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Most Forestry England Car Parks in the New Forest have now re-opened. See more information on our car parks page. Please ensure to follow government social distancing guidance and to behave responsibly when visiting. Please see here for further information about COVID-19.
Walking in the New Forest is an excellent way to truly to experience our ancient woodland, beautiful heathland, pretty villages and our 40-mile ‘secret’ coast. Anyone with a keen passion for walking will love the variety on offer here in the New Forest; 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, deer, and pigs during the autumn, on your travels around the national park. Plus, 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 walking break.
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. - Keyhaven Marsh (3.5 miles)
Perfect for families and also those with accessible needs. This 3.5 mile walk follows a lovely path along the coast, where you can enjoy breathtaking views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and the Needles. There's lots of wonderful bird life at Keyhaven Marshes for you to enjoy. - Burley Village Walk (4.2 miles)
Burley is a quirky village in ther New Forest, where you can find wonderful pubs and tasty handmade fudge. On this trail, you'll head out of the centre of the village and explore around the edge on a circular walk. Enjoy the gentle uphill climb along Castle Hill Lane, where you'll find amazing views across the Avon Valley. You'll also pass an ancient fort, open forest and woodland. - 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. - Avon Valley Walk (34 miles)
This one is for the real walking lovers. Starting outside of the New Forest in the historic city of Salisbury, going through much of our beautiful New Forest along the way, and ending up at Christchurch Priory. You'll pass through meadows, high chalk downland with incredible views, peaceful villages and you'll be sure to see lots of our New Forest wildlife along the wat too.
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. You can also explore our beautiful seaside on a coastal walk.
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. You may bump into some historic places whilst on your walk, check out our historic walks so you know what you're looking for before you head out!
The New Forest is the perfect place for a dog walk, so they can explore our woodlands, heathlands and grasslands too. There are lots of great walks that are great for your dog to burn off some energy and find lots of new smells! Please ensure you read the top-tips of how to protect the forest whilst on a dog walk before you visit. You can also find out lots of dog friendly pubs, cafes, accommodation and other activities and attractions too.
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.
Guided Walking in the New Forest
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. Wild New Forest operate daily tours around the New Forest, so you can join in on the fun walks, while learning more about our wonderful nature and wildlife, with their brilliant and knowledgable tour guides.
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.
what3words
We have added the 'what3words' location for the starting point of each walking route to the webpage for the seperate routes. If you haven't done so already, you can download the app of this fantastic mapping and directions system onto your phone. Look for 'what3words ///' on the walking route pages. See here an app guide on searching and navigating to a what3words address.
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.
