forest this autumn - what's on!

For many, autumn in the New Forest is their favourite time of year. The crowds have long gone, Nature’s pantry doors are open, mushrooms and fungi are prolific, trees and bushes are laden with fruits – such as blackberries, sloes, crab apples and rosehips. The sun still shines and there’s an autumnal smell of damp leaves in the air from frosty mornings.  

Visitors can see native New Forest ponies don their fluffy winter coats, Pannage Pigs snuffling acorns and dabbled greens from summer morph in to a vibrant blaze of crimson reds and orange. Forget travelling thousands of miles to Americas New England for tree peeping and natural woodland beauty, come to the New Forest.

Take a look at our ‘Offers’ page and short breaks availability on individual cottage pages.

New Forest Foraging and Fungi Forays

Unless you really know what you’re looking for, we recommend you go on an organised walk with an expert – they’re great fun. Once professionally identified, you’ll have the most wonderful fresh feast to take back to your cottage for dinner! There are lots of companies and individuals who offer foraging walks on the web, but look around carefully as prices vary dramatically.

Take a look at:
Dial Cottage, Bransgore sleeps 4
Alexander Cottage, Pennington sleeps 4

New Forest Cider annual steam pressing weekend 15th & 16th October 2016

New Forest Cider in Burley hold an annual cider pressing day. Using apples from their own orchards, see how they make cider the old fashioned traditional way. There will also be country craft demonstrations, tea rooms enjoy one of the New Forest’s best cream teas and a wonderful farm shop.

Take a look at:
Heath View, East End sleeps 4
Bickton Mill, Fordingbridge sleeps 7

New Forest Walking Festival 15 – 30 October
For nominal fees, you can book on to dozens of walks of various lengths for all ages and abilities, led by the New Forest National Park authority and supported by experts in their field.  Learn about the forest’s heritage, wildlife, foraging, birds, history and quirky facts – there are also accessible walks and short strolls for all generations.

Take a look at:

Marshlands, Breamore sleeps 4
Fyfield, Everton sleeps 5

New Forest Food Festival 31^st October – 6 November
The first ever food festival looks set to ignite taste buds! There is a huge menu of events, tastings, tipples, live demos and markets, with many of the regions producers, artisans and restaurants creating seasonal menus and products.

Take a look at:
White Copse, Burley sleeps 8
Meg’s, East Boldre sleeps 2

Beaulieu Fireworks 29^th October
One of the biggest displays on the south coast. This year, the fireworks will be choreographed to ‘Music from the movies’. There will be a range of entertainment for the whole family including a fairground and live entertainment.