September is probably one of the best months to book a holiday to the New Forest for so many reasons: there’s still plenty of warmth in the air, the summer holiday crowds have gone, you can enjoy off-season prices, seasonal activities, and attractions are open, plus the nearby beaches are crowd-free. The list could go on and on, but here’s a low down of why The New Forest is, in our opinion, the best destination to visit in September.
If you’ve not visited this National Park before, you’ll be greeted by magical woods, heather-laden heathlands and ridiculously pretty villages. So, of course, you would expect to find deer and woodland wildlife here – and they are certainly plentiful. But this region is most famously defined by its thousands of free-roaming ponies and donkeys whose grazing has earned them the title ‘Architects of the forest’. You’ll see them all over the forest and ambling through the winding lanes where locals protect their pretty cottage gardens with sturdy gates and cattle grids.
For total tranquillity, simple and scenic walks and bike rides via the area’s extensive trail network offer the best opportunity to see birds and wildlife. However, in September, you may spot or hear the barks and clashes of antlers from enormous stags performing their annual herd hierarchy known as the rut. It’s a ferocious battle and one to stay a distance from, but amazing to watch.
When the first acorns start to fall in September, find a pew in one of the forest’s friendly pubs and sit back and smile out the window at the yearly avalanche of Pannage pigs. It’s an ancient tradition in the forest for locals living in homes with rights to pasture their animals on forest land. They let them free for 60 days to forage green acorns and beech mast nuts, which, when eaten in quantity by the ponies, make them ill. Pannage pigs trot carefree all over the forest, and you’ll see them in the villages and along the roadside snuffling as many nuts as they can, as quickly as they can!
Another part of this area’s charm is the unspoilt towns and villages such as Burley, Lyndhurst, Ringwood, Lymington and Beaulieu. Stray a mile or two from the National Park’s border, and you’ll find gorgeous towns like Christchurch with its weekly street market and imposing medieval Priory overlooking an immense natural harbour. It’s dotted with kayakers and paddle boarders (there are plenty of local providers hiring equipment) weaving between lines of gently bobbing sailboats.
Along the cliff-flanked coastline are plenty of beaches. Spend a day at Barton on Sea or Milford on Sea, smashing open fossil-filled stones and pebbles. Further along are the soft golden sandy beaches of Avon, Steamer Point (which is year-round, dog-friendly), Friars Cliff, and Highcliffe, each begging for a late summer swim with the option of a fish and chip supper before you leave. On the New Forest’s southern shores is the almost deserted Tanners Lane wild beach – often frequented by the forest ponies. Then to the east, are the beaches at Calshot and Lepe Country Park which are packed with historic artefacts and fascinating information plaques detailing the area’s role as departure points for the WWII D-Day invasions.
There are castles to explore as well. Highcliffe Castle is the former home of famous London retailer Harry Selfridge. Henry VIII built the coastal fortresses of Calshot Castle and Hurst Castle as defences against the French and Spanish, and they are well worth a look. Especially for the views overlooking The Solent and The Isle of Wight, where dolphins and seals play in the busy marine waters leading to Southampton Docks.
All the New Forest attractions are open in September, so if you fancy a day out, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Some of the main attractions include Beaulieu, Paultons Park – home of Peppa Pig World, The New Forest Water Park, Exbury Gardens and The New Forest Wildlife Park. A little further afield you’ll find Stonehenge, Monkey World, Bournemouth and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
The culinary scene in the New Forest matches that of any other destination in the UK. Flavours are top of the list in September as the forest starts to deliver its wild harvest. Chefs in the forest’s many gastro pubs and restaurants whip up a feast, celebrating the flavours of the season with a vast variety of wild mushrooms, berries, nuts and plants. Make sure you dine out as much as you can, or stock up at local farm shops to cook your own culinary creations.
And when it’s time to flop into a squishy sofa and recount the day’s adventure, head to a lovely New Forest Cottage as your accommodation. Enjoy the freedom of long lazy breakfasts in the garden, dine wherever you want, when you want, and sprawl out in plenty of space filled with comfort and homeliness.
The New Forest ticks pretty much all the boxes for a perfect holiday this September. All you need to do is set a date and find a New Forest Cottage to stay. See the full portfolio of New Forest Cottages here.