Staying in Southampton but want to see the New Forest

[wizardchess]

We have 2 nights booked in Southampton during October half term. Really we want to spend day times in the New Forest and keep Southampton for the evenings.
Which parts of the New Forest will be good for a visit near Southampton? Any recommendations?

Any of it. Lyndhurst is gorgeous (biased because I grew up there). Do you have a car with you? If so the ornamental drives at Bolderwood and Rhinefield. Bolderwood is home to the deer sanctuary and you can see them being fed at morning and evening points. There is also marked walks allowing for different levels of fitness on both areas. The Portuguese fireplace is just down the road too.

Lyndhurst (capital of the New Forest lol) has a visitor centre in the museum in the main car park with lots of info on things to do. The open top bus rides will be chilly now but a great way to see different bits of the forest.

Lymington is a nice visit, mixing a country town with the water.

You can drive into the Forest. There are hundreds of carparks that you can use and have direct access to the Forest and ponies. I think it’s pig season so the pigs will be out for the acorns in the enclosures soon. Message me if you want anything else xx

Pigs!! They are my favourite! I didn't know you could see them. Where would be the best place to see them? We do have a car. Happy to drive in and then do some walks. Just don't know where to start! I'll check out your suggestions thanks @Rachie1973

Southampton is really very close to the New Forest.

You've had good suggestions already, and I also love Lymington which is the coastal town, and Beaulieu which is a beautiful village with a river walk

(Just to provide some contrasts/variety)

(it's quite a few years since we last visited though so I can't remember details !)

Definitely fancy some coastal walks, thanks.
Also thinking a nice pub lunch as part of a walk wouldn't go amiss!

Lepe is really lovely. Lots of historic things there and you can almost touch the Isle of Wight. Nearby is Beaulieu and Bucklers Hard, places I've not been to since I was a kid but have fond memories of.
If you go to Boldrewood you might get to see the deer there at the viewing point. There are some lovely walks, with different trails for different distances.
If you want to see pigs go along the road from Landford to Brook as there are usually a lot along there, especially near St Peter's church just after Bramshaw. The church is on a bend and there are usually piggies wandering around on the road there.
Hope you have a great time. It's a fab time of year to see tne forest, with all the changing colours. Just be careful of the ponies. They can leap out of the hedgerows and trees along side the road

I honestly wouldn’t bother with a coastal walk if you want to see the forest. I’d drive to somewhere like Brockenhurst. There will be some nice walks from somewhere of the car parks near there. Somewhere like the Standing Hat car park, or the one near Aldridge Hill campsite. And go for a wander. You need to be in the actual forest. Definitely drive down the Bolderwood drive and go and see the Redwood trees there, there’s a nice short walk called The Tall Trees Trail.

The Oak Inn at Bank near Lyndhurst is a nice pub.

Walk between the High Corner Inn and the Royal Oak at Fritham for sure! It’s a quieter part of the Forest but absolutely beautiful and both pubs are fab!

The pigs are out for pannage at the moment, and there are usually lots of them around Brook / The Green Dragon pub.

Buckler’s Hard is nice, as is Lymington. You’ll get some lovely walks around Godshill, and there’s a good one near The Royal Oak at Fritham.

I live in Southampton. If you have got access to a car any of the forest would be easily accessible. Lymington is an easy train ride from Southampton (change at Brockenhurst.)

The recommendations above are all good. Exbury Gardens is also a lovely place to visit and could be combined with a coastal trip to Lepe. Highcliff is another good place for the sea.

Thank you so much for all the ideas! I will look into them all and make some plans!

Acres down is a great walk for seeing the pigs! There are different length walks on All Trails.

great suggestions already. Enjoy!

If you're going with kids, go to Moors Valley it's really fun
I'm a bit average about the new forest. It's just quite boring gorze and shit.

Totally agree with everybody says the coast is better. If you've got kids, they're gonna find the new forest really really boring. Once you've seen the horses and pigs and stuff it'll be just endless endless boring Green. Coast far more exciting.

The pub in Canada is nice. I can't remember what it's called
The village not country.

The rockingham arms?

that's the one