New Forest Family Walks

With vast areas of woodland and heath, the New Forest offers lots of walking opportunities perfect for families. We have miles and miles of footpaths and trails that take you away from traffic and into our gorgeous landscape. Whether you fancy walking along the seafront or through our luscious woodland, there is plenty to explore here by foot.

On this page, we list three of our most family-friendly walks that are on offer in the New Forest. The walks start from just two miles and take in some of the most scenic parts of the New Forest including the villages of Beaulieu and Burley and the shingle spit leading to Hurst Castle.

Family walks that we recommend include:

1. Bolderwood: Deer Watch Trail

This walk is just 0.3 miles, but it's a great day out with the kids as on the walk you will end up at Bolderwood's viewing platform, which overlooks the open forest where herds of fallow deer are regularly seen.

From Easter - mid-September the herd is fed daily by one of the Forestry England Keepers, so if you're lucky enough you'll get there just in time to see this!

Bolderwood is also a great place to enjoy a picnic and some field games with your family.

2. Godshill and Castle Hill

Explore the northern parts of the New Forest with your family. Follow easy trails through quiet fields and woodland, where you'll pass the site of an Iron Age Hill Forest and head up Castle Hill, where you can see gorgeous views across the forest, especially the Avon Valley, which is buzzing with wildlife.

You can either make this route an easy 2.6-mile route, or a little longer route at 3.6 miles with a detour. All the details are on the map!

3. Ashlett Creek to Calshot Spit

An easy 2.8-mile walk, starting from Fawley town centre and then following a lovely country lane to the small and historic inlet of Ashlett Creek. Along the way, you'll get to see fabulous views over Southampton Water.

Once you're through Ashlett Creek you'll go past the Jolly Sailor pub, stop off here for a refreshing drink and a snack. You'll also walk by a 19th-century tidal mill!

Fancy planning your own walking routes with the family?

We’d recommend you pick up a local Ordnance Survey map for the New Forest and/or suggested walking route guides from one of our local visitor information points or the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst

Keep an eye out for family-friendly guided walks in the New Forest as well. Our what’s on pages will detail any events like this that we know of. Locations such as Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve, Lepe Country Park and Moors Valley Country Park often run family-friendly guided walks in the school holidays where you can do a bit of nature spotting along the way.

It’s also worth taking a look at our accessible walks, as many of these are suitable for pushchairs or for little legs that aren’t able to walk quite as far!

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.

Your food and litter could harm the ponies and donkeys. Please take your litter home if bins are full.

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.

Wild New Forest - Wildlife Explorers Walk

Family walking routes to follow...

0.4 Mile On this walk you will end up at the wonderful Knightwood Oak, this tree is believed to be the largest Oak tree in the New Forest. Knightwood Oak is protected by a traditional cleft oak fence. Enjoy the surroundings on this very easy walk. Knightwood Oak Car Park…

1.1 Miles Starting point : New Forest Reptile Centre Car Park what3words ///oldest.brambles.bared Start and finish at the Reptile Centre near Lyndhurst on this circular walk and children’s sensory trail. The New Forest Reptile Centre is open all summer until the end of…

Distance: 0.7 miles (1.1 km) Start: Blackwater car park, Grid ref. SU 268 047 what3words ///crawler.secure.respected An easy waymarked circular walk through the Arboretum to experience the woodland and take in the variety of tree species. There are regular seats with…

1.9 Miles Keyhaven is approached from Milford on Sea. It is a small village with a very pretty harbour. There are easy walks along the sea wall with views of Keyhaven harbour, the Isle of Wight and Hurst Spit. The area is a good spot for bird watching. Keyhaven Car Park…

Distance: 2.6 miles (4.2 km) Start: Godshill Cricket Pitch, Postcode SP6 2LL what3words ///steadier.tingled.thanks This walk takes you along quiet field and woodland paths to the site of an Iron Age hill fort. It then continues to a stream-side hamlet on the edge…

Distance: 2 Miles Start: Starting point : Beaulieu Village Centre what3words ///cheetahs.swerving.mammoth One of the most popular routes for families is from beautiful Beaulieu to the historic Buckler’s Hard as the route follows a two mile footpath along fields and…

Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km)         Start/End: Lymington Town Railway Station, SO41 9AU what3words ///lives.notion.calendars A shorter walk packed full of local history. Visit St Barbe museum, the modern day quay and the bustling…

Distance: 2.5 miles (4 km) Start: Rockford Common Car Park, Grid reference – SU164083, BH24 3NF what3words ///spillage.spacing.legal Rockford Common is an area of open heathland and woodland, grazed by livestock belonging to local commoners. The area is…

Distance: 1.1 miles (1.8 km) Start: Blackwater car park, Grid ref. SU 268 047 what3words ///crawler.secure.respected This is an easy walk through woodland, passing through the Arboretum which houses a beautiful collection of trees from many countries. The walk…

300 Metres This is a New Forest Access For All route. This is an easy walk around the Pond, enjoying the views of the water.  Janesmoor Pond is located just south of Fritham on the road to Stoney Cross. what3words ///bachelor.tilting.gong Click for PDF of route and more…

1.9 Miles This is a New Forest Access For All route. Hatchet Pond is the largest area of fresh water in the New Forest, which is located just outside the quaint village of Beaulieu. It is very beautiful and can be enjoyed on this easy trail. There are benched along the way, where…

Distance: 0.3 miles (0.5 km) Start: Bolderwood car park, grid ref SU 243 086, no postcode. what3words ///shell.frog.reserving This very short stroll from Bolderwood car park leads you to a deer viewing platform overlooking fields where wild herds of fallow deer are…

Distance: 1 mile (1.6 km) Start: Bolderwood car park, grid ref SU 243 086, no postcode. what3words ///shell.frog.reserving Starting from Bolderwood car park this meandering route leads you past the deer fields and some majestic trees, the oldest of which date…

Distance: 4 miles (6.5 km) Start: Pollards Moor Road bus stop, Copythorne Grid ref. SU 303145, Post code SO40 2NZ what3words ///pink.confronts.songbook This walk starts by passing St Mary's Church before winding through Copythorne Common and its interesting mix of…

Distance: 1.9 mile (3.1 km) Start: Bolderwood car park, grid ref SU 243 086, no postcode. what3words ///shell.frog.reserving Once past the Radnor Stone, this trail passes through sweet chestnut, oak and beech dating from the 1860s. It then skirts the fenced boundary of…

500 Metres Cadman's Pool : what3words ///resurgent.bitter.flamenco This is a New Forest Access for All route. Great for picnics during your gentle walk, or just to sit and enjoy the view of the Pool.  Take a short stroll around Cadmans Pool and enjoy the…

0.2 Miles Starting point : Rufus Stone Car Park what3words ///kite.visits.cuddled This is a New Forest Access For All route. The Rufus Stone is a very short walk from the car park on a good gravel path and the legend on the stone is worth the effort. The Rufus Stone marks the…

This Town Trail around Ringwood’s old town centre, designated a Conservation area, has been compiled by The Ringwood Society.  We hope that this walk has encouraged you to take a closer look at Ringwood and to discover for yourself the attractions of our historic…

Distance: 1 mile (1.6 km) Start: Whitefield Moor car park, grid ref SU 274 026, no postcode. what3words ///ideas.dinner.ascendant Starting from Whitefield Moor car park, this walk passes along gravel tracks through a variety of habitats around Ober Water…

1.9 Miles Start : Hurst Road East Car Park what3words ///encroach.adhesive.bigger This is an Access for All Easy-Going Walk. Milford-on-Sea is on the New Forest boundary 4 miles south west of Lymington on the B3058. It has a shingle beach and great views of the Solent and the…

Distance: 2.8 miles (4.5 km)         Start: Fawley town square bus stop Grid SZ 458 032 Postcode SO45 1EA. what3words ///mountains.poppy.perfected This walk is great for families with young children, starting from Fawley town centre and following a…

Distance: 1.4 miles (2.3 km) Start: Blackwater car park, Grid ref. SU 268 047. what3words ///crawler.secure.respected Stimulate your senses on this short but wonderful trail around the Tall Trees Walks. This walk takes you past majestic conifers planted in the…

2 Miles Milford on Sea is on the New Forest boundary 4 miles south west of Lymington on the B3058. An excellent walk starting on a sealed surface of fine gravel embedded in tarmac, with wonderful views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight. Then following the more rural…

Distance: 1.6 mile (2.6 km) Start: Whitefield Moor car park, grid ref SU 274 026, no postcode. what3words ///ideas.dinner.ascendant Starting from Whitefield Moor car park, this walk takes you further along the Ober Water than the yellow route, giving more time to…

Distance: 3.5 miles (5.6 km)      Start: Keyhaven green bus stop, SO41 0TG, Grid Ref: SZ 304 916. what3words ///glitter.courier.emotional Along the route there are views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and the Needles and opportunities to watch the…

Distance: 5.9 miles (9.3 km) circular section Start: Lepe Country Park, SO45 1AD what3words //////graph.tasks.splat Start at Lepe Country Park and follow the oak signposts around the route. Situated on the southern edge of the New Forest and a mile from the Solent…

8.5 Miles Discover the beauty of the parish, start from the thriving village centre, out to Bolton’s Bench and on into the tranquillity beyond. This walk roughly follows the whole outside parish boundary, using the forest as a natural tour guide. On this route you can…

Distance: 3.2 miles (5.1 km)         Start/End: Lymington Town Railway Station, SO41 9AU what3words ///lives.notion.calendars Visit the monument to Admiral Sir Harry Burrard-Neale (1765-1835), a prominent Naval officer and former MP for…

Distance: 2 miles (3.3 km) Start: Minstead Village Green, SO43 7FY what3words///directors.piglet.commenced Explore the quaint village of Minstead on this lovely, short walk. Start at the Village Green, visit Furzey Gardens and pass All Saints Church, which is were…

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