It is said that variety is the spice of life, and the age of learning holidays are all the rage. The New Forest is brimming with opportunities to both relax and broaden your mind without having to journey very far. A learning holiday is a terrific way to combine relaxation with learning or developing your knowledge and a new skill. You’re forced to put down your phone and switch your laptop off and focus on what you’re doing. Learning holidays are a speedy and very effective fast track to channelling your mind straight into holiday mode.
You don’t just have to stick to one thing either. Why not take part in two or three learning experiences that can last from a few hours to a full day? Some visitors go on holiday to purely relax, but perhaps the best times away from home are the ones where you return relaxed and re-energized. So why not learn something new or combine your hobby with a holiday?
You’ll need to contact each of the learning providers for more information and book.
Quirky Guided Walks
Thrilling and fun bat identification walks at dusk and New Forest birds and birdsong identification are just two sessions provided by Wild Heritage. How about taking a walk with an alpaca? Learn all about these amazing creatures, and selfie with their ludicrously cute faces. Book through Petlake Alpacas.
The Extraordinary World of Dragonflies
The New Forest is home to 74% of UK species of dragonflies and damselflies. Book a day-long trip with a local expert on how to identify and photograph these beautiful creatures. Book through New Forest Dragonflies.
Learn a New Skill on the Water
Get out on the ocean and learn the basics of sailing where local Olympic hero Sir Ben Ainslie trained. Sea Jay’s Solent Sailing School will teach you how to sail and offer refresher courses to those who need to brush up.
Kayaking on a lake or river is very different to Sea kayaking. New Forest Activities offer courses to teach you how to paddle out on the ocean.
Learn how to windsurf with lessons from ShoreSports, or master the art of the more sedate art of Paddle boarding with the New Forest Paddle Sport Company.
Ever wanted to learn to water ski? Ellingham Water Ski & Wakeboard Club provide lessons and coaching on a number of different water activities which include: water skiing, wake boarding, wake surfing, Barefooting and wake skating!
Learn a Curious Skill from the Past?
Yep, you’ll really need some tuition for these two medieval challenges- Cross Bow Shooting and Axe throwing! If you want something a little tamer and a hobby to continue when you get home at a local club, try your hand at Archery. Contact Insight Activities.
For History Buffs
Join fascinating walking town tours by local historians who love to share their knowledge about two of the most historically prolific towns in the area. Take a look at Lymington Town Tours and Christchurch History Society.
Get Creative
With thousands of ancient trees in the New Forest for inspiration, what would be more apt than learning the art of wood turning? Graham Turner Wood Turning provides ½ – 2-day courses at his studio in Sway. New Forest Pottery Time has a spacious studio where husband and wife Eric and Val offer students half and full day pottery courses.
Foodie Breaks
There’s no need to fly all the way to Italy to find truffles and go foraging for Mushrooms. The English Truffle Company will take you to ‘secret spots’, and show you what is safe to eat and how to harvest responsibly. They also offer foraging the seashore and countryside courses.
Make your own Perfume
Create your own signature perfume with Debi Mulkern, an experienced natural perfumier from New Forest Aromatics.
Stay in a New Forest Cottage, click here to see our collection of over 130 self catering holiday cottages in the New Forest.