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Welcome to The New Forest, where two legs are definitely better than four wheels if you truly want to experience all the great things we have to share.
Think ancient woodland, beautiful heathland, pretty villages and a 40-mile ‘secret’ coast, anyone with a keen passion for walking will love the variety on offer here.
We have more than 140 miles of tracks and footpath, where you can enjoy easy-to-follow walking routes, short strolls or long-distance trails.
One of the things that makes The New Forest so unique is to see thousands of free-roaming ponies, donkeys, cattle and deer on your travels around the national park.
The New Forest is very accessible so whether you are planning on arriving by car (we are less than one minute’s drive from the M27) or by train (just 89 minutes from London Waterloo) there are many places that you can use as an excellent base for your walk.
The New Forest National Park is a wonderful place to visit and you can help it stay that way by being a Forest friendly visitor.
To help ground-nesting birds rear their young safely, keep yourself, dogs and horses on the main tracks from the beginning of March to the end of July.
Top 5 places to go walking in the New Forest
With so many areas of countryside to explore, it’s hard to pick our favourites, however here are some of most popular walking routes you can find in the New Forest:
- Bolderwood: Radnor Trail (1.9 miles)
This fantastic medium walk passes through sweet chestnut, oak and beech dating from the 1860s. Head towards the beautiful Bratley Water, which makes for the ideal spot to rest and enjoy a picnic. The trail will then lead you to the Bolderwood deer viewing platform where you can often see Fallow Deer and at certain times of the day you can see them being fed by the local rangers. - Beaulieu to Buckler’s Hard (2 miles)
Perfect for families, this two mile walk follows along the beautiful Beaulieu River. Start your day with a visit to the amazing National Motor Museum, Beaulieu for a good couple hours of fun for everyone, then pick up the path taking you south to the old shipping village of Buckler’s Hard. At both ends of the route you will find places to eat or to pick up a snack, so it’s a nice easy walk for little legs. - The Burley Food Trail (3.3 miles or 5 miles)
On this trail, you’ll get the chance to experience a taste of New Forest Cider, traditional sweets and handmade fudge, whilst walking a 3.3 mile route. The route takes a circular journey starting in the village of Burley and out into the countryside along part of the disused railway line. If you are feeling energetic, the walk can be extended to 5 miles and takes in a visit to The Old Station Tea Rooms. For younger walkers, there are plenty of things to spot along the way including a ‘cob’ cottage made of earth, a witch on a broomstick and a large stone cross. - The Sea Air Trail (5.5 miles)
This walk takes in some of the long-distance Solent Way Walk. Beginning in Lymington, this routes takes you to Keyhaven. Along the way you will pass alongside the Lymington-Keyhaven nature reserve where not only can you enjoy some amazing views across to the Solent and the Isle of Wight, but an abundance of wildlife. Upon reaching Keyhaven it is possible to take a bus back to Lymington or why not extend your walk and take in Hurst Spit or to Milford-on-sea? - Lyndhurst on foot (8.5 miles)
Discover the ‘heart’ of the New Forest at Lyndhurst. What better way to do this than on foot! This circular walk extends through the parish of Lyndhurst and passes by several pubs, perfect for a break in your journey! A lot of the 8½ mile route is on the footpaths and bridleways which surround the town, with only small sections of the walk taking place on roads.
See how many New Forest ponies and other animals you can spot along the way.
This walk can be enjoyed all year around, although we would recommend that you wear appropriate clothing and footwear, particularly in the colder months.
Walking routes for all types of ability
The New Forest lends itself to all abilities of walker. If you are travelling with a family then look out for some of our shorter family walks including those suitable for pushchairs which can be seen below.
We have accessible walks for visitors with mobility problems including the Bolderwood Trails as mentioned above, the Rufus Stone walk and the Knightwood Oak trail.
There are wildlife walks for those who want to spot some of our fantastic flora and fauna on their journey including the 1.1 or 1.4 mile Reptile Centre walks near Lyndhurst and the Tall Trees Trail, at Blackwater.
There are many walks taking in some of our lovely towns and villages. Take a look at the various routes on offer below and soak up the atmosphere of the New Forest on your walk.
Fancy making a day of it? Check out our pub walks and enjoy a refreshing drink and some delicious local food on your journey!
If you prefer long distance walking routes then why not take a look at the 34 mile Avon Valley Path from Salisbury to Christchurch Harbour? As the name suggests, this route follows along the valley of the River Avon and passes through both Fordingbridge and Ringwood.
If you want to do an even longer walk then the Solent Way, is a 60 mile route from Milford-on-sea to Emsworth Harbour which follows along the waterway and passes through Lymington, Beaulieu and Hythe. If you don’t fancy doing either of these routes in their entirety then it is possible to break them down into shorter, more manageable walks.
The Forest has too many official walks to list, and the chance to make your own way across its thousands of acres is virtually limitless. So take a look at our guided walks, which have all the information needed to explore the picturesque countryside.
Don’t forget to keep your diary free for the annual New Forest Walking Festival too. Usually taking place for a fortnight in October, this is a great opportunity to join in on a variety guided walks across the Forest. Many of these walks are free or discounted if you arrive by public transport and are run by the New Forest National Park Authority. In 2017, over 70 different walks were on offer, with a various themes.
Making a break of it
Did you know that some of our hotels also have special walking holidays? Including great accessible routes from their location. Check them out and book your active holiday now.
