Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you should skip a winter break in the New Forest. With glittering frost on the trees and peaceful, crowd-free trails, January is one of the most tranquil times of year to explore – the perfect moment to slow down, reset and experience the Forest at its quietest.
Cosy Dining
January is a wonderful time to warm up and enjoy some of the incredible food the New Forest has to offer. From country pubs with roaring fires to relaxed restaurants serving locally sourced produce, there are plenty of inviting spots to refuel after a winter walk or day of exploring. Here are a few favourites to add to your list.
The Pig – Brockenhurst
Set in a beautiful country house surrounded by gardens, The Pig is known for its ’25-mile menu’, with dishes created using ingredients grown on site or sourced from nearby producers. It’s the perfect place to settle in for a comforting lunch or evening meal, with seasonal flavours and a relaxed, rustic atmosphere that feels especially cosy on a winter day.
The Montagu Arms – Beaulieu
Located in the historic village of Beaulieu, The Montagu Arms offers classic country dining with a focus on high-quality, locally inspired dishes. So if you stop in for lunch, afternoon tea or a special occasion meal, it has a warm, refined feel – ideal for a slower, more indulgent outing during your January stay.
The Noisy Lobster – Avon Beach
For something a little different, The Noisy Lobster brings coastal dining into the mix, with fresh seafood, seaside views and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. It’s a lovely spot for a bracing winter walk along Avon Beach followed by a hearty meal or coffee stop, making it a great addition to a day out during your New Forest break. If you don’t fancy sitting inside to eat, they also have a takeaway hatch so you can enjoy your seaside feast from the comfort of your car or find a bench to watch the waves break.
With comforting pub lunches, refined dining or a laid-back coastal food stop, the Forest is full of places where good food and winter cosiness go hand in hand!
Use winter to relax & restore
The New Forest is home to some truly wonderful spas, and adding a little time for relaxation can really elevate a winter break. Perfect for unwinding after a long walk or simply treating yourself to a slower pace, a spa visit is a lovely way to start the new year feeling rested and recharged.
Careys Manor SenSpa – Brockenhurst
Careys Manor’s SenSpa is an award-winning Thai-inspired spa with hydrotherapy pools, tranquil relaxation areas and a wide range of treatments. It’s a calming, atmospheric space that feels especially soothing in winter – switch off and taking a proper pause here during your trip.
Chewton Glen Spa – New Milton
Chewton Glen combines luxury country-house surroundings with stunning wellness facilities, including saunas, steam rooms, a large swimming pool and relaxation lounges. Set on the edge of the Forest near the coast, it’s a beautiful place to slow down for a few hours and enjoy an indulgent afternoon.
Lime Wood – near Lyndhurst
The Herb House Spa at Lime Wood is surrounded by woodland and has a peaceful, nature-led feel. With its rooftop herb garden, indoor and outdoor relaxation areas and warm, inviting pools, it’s a wonderful spot for a serene mid-winter escape or a quiet wellness day during your stay.
No matter if you book in for a full day or a few hours of relaxation, these luxury spots offer the perfect opportunity to relax, restore and ease gently into the year ahead.
Explore artisanal shops and local produce
It’s no secret that the Forest is home to some fabulous food and handmade goods that you can only find here. A January visit is the perfect time to seek out these local favourites and enjoy a true New Forest experience.
1. Setley Ridge Farm Shop
Just a short drive from Setthorns Campsite is the village of Brockenhurst, which is worth a wander in its own right. But for food lovers – and anyone keen to taste locally produced goods – a visit to Setley Ridge Farm Shop is a must. Setley Ridge produce their own wine from their on-site vineyard, and the shop stocks not only their bottles but a fantastic selection of produce from across the Forest. You’ll also find drinks from Pig Beer, another independent producer based in Brockenhurst, along with locally made chutneys, preserves and sweet treats. If you’re more interested in fresh produce, Setley Ridge also stock dairy from Briddlesford Farm Dairy on the Isle of Wight, including milk, cheese and other farm favourites – ideal for building the ultimate New Forest feast or stocking up for your stay.
2. Lymington Market
Held every Saturday on Lymington High Street between 08:00 and 15:00, this historic market is a brilliant place to browse, taste and take home produce from across the Forest and surrounding areas. On a typical Saturday you’ll find over 100 stalls selling everything from olives, breads and pastries to pies, handmade goods and artisan treats – and if you bring a cool box, you can even pick up local meat, fish and cheese. Once you’ve explored the market, you can continue your day with a stroll along the High Street, wander down to the quay, or explore the cobbled side streets and independent shops. From Setthorns, it’s easy to turn a visit to Lymington into a full day out.
Walk the quiet trails
Across the Forest you’ll find a real mix of landscapes to explore – towering evergreen pines, ancient oak woodland, wide heathland views and quiet gravel tracks. With the trees bare and the air crisp, winter is one of the best times to take in the scenery and spot ponies, deer and birds along the way.
A great place to start is Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, home to some of the tallest and most impressive trees in the Forest. The main trail is a steady, scenic wander beneath giant redwoods, with smaller paths branching off through peaceful woodland. It’s a lovely route for a calm winter walk and feels especially atmospheric on a frosty morning.
Another popular spot is Bolderwood, where you’ll find several clearly marked circular trails through beech woodland. The routes vary in length, so you can choose a shorter loop or extend your walk further into the inclosures. It’s also one of the best areas for quietly spotting deer and ponies along the way.
If you prefer more open scenery, Wilverley Inclosure offers wide heathland views with sections of woodland around the edges. Walks here feel spacious and exposed to the elements in the best way – big skies, rolling heath and long views across the landscape – making it a brilliant choice for a refreshing winter wander.
These walking areas are some of the best places to experience the New Forest at its quietest in January.
For those staying at Setthorns
One of the biggest perks of staying at with us is that you don’t need to get in the car to enjoy the Forest – many of the best walks begin right from our campsites. You can take gentle woodland loops ideal for a slow morning stroll, or head out on longer trails that lead deeper into the landscape, where the only sounds are birdsong and the crunch of frosty leaves underfoot.
If you fancy stretching your legs a little further, you can even walk directly into the nearby village of Sway. It’s a lovely route that takes you through quiet woodland and open clearings before arriving at the village centre, where you’ll find a handful of shops, a café, and The Silver Hind pub – perfect for a meal or a well-earned drink.
One popular route from the campsite is the Setthorns Loop, a relaxed circular trail that winds through pine woodland and heathland, offering plenty of opportunities to spot ponies and other wildlife along the way. It’s ideal for a calm winter wander, whether you’re exploring solo, visiting as a couple, or bringing the dog along for some fresh air and open space.
With its peaceful surroundings, wildlife on your doorstep and miles of trails to explore without stepping near a main road, Setthorns really comes into its own in January – the perfect base for a quiet winter escape in the New Forest.
Nature spotting
With the landscape quieter and the foliage thinner, it’s often easier to spot animals and birds that can go unseen during the busier months.
Across the open heathland and woodland you’ll often see the New Forest ponies grazing peacefully, along with donkeys in some of the villages and roadside verges. You may also be lucky enough to glimpse fallow deer moving quietly between the trees at dawn or dusk, when the forest feels at its most still and atmospheric.
For bird lovers, winter brings some wonderful sightings. Keep an eye out for robins perched on frosty branches, flocks of fieldfares feeding on berries, and buzzards circling overhead. Around wetlands and streams like at Keyhaven Marshes, you might also spot egrets or herons standing silently at the water’s edge.
If you’re staying with us at Camping New Forest, many of our campsites put you right in the heart of these habitats, meaning you don’t need to go far for a memorable wildlife encounter – sometimes you’ll spot something special before you’ve even left your pitch. Be reminded though that the only location open during the winter is Setthorns Campsite.
As always, remember to follow the New Forest Code – enjoy the animals from a distance, keep dogs under close control and stick to marked paths where possible.
A quieter way to experience the New Forest
Sometimes the best way to enjoy the New Forest is when things slow down a little – quieter trails, unrushed meals and time to simply be outside and take it all in. Book your escape today!
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