Town and Village Walks

Visitors to The New Forest have the choice of walks to enjoy in pretty villages in the heart of the forest or bustling seaside towns.

You can also explore the delights of Beaulieu and enjoy a walk along one England’s few privately around rivers. Count how many donkeys and cows you can find strolling through the side streets and lanes around Brockenhurst. Learn about the history of witchcraft and cider making in Burley. Discover the 'capital' of the New Forest, Lyndhurst with the grave of the original Alice in Wonderland or soak up the sun on a seaside walk at Milford-on-Sea, Lymington or Barton-on-sea.

So why not take a walk through some of our towns and villages and discover the special charms of the wonderful New Forest.

Here are a selection of town and village walks for you whilst visiting the New Forest:

Lyndhurst
 

Discover Lyndhurst's rich heritage, as you stroll through the village. Make time for a stop in at The New Forest Centre where you can learn about our history and get some top tips for exploring the National Park. From the top end of the High Street, the spire of St. Michael’s & All Angels church is clearly visible. Here lies the grave of Alice Liddell, a local girl who inspired Lewis Carroll’s classic book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The church sits opposite the quintessentially English, wooden-beamed Crown Manor Hotel, another famous Lyndhurst landmark and the perfect resting place for a spot of lunch.

If you fancy walking further then why not take the longer 8.5 mile Lyndhurst Parish walk which encompasses its surrounding hamlets and countryside. The circular walk passes several pubs along the way so you can stop for refreshments or a bite to eat. You will also get to walk through some of the forest’s inclosures - home to a variety of the New Forest wildlife.

The Sea Air Trail - Lymington to Keyhaven
 

If you enjoy being beside the sea then this is the walk for you. A 5.5 mile route takes you from the pretty town of Lymington with its yachts and marinas along the Solent Way to Keyhaven. You will pass through the Lymington - Keyhaven nature reserve where you can look out for a variety of wetland birds. On a clear day you can expect fantastic views over the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Once at Keyhaven you can extend the journey to encompass Hurst Castle or Milford-on-Sea or take a bus back to Lymington. 

Seaside Fun - New Milton to Hurst Castle
 

Continuing with the seaside theme, this is a popular walk for families. The walk starts in New Milton before heading to nearby Barton-on-sea. The beach here is particularly family-friendly and makes a great spot for some fossil hunting. Take the clifftop walk and follow along to Milford-on-Sea where you can find several places to pick up a spot of lunch. Then, continue eastwards along the shingle bank known as Hurst Spit. From here you can enjoy views across the Solent and the Keyhaven nature reserve. At the end of the spit is Hurst Castle, built by King Henry VIII to defend the south coast from invasion.

Food trails
 

Combine your walk with one of our Food Trails. This is a great way to not only enjoy some exercise whilst visiting some of our lovely towns and villages but also gives you the opportunity to sample some of our local fare. The Burley Food Trail focusses on the village of Burley, famous for witchcraft (plus the super tasty Burley fudge!) and the Beaulieu Food Trail encompasses some of the tasty stops that you will find around this picturesque village including the Beaulieu Chocolate Studio. This walks can also be extended to enjoy not only the Beaulieu National Motor Museum but historic Buckler’s Hard as well.

Enjoy your own town or village walk
 

If you would rather do your own thing then why not pick up some suggested walking routes from The New Forest Centre in Lyndhurst? Or, buy the local Ordnance Survey map (Explorer OL22) for the New Forest and plan your own walk using the wide range of footpaths and trail ways which weave their way in and around our national park.

You can enjoy your own routes around our various towns and villages plus you don’t always need a car to get here. There are regular trains which stop at Brockenhurst from London, Bournemouth and Southampton, plus a branch line at Lymington. The Hythe Ferry connects Southampton with the New Forest village of Hythe - an enjoyable journey across the Southampton Water and the New Forest Tour Bus offers a hop-on, hop-off bus service around the area during the summer season. This makes a great way for you to stop at various points of interest for a walk before resting those weary legs. So why not explore some of these towns and villages for yourself?

The New Forest National Park Authority provides a large selection of recommended walks within the National Park which include walks through some of the park’s lesser-known villages such as the Hale and Woodgreen, Copythorne and Cadnam Common and Landford and Hamptworth walking routes. Look out as well for the annual New Forest Walking Festival, organised by the National Park Authority, which takes place each October. Here, you will find a wide range of walks, many of which take in our smaller villages and areas of the New Forest towns that you might not be familiar with, a fantastic way to explore the forest with likeminded people!

If you are staying in the area then why not ask your accommodation host for their recommended local walks too? Many of our B&B, hotel and self-catering properties welcome walkers and have suggested route maps which you can borrow for the duration of your stay. Just ask at the time of booking or on arrival at your chosen property.

Save lots of money on your trip to the New Forest
 

Whilst walking in The New Forest, don't forget to take your Go New Forest Card! With over 380 offers you are bound to save some money on a visit here. You will find savings off accommodation, things to do, eating out and shopping here in the New Forest.