If you’re into outdoorsy kinds of activities and want somewhere peaceful to take walks and explore in the UK, you should consider the New Forest. Tucked away in the south of England, the New Forest is home to some lovely walks, beautiful views and some very friendly wild ponies.
We went for a weekend of autumnal walks and whilst the weather occasionally gave us a shower or two, it was still pleasantly warm as we strolled through the trees.
The highlight of the trip was that the New Forest is (I believe) the only place in the UK where there are wild ponies. These amazing animals can be spotted in the forest as you walk around. It’s not a guarantee that you’ll see them, but we can across them on four separate occasions. It was an exciting experience to suddenly hear galloping and horse sounds to alert you to their being near by.
As these are wild and powerful animals I’d recommend caution approaching them, and I made sure to remember the old advice not to stand directly behind a horse in case it bucks like the children’s game buckaroo. You don’t want a couple of horse feet to the face!
But I was happy when a couple approached to say hello. As someone who loves animals it was such a unique treat to see them in the wild.
There are also wild deer in the area but these are much more timid and weary of human interaction. Beyond this there are plenty of squirrels and you may catch glimpses of other woodland animals in the forest.
Another highlight was visiting the area of the forest with the Tall Tree trail. This is a place where you can see giant redwood trees which you’d have more expectation to see in the United States. The trees we saw were impressively tall, but don’t expect to see trees that are as thick as houses.
Visiting the New Forest in the autumn is a treat and is plenty big enough so you can easily find places for some peace and quiet as well as areas that are busier with people enjoying the air and finding picnic spots.
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