The New Forest With over 150 square miles of ancient woodland and heath land and 26 miles of coastland and beautiful rivers, there's lots of things to do in the New Forest and it offers some fabulous activity choices. Many visitor simply enjoy the New Forest walks.
New Forest Cycling
With miles and miles of quiet roads and endless New Forest cycle tracks that wend through Forest enclosures, it’s no wonder then that New Forest cycling is one of the favourite leisure activities. This is a great family activity and you can hire cycle trailers that will accommodate either a baby or a dog. There are cycle hire shops in Burley and Brockenhurst.
FOREST LEISURE CYCLING
Traffic free New Forest Cycle Hire from the unspoilt village of Burley. Rides for all ages and abilities on stunning New Forest cycle routes.
Open All Year Round - Online Booking - Free Parking - 01425 403584
Click Here
Horse Riding
If horses and open countryside are your passion the New Forest should be at
very top of your list. Here you can ride for miles without meeting anything except
New Forest ponies, deer and pigs! There’s an excellent selection of horse riding
stables to suit the nervous novice to the experienced rider. You may like to
try your hand at Western riding over the open Forest. Whatever your
preference it’s all here in the New Forest.
You and your horse can stay in horse friendly accommodation in the New Forest.
On the Water
You can paddle your way in a canoe or kayak up and down the pretty Beaulieu River past the historic Bucklers Hard village. There’s good instruction and equipment available from Liquid Logistics and many corporates use this facility for team building exercises. Near Fordingbridge you can water-ski, skate board or experience a banana boat ride on one of the picturesque man made lakes. Many visitors and locals like to take a boat trip from Lymington Quay to see the famous ‘Needles’ off the Isle of Wight. Wightlink Ferries run from Lymington across to the pretty harbour town of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. Those wanting to visit Hurst Castle should make the Hurst Castle ferry ride a ‘must’. Sailing fans should head for Lymington where there is an excellent Yacht Club that offers tuition and sailing trips. 
Golf
The New Forest is a golfer’s paradise with courses in Brockenhurst, Burley, Bramshaw, Lyndhurst, Lyndhurst, Parley and Hamptworth, as well as several on the nearby Isle of Wight. The scenery cannot be rivalled but remember some of these courses are ‘shared’ with the resident New Forest Ponies. If you feel your game isn’t quite up to par on the open golf course, try your hand at Golf Cross in Bashley, New Milton, where you can practice hitting balls to your heart’s content into nets.
Fishing
Budding and experienced fishermen have the choice of the coarse fishing in rivers such as the River Avon and River Stour, salmon and trout fishing on the River Test or mixed fisheries and coarse fishing lakes. There’s also an opportunity to enjoy beach casting say on Milford beach or deep sea fishing (mackerel, cod, whiting, rock salmon and bream) where boats can be hired from Hythe and Lymington etc. Angling tuition for all levels is also available in the New Forest.
Other activities
You can swing through the Tree Tops at Go Ape! at nearby Moors Valley Country Park or visit the pretty harbour town of Christchurch where you can hire a boat or sno-bobb on the dry ski slope.There's lots of things to do in the New Forest.
Many visitors like to soak up the sun or body board on the forest’s beaches, or simply take their dog for a walk in the forest. Whatever your choice of activity you can be sure to find something that suits you in the New Forest.
Over 90,000 visitors a year flock to the fabulous 3 day New Forest show. Here you can see the New Forest at its best with horse classes, country pursuits, ferret racing, David Beckham Academy, main ring displays, champagne stands, food tents, New Forest art pavillions, a New Forest country pub and hundreds of trade stands. There's always the main New Forest show display such as the Shetland Pony Grand National. The New Forest Show is dog friendly genuinely has something for everyone. The New Forest Show offers free parking and is on the 28th, 29th and 30th July 2009. You are advised to book your New Forest accommodation in advance before visiting the New Forest Show. Why not rent a New Forest cottage? See our New Forest Accommodation section. | 
