Experiences

For those wishing to develop their skills, fly or coarse fishing tuition can be arranged during your stay. As with everything at the cottage, tuition is tailored to your requirements, and available one-to-one or for groups of up to six guests - bait and licences are included. Coarse fishing runs from 16th June to 14th March, while salmon and trout fishing is permitted from 1st April to 30th September. No fishing is allowed between 15th March and 1st April.

Known for their striking black-and-white markings and close-knit family groups, badgers are peaceful yet elusive creatures, rarely seen in the wild. Unlike traditional hides, this Nature Hide in the New Forest also features a reflection pool, creating a really beautiful setting for photography. The hide is designed with both comfort and practicality in mind, with seating for two guests, professional gimbal setups for cameras, remote flashes, and power for charging devices. There’s also tea and coffee making, and an adjacent toilet. If you are bringing a camera, lenses between 100mm and 400mm are best, and the hide’s equipment is compatible with most major camera brands.

Every tour begins with a conversation. Book your tour along with your stay at the cottage, and we’ll contact you to discuss your interests and tailor the day around what you’d most like to see and explore. Your tour could include one or more themes such as: Birds and Birds of Prey - including rare and protected species. From kingfishers, owls and woodpeckers in the cottage’s garden to rarer species such as woodlark, nightjar, Dartford warbler and honey buzzard, the Forest is home to them all. You’ll learn to identify birdsong and begin to understand what their different calls reveal. Overhead, look out for buzzards, goshawks, hobby hawks, and hen harriers, with the Avon Valley a regular hunting ground for birds of prey, including white-tailed eagles. Wildflowers, Butterflies & Dragonflies - Summer brings swathes of pink and lilac heather, wildflower meadows, and over 700 species of beautiful flowering plants, including the tiny bog orchid, sundews, and wild gladiolus. 55% of the UK’s butterfly species and 74% of Britain’s dragonfly and damselfly species thrive here. Definitely bring your camera! River Wildlife - The Hampshire Avon is teeming with life. Where conditions allow, take a quiet trip out in the cottage’s rowboat, which offers a unique vantage point for observing birds, riverbank and aquatic wildlife from a whole new vantage point. Practicalities - Tours with our naturalist move at a relaxed pace, are dog-friendly, and suitable for children. They each include a pause for either a light lunch with a prepared picnic or homemade cakes and refreshments in a beautiful setting along the way.

Whether you’re completely new to photography or an experienced photographer looking to refine your shots, you’ll come away with a greater understanding of how to capture wildlife, birds and flora with lots of creative inspiration. With our expert photographer, you’ll venture to quiet corners of the New Forest and learning how to photograph surreal macro images and fast-flying dragonflies, to rutting deer and sculptural compositions of velvet antlers. Draw inspiration from vivid carpets of bluebells and wild orchids and create evocative portraits of the forest’s famous ponies and their foals. You’ll develop a deeper understanding of wildlife behaviour, techniques, composition and storytelling through the lens, transforming what would be a lovely photo into a real gallery-worthy image.

Led by an experienced forager, these walks take place in carefully chosen locations in and around Undercastle Cottage and the New Forest, and can be enjoyed as either a morning or afternoon experience. These delicious days are designed for one to six guests, welcoming children and dogs along the way. From delicate elderflower blossoms to vibrant hedgerows heavy with their harvest, you’ll be introduced to wild flavours that range from savoury, earthy and unexpected to dense, sweet and tart. Depending on the time of year, you may encounter wild garlic carpeting the woodland floor, peppery sorrel pushing through the leaf litter, edible flowers and blossoms such as violets and red clover, along with seasonal greens, nuts, and wild herbs, including thyme, mint, and fennel. Add to that plump sloes destined for gin, damsons, juicy berries and a wealth of hedgerow finds. Mushrooms and fungi play a starring role in this region from April through to December, with species such as oyster mushrooms, ceps, chanterelles (girolles), parasol mushrooms and beefsteak fungus, as well as the frilly hedgehog and cauliflower fungi. Throughout your walk, there is a strong emphasis on responsible, sustainable foraging. It’s important to leave plenty behind for our wildlife, pollinators and future growth, ensuring nature’s delicate balance remains undisturbed. The reward is a thoughtfully gathered selection of seasonal ingredients to take back to the kitchen at Undercastle Cottage! It’s here, with a little imagination, the day naturally continues around the dining table, sampling the wild and wonderful flavours you’ve discovered.

Available throughout the year for guests and their dogs staying at Undercastle Cottage, led by a highly experienced truffle hunter and trainer. The training focuses on practical, hands-on exercises for you and your dog using truffle scent and a range of materials in the gardens of Undercastle Cottage. You’ll find out how dogs learn scent, how training naturally progresses, and what to look for when working in the wild. Dogs of all ages can learn how to hunt for truffles, not just puppies, and many go on to successfully find truffles when they get home. The training is entirely bespoke and individual for one dog or up to three dogs, each with a handler.