Autumn in the New Forest

A very good time to visit the forest

Date

16 / 10/ 2026

Category

Family experiences, New Park Manor

Misty mornings, muddy walks and a few rather unexpected forest residents.

There's a lot to be said for the New Forest in autumn. The summer crowds have thinned, the trees are turning and the ponies are going about their business, apparently oblivious to how picturesque they're being.

And then there are the pigs. Every autumn, they're turned out into the forest to forage for acorns, doing a rather important job while making an ordinary woodland walk considerably more entertaining.

The 'ber months have a certain appeal, and the New Forest makes a particularly good case for embracing them. Think beautiful walks, excellent pubs, misty mornings and the pleasure of coming in from the cold when you've been outside for a few hours.

The best autumn walks

There's no shortage of places to see autumn colour in England, but the New Forest has a character all of its own. Ancient oak and beech trees give way to open heathland, little streams and ponies grazing wherever they please.

October is particularly lovely. The bracken turns rusty brown, the woodland takes on shades of gold and the low afternoon sun makes even an ordinary walk look rather beautiful.

Try Bolderwood for winding woodland paths and the chance to spot fallow deer, or Rhinefield Ornamental Drive for towering redwoods and some particularly impressive trees.

Staying at New Park Manor? You can walk straight from the hotel into the forest and on to Brockenhurst in around 45 minutes to an hour. A rather satisfying way to earn a coffee.

About those pigs...

Every autumn, the New Forest's commoners release pigs into the woodland as part of a centuries-old tradition called pannage. Their job is to eat fallen acorns, which are poisonous to the ponies and cattle that graze in the forest.

There's something wonderfully incongruous about coming across a pig rummaging through the leaves on an otherwise peaceful walk.

Children tend to find the whole thing fascinating. Dogs are often rather interested too, although it's best to keep them well away. These are working animals, not a petting attraction.

Pannage generally runs from September into November, so if you're visiting, keep your eyes peeled.

A very good lunch

One of autumn's great pleasures is a morning outdoors followed by a very good lunch.

Brockenhurst has a lovely village atmosphere, with ponies occasionally wandering through as if they own the place. Lyndhurst is worth a wander for its independent shops and cafés, while Burley has traditional tearooms and some beautiful woodland walks nearby.

And if the weather turns? All the better reason to find a table somewhere, order something warming and stay a little longer than planned.

What about the kids?

Bringing the children to the New Forest requires very little organising. There's no elaborate itinerary needed to enjoy a morning spotting ponies, collecting conkers or investigating a woodland path. A pair of wellies and something to carry the inevitable collection of sticks will generally do.

For something a little more organised, Exbury Gardens offers beautiful autumn colour and a miniature steam railway, while New Forest Wildlife Park is a good choice for little animal enthusiasts.

At New Park Manor, there's an indoor pool, cinema room and Four Bears Den for younger guests. Which means that after a morning in the forest, the children can head off to play while you disappear to the spa for an hour or two.

Warm water, chilly air and autumn leaves outside the hot tub. Not a bad arrangement.

Bringing the dog?

You could make a convincing argument that autumn is the best season for dog walking. Cooler air, beautiful trails and enough interesting smells to make even a short walk take considerably longer than anticipated.

For a change from woodland, try Hatchet Pond and Beaulieu Heath, where open views stretch across the water and surrounding heathland. Bring a decent coat, particularly on those misty mornings. Just remember that ponies, cattle and pigs share the landscape, so keep dogs under close control.

Make a few days of it

The New Forest is easy to reach from London, yet feels pleasantly removed from city life once you're there. You can spend hours exploring the woodland, or take your time over lunch in one of the villages. And with New Park Manor as a base, there's a warm pool, good food and a comfortable bed waiting when you return.

Pack your wellies, bring the dog, and leave a little room in the boot for everything the children will insist on bringing home.