New Forest, Hampshire

sc0ttie

sc0ttie

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I have a 4 day stay at the New Forest planned for Feb, just wondered if anybody has some tips for locations in or around the New Forest?
 
I live in the new forest myself. Where abouts are you staying as I can give you some locations based.on that. What type of thing are you looking to capture? Buildings, landscapes, seascapes, animals or a bit of everything?
 
When in Feb are you staying? You have the obvious landscape and nature shots in the New Forest but the weekend Friday 24 & Sat 25 is round 1 of the British Rally Championship, if you are in to motorsport.
 
SJD2011 said:
I live in the new forest myself. Where abouts are you staying as I can give you some locations based.on that. What type of thing are you looking to capture? Buildings, landscapes, seascapes, animals or a bit of everything?
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Will be staying down near christchurch way. I would be interested to know any lesser known locations and where I am most likely to find groups of wild ponies, deer etc.
 
Theres a deer sanctuary - Bolderwood deer sanctuary thats also in a nice area of the forest for walks. Ive seen fallow deer wandering past there before when you're out walking. There are, I think, hides to go and view the deer also. There used to be a white hart I think although not sure he's still around or not.
Oh and a car park handy as well.
 
Ponies, cattle, including shaggy highland cattle and donkeys roam around in most places - you'll see them grazing in wide open grassy areas. Donkeys - usually around Beaulieu, on the road out towards Exbury and Hythe. Deer are also plentiful, but timing's more important. Around dawn and dusk when they move to and from their daytime resting places to their nighttime grazing areas is best. From Christchurch travel up toward Lyndhurst and about 3 miles south of Lynhurst turn right into the Ornamental Drive (also known and Rhinefield Road). There are fallow and red deer around there - including white stags. I watched a herd of fallows with about 5 white ones last spring - beautiful. Sadly never got close enough to use 200mm lens!

Other photos - Christchurch is picturesque, as is Lymington - both have harbours, Georgian buildings, interesting architectural detail etc. From Lymington you can take the ferry over to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. Mudeford is good for harbour, fishing activities, wide bay with sandy beach and views across the Solent to the Needles. Barton-on-Sea is good for views of the Needles too, from the cliff tops.

Because the ponies roam around it's hard to say where's best, but if you want to pm me a couple of days before you arrive, I'll let you know what there is around Brockenhurst where I live.

I hope the weather's kind to you. :)

Jean
 
Ponies are everywhere, it will be more of a challenge to get a pic without one!
 
This is the sort of information I was after, Thanks Dorset Dude and Jean i will PM you around the 9th. Many thanks :)
 
Birds : good spot if you like birds is Blashford Lakes, just off A31 at Ringwood. This chaps website will give you a good idea of the diversity http://www.geoffdore.com/gd/showcases/blashford/blashford-index.htm
captive birds - Libertys raptor centre near ringwood, new forest wildlife park near Ashurst

Deer : as already mentioned, Boldrewood/Rhinefield/Canadian War Memorial areas are good, but New Park has a herd that you can often see from the road when driving by... not as picturesque as the other areas though. I don't think they're doing the 'afternoon feed' at the Boldrewood viewing station until later in the year.

Water : Hatchet Pond for a sunset, definitely a favourite! http://www.flickr.com/photos/fudgepuddle/6532351633/in/set-72157628594813625

Street : Lymington has a market on saturdays, always lots of hustle & bustle going on, and the quay is at the bottom of the high street. I think Christchurch has a weekday market too, and you can visit the priory

pm me if you want more info, and enjoy your visit! :)
 
There is also Hengistbury Head and all along that particular coast - Barton on Sea, Milford on Sea etc for seascapes. Hengistbury head is also a nature reserve so you can get some different birds there....not sure there will be many about in Feb though!

Beaulieu also has the Motor Museum if the weather isnt proving kind - this would be a brilliant place for macro!

Bucklers hard just to the north of beaulieu also has a lovely little village - and they do river boat tours (depending on the tides) which can prove interesting.

Also, if you want Donkeys/ ponies, there is a lovely quaint village called Burley between Lyndhurst & Ringwood - ponies always seem to lurk there and there is some lovely landscapes too around that area.

Enjoy your visit - I never realised there were so many people from the NF on this forum.....makes me think that we should arrange a meet??? :thinking:
 
HopefulM said:
Water : Hatchet Pond for a sunset, definitely a favourite! http://www.flickr.com/photos/fudgepuddle/6532351633/in/set-72157628594813625

Street : Lymington has a market on saturdays, always lots of hustle & bustle going on, and the quay is at the bottom of the high street. I think Christchurch has a weekday market too, and you can visit the priory
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Christchurch market is Mondays - I haven't been for ages, but it was quite small compared to Lymington's. And New Milton has one on Wednesdays, but at this time of the year I wouldn't describe it as 'bustling'. :lol:

I think Maria's right about there being no feeding at Bolderwood at the moment.

I never thought about Hatchet Pond (near Beaulieu on the Brockenhurst/Beaulieu road)! :bang: That's a lovely pic, Maria. :)

If you go to Mudeford you can walk along the beach and up the cliff to Highcliffe Castle (or you can drive there, of course) but it's a nice walk.

Jean
 
jeangenie said:
New Milton has one on Wednesdays, but at this time of the year I wouldn't describe it as 'bustling'. :lol:
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New Milton.. Bustling.. Maybe with yoofs when they're not in the rydal arms :D

I'd have to agree with hengistbury head, ornimental drive over in Brock (don't drive up the railway crossing on your way through like someone recently). Christchurch quay was quite nice last time I went that way.
 
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