Best Photography Spots in the New Forest
Artists of all mediums have loved, and will continue to love, the New Forest National Park. Not just for its ever changing colours, carpets of bluebells in Spring and heather in autumn, ancient woodland and the famous New Forest ponies, but for the inspiration that comes when you’re surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty and wildlife and the serenity of working creatively in such a magical place.
When it comes to photography there are endless spots to stop and capture in the New Forest, not to mention the proximity to the coast when you’re here, making it the perfect place for a weekend break for amateurs and professionals alike to wander to their heart’s content, camera in hand.
Our New Forest Hotel in Brockenhurst in the heart of the National Park is the perfect HQ for your photography escape. Grab your camera and step straight into a picture-perfect village and surrounding forests and heathlands, or jump in the car and go explore the surrounding areas. But where do the experts like to go to capture the wonderful wildness of this beloved National Park?
We caught up with professional award-winning Photographer Chris Button, to find out where his favourite New Forest photography spots are and why, so you can plan the perfect Photography escape.
Photographer Chris Button specialises in landscape and macro photography, his passion was born at University and during his travels to find rare birds, and he’s been taking photos ever since. See Chris’s wonderful collection at www.chrisbuttonphotography.co.uk.
Chris, where are your favourite New Forest photography spots?
Rockford Common, Ringwood
“The northern side of Rockford Common has a track that leads the eye right down into the valley, which can also fill with mist in the right conditions, and in August the heather is in flower here too.”
Ibsley Common, Ringwood
“At Ibsley Common there is a lovely single pine tree and in September, it’s surrounded by purple heather.”
Mogshade Hill, Lyndhurst
“In the Mogshade Hill area there is lots to photograph. The main pond with oak trees lined up along the edge looks great on a winter sunrise, as does the more secluded pond nearby. Also, you will see lots of lovely isolated silver birches, pine trees and an ancient oak.”
Hatchet Pond, Brockenhurst
“I like photographing at Hatchet Pond because the pine trees appear to be on an island and in the summer a sunset on a calm evening has beautiful reflections and colour as the sun drops below the horizon.”
Bolderwood, Lyndhurst
“There are various locations in Bolderwood including Mark Ash Wood and Knightwood Inclosure, where the beeches, birches and birch trees look fantastic on a foggy morning, and the colours in the autumn (around early November) look great.”
