Threepenny Copse

A proper woodland walk rather than a formal visitor attraction, Threepenny Copse is one of those places you stumble upon while exploring the New Forest from Brockenhurst. The trees here are old and dense - beech and oak mostly - and in autumn the leaf cover is thick enough that you lose the world outside. There's no visitor centre, no car park with facilities, just woodland as it should be.

It's genuinely worth the detour if you're the sort who likes getting lost for an hour or two among the trees. The floor is soft underfoot, trails wind through without too much faffing about, and it's quiet in a way that makes you remember why people bother with forests at all. Children will manage it fine if they're the outdoor type, though there's nothing here to specifically grab their attention - no play equipment, no sculptures, no "experience". It's just trees.

If you're based at The Bay Colwell on the coast, Threepenny Copse works as a half-day inland diversion before heading back to the beach. The woodland sits well within the broader New Forest territory around Brockenhurst, so it slots naturally into a walking holiday. Allow two hours if you're ambling and want to explore properly, though you could crack it in forty-five minutes if you're just passing through. Best in autumn when the canopy is at its most atmospheric, and early morning when you might see deer. Free access, naturally.