One trip. Two extraordinary places.

When planning a break on the south coast, it’s easy to feel like you have to choose.

Woodland walks or coastal adventures. Historic villages or seaside towns. Cycling through ancient forest or tackling breathtaking clifftop routes.

The good news? You don’t! Connected by a short Wightlink ferry crossing, the New Forest and the Isle of Wight complement one another perfectly. Together, they create one remarkable trip filled with spectacular scenery, outdoor adventures, local food, charming places to stay and plenty of opportunities to slow down and explore.

Love walking? You’ll find hundreds of miles of trails in both destinations. Passionate about food? From cosy country pubs to waterfront restaurants, there’s no shortage of memorable meals waiting on either side of the Solent. Looking for wildlife, culture or family adventures? You’ll find those too, in abundance.

Here you’ll find how easy it is to combine the New Forest and Isle of Wight into one unforgettable escape. Watch videos of other peoples’ travel experiences, favourite discoveries and inspiration below, alongside our itineraries to help you plan your visit.

One of the best things about combining the New Forest and the Isle of Wight is that there’s no single “right” way to do it.

Some choose to spend a few nights in each destination, creating one varied multi-destination holiday packed with coast, countryside, great food and outdoor adventures. Others choose to base themselves in the New Forest and hop across to the Isle of Wight for a day trip, while others do exactly the opposite. With regular ferry crossings making the journey quick and easy, experiencing both has never been simpler.

Either way, it’s surprisingly easy to build an itinerary that brings together two of southern England’s most loved destinations with all of your favourite bits. Here are a few ideas to get you started.