When thinking about a trip to the New Forest, we highly recommend you leave your usual mode of transport behind (i.e. the car) and take in the beautiful scenery and nearby attractions by foot, bicycle or a New Forest bus tour, which is an increasingly popular way to experience the awe and wonder that the New Forest offers. A New Forest bus tour also means avoiding traffic, parking and the other stresses that come with navigating unfamiliar roads and areas in your car.
If you’re staying with us in one of our beautiful hotels within the New Forest Collection, the team will always be on hand to ensure you get the best out of your trip. In the meantime, take a look at the options for New Forest bus tours – and we promise you’ll have a break to remember.
What better way to witness unparalleled views, wild ponies, quaint villages, historic sites and glorious landscapes, than on top (weather permitting) or inside a New Forest bus tour?
Once a royal hunting ground, the New Forest is steeped in history and cultural heritage and has 621 listed buildings to explore. Home to incredible landscapes, and natural habitats including woodlands, heaths, bogs and mires, farmland, grasslands and coasts, The New Forest is a haven for wildlife and livestock – all of which are waiting to be discovered during your tour of this beautiful part of the country. What are you waiting for? Hop on (then hop off) and get ready to witness all this and more.
New Forest Bus Tour Companies. Here are our top three suggestions if you’re considering a bus tour as a way of exploring the New Forest National Park and its surrounding areas.
If you’re keen to explore the beauty of the New Forest with knowledgeable tour guides and New Forest locals, a New Forest tour bus could be perfect for you. You’ll pass through an expanse of heathland, woodland, and picturesque villages in Hampshire. These hop-on, hop-off tours provide an immersive experience of the New Forest’s natural beauty and charming towns, allowing visitors to create their own itinerary and discover hidden gems at their own pace!
Where the Bus Passes Through
The New Forest Tour, operated by Morebus, offers three scenic routes that traverse the heart of the National Park:
Red Route (Wild Northwest): This route takes you through the wild and rugged landscapes of the northern New Forest, where you can spot wild ponies roaming freely and admire the ancient woodlands. The route passes through Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, and Minstead, offering opportunities to explore quaint villages and historical sites.
Green Route (Beautiful Southeast): This route showcases the gentler side of the New Forest, with its tranquil waterways, rolling hills, and picturesque villages. The route passes through Lymington, Beaulieu, and Exbury Gardens, providing opportunities to enjoy coastal views, visit historical attractions, and immerse yourself in breathtaking gardens.
Blue Route (Coastal Loop): This New Forest bus tour route combines the best of both worlds, offering a mix of wild landscapes and coastal charm. The route passes through Brockenhurst, Burley, Milford-on-Sea, and Lymington, allowing you to spot ponies grazing on heathlands, explore coastal towns, and enjoy stunning sea views.
If you’d like to hop on and off of these exciting New Forest tour buses, tickets start at just £14 for children and £28 for adults.
Using the same ticket, this service allows passengers to hop on and off wherever they like, catch the next tour, or even switch between routes. New Forest Tour also has a handy audio tour whilst on board, so you can listen to stories about the people, places and animals of the New Forest bringing your view and the journey to life even more.
New Forest bus tours run daily, with a choice of three routes: Red (the wild northwest), Green (the beautiful southeast) and Blue (the coastal southwest) with ticket prices from £17 per adult, £9 per child and for groups of 5 from £42.
Buster’s Forest Explorer bus tour is another hop on/off option for exploring the natural beauty of the New Forest. With services operating in and around Christchurch to Ringwood, Buster’s New Forest Explorer travels between Christchurch, Highcliffe, Bransgore, Burley and Ringwood and operates daily in the summer months.
Buster’s Adventure tickets can be purchased online and on the app, and are valid across the whole network (zones ABC), including new summer services – Buster’s Beach Bus and Buster’s Forest Explorer. Fares start at £15 an adult ticket, £11 per child ticket and £28 for groups.
A slightly alternative option but one that a small group may prefer when visiting this part of the world is via New Forest Platinum Tours.
Groups of seven and fewer can experience this small family-run business which offers private tours and executive transportation promising comfort, style and privacy. There are various guided tour options from a one-hour ‘Forest Appreciation’ Tour to the popular four-hour ‘Heart of the Forest’ Tour, all presented in an informal and relaxed way. More personalised tours that are tailored around time constraints and must-see lists can be arranged with New Forest Platinum Tours too. Top tip: If you’re staying in one of the hotels within the New Forest Collection, they will collect and return you to your home away from home.
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