The New Forest

Tour Code: GBR07

A 2-night break exploring the New Forest's ancient woodland and lowland heath in search of a range of special birds and other wildlife.

3 days from
£550
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

The New Forest is one of the most ecologically important areas in Britain. It covers 144 square miles of Hampshire and Dorset, and includes Britain’s most important area of lowland heathland, as well as mixed forest and boggy hollows which together are home to a rich diversity of plants and animals. Moths, butterflies and dragonflies are here in abundance, and five out of Britain’s six species of reptile live among the mosaic of habitats. The New Forest is particularly well known for scarce breeding birds – Dartford Warbler, Woodlarks and Wood Warbler, to name a few. During this 2-night break we’ll go in search of as much of this ancient forest’s rich natural history as time allows!

  • Dusk displays of Nightjar & Woodcock
  • Crossbill, Hawfinch, Stonechat, Firecrest & Redstart
  • The New Forest is home to half the British population of Dartford Warbler!
  • Roe, Fallow, Red & Sika Deer
  • Listen to rare species of bats calling at dusk
  • Hobby, Goshawk & Honey Buzzard
  • Smooth Snake & Sand Lizard among the 6 species of reptile
  • Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, Siskin, Redpoll & Tree Pipit
  • Led by an expert naturalist guide

The New Forest is one of the most important ecological areas in Britain, its value having recently been officially recognised by its designation as Britain’s newest National Park. It comprises a vast area of rolling heathland, mixed forest and damp boggy hollows, covering some 144 square miles of south-west Hampshire and south-east Dorset. ‘The Forest’, as it is known locally, is still managed under a pastoral system, incorporating ancient grazing rights and periodic controlled burnings of the heathland. Indeed, it is this age old form of management that has both created and conserved the New Forest’s unique ecological richness and diversity. Over the past 150 years Britain has lost almost 80% of its lowland heathland and today the New Forest holds the largest and most important area remaining in the country. As a result it contains a huge variety of rare species of plants and animals. Amongst the insects, dragonflies, moths and butterflies are particularly well represented whilst five of the six British reptiles occur here, including the rare Smooth Snake and Sand Lizard. Roe, Fallow, Red and Sika Deer all graze the woodland edges and in terms of birds, the New Forest holds an unparalleled range of scarce breeders. These include over half of the total British population of Dartford Warblers (around 500 pairs), plus Woodlarks, Wood Warbler, Crossbills, Nightjars and raptors such as Hobby, Goshawk and Honey Buzzard. There is also a rich variety of plants, especially in the damper areas of heathland.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Meet in the evening. Excursion after dinner
Day 2
Bolderwood, Acres Down & Holly Hatch
Day 3
Islands Thorn Enclosure, Bishop's Dyke, Beaulieu Heath & Denny Wood. Depart for home mid-afternoon
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Accommodation:

    We stay in the Beaulieu Hotel near Beulieu. All rooms have private facilities.

  • Food:

    Breakfast and evening meals included. Allow around £10/£15 per day for a pub lunch.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Fri 8th May – Sun 10th May 6 £550
Book Tour Show Details
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£550
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£105
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Jonathan Mycock
TL Jonathan Mycock

Tour Leader: Jonathan Mycock

Jonathan is a professional conservationist with over 30 years' experience in nature conservation and environmental management. Much of this has been working in protected areas, including the Shropshire Hills & Sussex Downs AONBs and the Peak District, New Forest and South Downs National Parks. He gained a BSc Hons in Applied Biology from Liverpool John Moore's University, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Countryside Management from Manchester Metropolitan University, during the 1980s. His last position was Environmental Project Manager with the Environment Agency in Worthing, from which he retired in October 2023. 

Jonathan has been a keen naturalist from a very young age. He honed his birding skills on the moors, dales and reservoirs of the Peak District during his teenage years, together with regular stays at Spurn Bird Observatory. During this period Jonathan gained a detailed knowledge of the songs and calls of British birds which has stood him in good stead when undertaking bird surveys and leading guided walks.  

Jonathan has travelled extensively in Europe, Turkey, North Africa and the Middle East, The Gambia, India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, California, Costa Rica and Ecuador in search of birds and other wildlife. Since retiring he spent 3 weeks birding in Madagascar and a week in Taiwan, together with 2 weeks in the Canaries (El Hierro and Lanzarote). 

Jonathan has led tours for Naturetrek in the Dordogne, France; the Sorrento Peninsula, Italy; Sicily; the Carpathian Mountains and Danube Delta in Romania; and Finland and Arctic Norway. He has also led various UK tours, including in Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset and the Forest of Dean, as well as local day trips to Pagham Harbour and the Sussex Downs and Heaths. In his ‘spare time’, Jonathan is a voluntary warden at RSPB Pulborough Brooks and undertakes local surveys for the BTO and Sussex Ornithological Society. 

Fri 22nd May – Sun 24th May 4 £550
Book Tour Show Details
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£550
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£105
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Jonathan Mycock
TL Jonathan Mycock

Tour Leader: Jonathan Mycock

Jonathan is a professional conservationist with over 30 years' experience in nature conservation and environmental management. Much of this has been working in protected areas, including the Shropshire Hills & Sussex Downs AONBs and the Peak District, New Forest and South Downs National Parks. He gained a BSc Hons in Applied Biology from Liverpool John Moore's University, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Countryside Management from Manchester Metropolitan University, during the 1980s. His last position was Environmental Project Manager with the Environment Agency in Worthing, from which he retired in October 2023. 

Jonathan has been a keen naturalist from a very young age. He honed his birding skills on the moors, dales and reservoirs of the Peak District during his teenage years, together with regular stays at Spurn Bird Observatory. During this period Jonathan gained a detailed knowledge of the songs and calls of British birds which has stood him in good stead when undertaking bird surveys and leading guided walks.  

Jonathan has travelled extensively in Europe, Turkey, North Africa and the Middle East, The Gambia, India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, California, Costa Rica and Ecuador in search of birds and other wildlife. Since retiring he spent 3 weeks birding in Madagascar and a week in Taiwan, together with 2 weeks in the Canaries (El Hierro and Lanzarote). 

Jonathan has led tours for Naturetrek in the Dordogne, France; the Sorrento Peninsula, Italy; Sicily; the Carpathian Mountains and Danube Delta in Romania; and Finland and Arctic Norway. He has also led various UK tours, including in Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset and the Forest of Dean, as well as local day trips to Pagham Harbour and the Sussex Downs and Heaths. In his ‘spare time’, Jonathan is a voluntary warden at RSPB Pulborough Brooks and undertakes local surveys for the BTO and Sussex Ornithological Society. 

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

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