It’s time to lace up your walking boots, grab a flask of coffee and head out for a wander beneath the fiery foliage of the New Forest National Park. The crisp autumn air feels comfortable for walking, and the coming weeks are perfect for hikes over the heather. Walk amid a kaleidoscope of bold seasonal colour, from luscious deep greens, bursts of sizzling reds and bright orange, to mellow yellows and pale pinks.
October and November are wonderful months to come for a break in the New Forest and book a stay in a gorgeous cottage with ponies plodding past your window. Autumn in the New Forest is the time of year when the scenery dramatically transforms, leaves crunch and crackle and wildlife gather the last of nature’s harvest. Don’t forget to bring your dog too, because the New Forest is one of the most dog-friendly walking areas in the UK and we have plenty of dog-friendly cottages to choose from.
Knowing where to go to see the forest in all its full autumnal glory makes such a difference, between a beautiful colourful day and a dull, drab walk. Take a look at some of our favourite walks this autumn…
Wilverley Plain
Enjoy a circular walk in and around Wilverley Plain. Start in the large, well-marked Wilverley Plain car park near the village of Sway. Walk through landscapes sprinkled with ponies grazing and across a vast grassy plain bordered with luminous woods and enclosures in their finest seasonal colours. See the full route.
Cottages near Wilverley Plain walk
Walnut Tree Cottage, sleeps 6
This spacious cottage dates back over 500 years. The exposed wall and ceiling beams, wonky walls and wood burning stove oozes character and plenty of charm.
Highway Cottage, sleeps 4
The views from this topsy-turvy home are mesmerising. You’ll see ponies grazing outside your window and the woods beyond as a flamboyant backdrop of colour.
Rockford Common
A beautiful part of the New Forest with tranquil woods, ponds and streams reflecting the season’s vibrant colours in the water. This route offers hallucinatory vistas from Ibsley Common – don’t forget to take your camera. See the full route.
Cottages near Rockford Common
Marshlands Cottage, sleeps 3
Little Marshlands Cottage is cute as a button and super homely. There’s a superb pub The Bat and Ball a short toddle along the road.
West Wing, sleeps 6
West Wing will have you in raptures! This luxury pad is a stylishly restored portion of an historic Georgian Grade II Manor House. The rooms are big – the lounge even has a grand piano! Expect elegance and rooms furnished with comfort in mind.
Denny Wood
This wood is where Mother Nature really shows off her brazen, confident colour palette. It’s an absolute must for leaf lovers. Autumn is also the rutting season. Keep an ear to the ground for the forest’s red, fallow, and Sika stags engage in bellowing “belling”, clashing horns and fighting for supremacy in the mating battle. See the full route.
Cottages near Denny Wood
Heywood Cottage, sleeps 3
You’ll love returning from a walk through the leaves to this enchanting 2-bedroom dinky cottage with its lovely log fire and deep squishy sofa!
Forest Cottage, sleeps 5
Stay in the epitome of a traditional thatched New Forest cottage. It is as pretty as a picture and surrounded by open forest.
Fritham
Walk through gorgeous woodland around Fritham, punctuated with viewpoints across the forest landscapes. Look around you to see smudges of gold and red amongst the dark greens of towering evergreen trees. You’ll see plenty of grazing ponies, abundant birds and milieu of wildlife along the way. See the full route.
Cottages near Fritham
Gateways, sleeps 8
This cottage beams with personality and character. It’s big, friendly and includes a ground floor ensuite bedroom – perfect for a multi-generational family.
Oak Tree Cottage, sleeps 7
A terrific cottage in the heart of Burley village where ponies wander the high street. Inside you’ll find two cosy wood-burning stoves, comfy seating and plenty of space to sprawl out.
The New Forest Walking Festival
Definitely come and stay for the New Forest Walking Festival which takes place from 12th October until 3rd November. The festival hosts over 75 guided walks throughout the forest led by experts who can tell you all about the heritage, nature, history and wildlife as you go along. The length of the walks varies enormously, you’ll find plenty that are short ambles, wheelchair and buggy friendly as well as much longer walks for those looking for more of a challenge. Read more about the New Forest Walking Festival.
For woods with wow factor, book a stay in one of our gorgeous New Forest Cottages and spend your days out and about on leaf-crunching walks, long lazy pub lunches and a front-row seat to see nature’s spectacular autumn show.
See our portfolio of New Forest Cottages here.