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Longer Walks

The New Forest is a walker's paradise with more than 140 miles of tracks to explore, all spread across an area spanning 193,000 acres. Whether you are just planning to come for a day to embark on a long walk or perhaps you are thinking of staying for longer, there are some great walking routes available to you. Let us tell you more about some of them…

Sea Air Trail

The shortest of our longer walks, the Sea Air Trail is 5.5 miles long. The trail begins at the marina and yacht clubs in Lymington, home to Lymington’s sea water bath before following along some of the Solent Way passing through the Lymington-Keyhaven nature reserve and onto Keyhaven. At nearby Milford-on-Sea you can either catch a bus back to Lymington or turn around and reverse the journey.

You can be sure of some spectacular views along this route as you overlook the Solent towards the Isle of Wight.

Lyndhurst Parish Walk

Start this 8.5 mile walk in the heart of Lyndhurst, often referred to as the capital of the New Forest. Your next step is to head towards the clump of trees known as Bolton’s Bench before walking through the Pondhead and Brick Kiln inclosures to the villages of Bank and Emery Down. The route passes by, or close to a variety of pubs that offer ideal refreshment points along the way before bringing you back in a loop to where you started.

This is a great walk to do if you want to get a real feel for the area around Lyndhurst.

Avon Valley Walk

This 34 mile walking route begins in the beautiful cathedral city of Salisbury and follows the route of the River Avon as it meanders its way south to Christchurch harbour. The route is steeped in history.

The walk is divided into five separate sections with the middle three sections passing through the New Forest in and around Fordingbridge and Ringwood. Along the way you will pass through some of the small New Forest villages including Woodgreen and Rockford.

Expect to see plenty of nature along the way including wildflowers and water meadows. Birds including lapwing, golden plover and snipe can also be spotted at certain times of the year along parts of the route.

Solent Way Walk

The longest of our walks, the Solent Way stretches from the New Forest town of Milford-on-Sea sixty miles to Emsworth Harbour, east of Portsmouth.

As with the Avon Valley Walk, this route is also divided into sections, this time eight sections. The route is rich in seafaring and maritime history dating back many centuries.

The first three sections of the walk take place through the New Forest. Section one starts in Milford-on-Sea and follows past Keyhaven to the yachting mecca of Lymington. Section two begins in Lymington and brings you inland as you pass through Buckler’s Hard and up the Beaulieu River to Beaulieu itself. The third section begins at Beaulieu to Hythe, overlooking Southampton Water. It is from here that you would then catch the Hythe ferry taking you to the start of the next section on Southampton.

Additional information on walking in The New Forest

If you are keen on doing one of the area’s long-distance walks then there are plenty of places to stay along the way, many of which are signed up to our Walkers Welcome scheme.

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 minimise disturbance to wildlife, livestock and other people, please keep your dogs close by you and visible at all times – if necessary use a lead. Pick up after your dog, especially around car parks, on paths and where people play or picnic, and take bagged waste home if there is no litter bin.

Stay safe by taking note of warning signs and keeping away from work sites and vehicles.

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Exbury Village and Lepe

5.9 miles (9.3 km)
Situated on the southern edge of the New Forest and a mile from the Solent coast, Exbury is a peaceful and beautiful village with a fascinating history and important war time links to Lepe and the build up to D-Day. The walk…

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Avon Valley Walk

34 Miles
This walking route will take you from Salisbury - one of the most beautiful cathedral cities in England - to Christchurch Priory and the sea.

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Landford and Hamptworth

Landford

4.7 miles (7.6 km)
This walk starts in the village of Landford and explores the northern tip of the New Forest in Wiltshire among woodlands that were once Royal Forests. The walk follows a wooded path to a river ford and through pretty woods and…

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Lyndhurst Parish Walk

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.

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Keyhaven Marshes

Milford on Sea

3.5 miles (5.6 km)
Along the route there are views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and the Needles and opportunities to watch the ever-changing bird life of Keyhaven Marshes. The path then cuts inland to follow an ancient highway behind the…

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Whitefield Moor: Longer Loop

Brockenhurst

1.6 mile (2.6 km)
Starting from Whitefield Moor car park, this walk takes you further along the Ober Water than the yellow route, giving more time to soak up the beautiful scenery and atmosphere of this beautiful stream and its surroundings.

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Ashurst stroll

SOUTHAMPTON

2.8 miles (4.5 km)
From Ashurst railway station this short and easy walk explores a variety of landscapes that characterise the New Forest. The route first takes you past open Forest lawns where ponies graze and through Churchplace Inclosure, a…

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Sea Air Trail

5.5 Miles
Starting at Lymington Marina, you will then follow the sea wall around the Nature Reserve to Keyhaven. You will then carry on to Milford on Sea and Hurst Castle.

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Copythorne and Cadnam Common

Cadnam

4 miles (6.5 km)
This walk starts by passing St Mary's Church before winding through Copythorne Common and its interesting mix of woodland and open glades. The route then follows rhododendron and woodland edged tracks to the Cadnam River and the…

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Lymington Marshes Trail

Lymington

3.7 miles (6 km)
Walk along the Quayside for river views followed by the coastal marshes of the Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve. This is one of several Rail Trail routes running from Brockenhurst or Lymington railway stations.

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Brook to Minstead Village

Bramshaw

7.2 miles (11.6 km)
Visit the Rufus Stone to discover the mystery surrounding the death of King William II. The route then follows quiet country lanes to the unspoilt village of Minstead where the famous detective writer and spiritualist Sir Arthur…

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Brockenhurst Village Walk

Brockenhurst

5 miles (8.1 km)
Brockenhurst is a picturesque village in the heart of the New Forest surrounded by some of the loveliest Forest landscapes. Starting from the village with its famous watersplash, this varied walk takes you across grazed lawns and…

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Solent Way Walk

60 Miles
The Solent Way is a long distance coastal walk, starting from the seaside town of Milford-on-Sea and finishing at Emsworth Harbour. Along the way you can enjoy shingle beaches, exhilarating views, deserted coastal marshes, promenades,…

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Buckland Rings Trail

Brockenhurst

6.8 miles (10.9 km)
From the village of Brockenhurst this walk passes through Roydon Woods nature reserve over Setley Plain and onto Buckland Rings, the site of a former Iron Age hill fort near Lymington.

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Burley Village Walk

Burley

4.2 miles (6.8 km)
This walk starts at the village centre before setting out on a circular walk around the edge of the village. There is a gentle uphill climb along Castle Hill Lane where there are good views across the Avon Valley; the perfect…

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Hale and Woodgreen

Woodfalls

5.7 miles (9 km)
The route starts at Woodfalls and follows a section of the Avon Valley Path through fields and woods to the charming village of Hatchet Green. You then pass Hale House and St Mary's Church before walking alongside the peaceful River…

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