New Forest Walks
Use the links to view full route information including elevation profiles, interactive maps and GPS downloads.
You can also view an overview map of all the routes in the using the New Forest Walk Map>>
| Route Name | Photo | Distance | Description |
| Ashley Walk | 3.4 miles (5.4 km) | This circular walk explores the Ashley Walk area of the New Forest, near Godshill. View Full Details>> | |
| Ashurst New Forest | 7 miles (11.2 km) | With its own train station and easy access to a number of walking trails, the village of Ashurst is a popular visitor attraction. This circular walk takes you through the woodland on the south eastern side of the village. Starting from the train station you head through Ashurst Wood, the Longdown Inclosure, the Deerlap Inclosure and the Churchplace Inclosure. Along the way you should see New Forest Ponies and cattle. View Full Details>> | |
| Avon Valley Path | 34.2 miles (55 km) | This wonderful river valley footpath takes you from Salisbury to Christchurch on the South Coast. You start by the magnificent cathedral in Salisbury and head south towards Downton. The path then continues through Woodgreen and Godshill Wood before you arrive at the lovely Hampshire town of Fordingbridge. The next section is a particularly pleasant waterside path taking you along the River Avon to Ibsley where the path passes through the Blashford Lakes which has a variety of wildlife to enjoy. View Full Details>> | |
| Beaulieu Heath | 7.1 miles (11.5 km) | Beaulieu Heath is a large area of heathland in the New Forest with miles of nice trails to try. This 7 mile circular walk takes place on a series of flat paths running down towards Norleywood and Crockford Bottom. You can start the walk from one of the car parks off the Beaulieu Road, just west of the village. There's one at the Hatchet Pond and one a little further on at Stockley Cottage. You can then pick up a number of different trails taking you around the heath, where you can see woodland, gorse and heather. Towards the southern end of the heath at Crockford Bottom there's also some pretty streams and little pools. Other highlights on the heath include the model aircraft flying area and the lovely Hatchet Pond. The pond is a great place for wildlife with egrets, herons and possibly New Forest Ponies enjoying a drink! View Full Details>> | |
| Beaulieu River | 9.5 miles (15.3 km) | Enjoy a waterside walk along the Beaulieu River on this circular walk in the New Forest. The walk first runs from the pretty village of Beaulieu to the little hamlet of Buckler's Hard along a section of the Solent Way long distance footpath. View Full Details>> | |
| Blackwater Arboretum Trail | 1.9 miles (3 km) | Explore the New Forest's Blackwater Arboretum on two super waymarked walking trails. The Blackwater Tall Trees Trail runs along the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive to Brock Hill on good footpaths. The trail is lined with majestic Douglas fir trees which are among the tallest and oldest trees in Britain. There are also two enormous redwoods visible from the path. The shorter Blackwater Sensory Trail encourages you to discover the many different smells, textures and sounds of the trees. If you enjoy this trail you could head to the nearby Knightwood Oak where you will find the largest oak tree in the forest. Also nearby is the delightful Ober Water. The Arboretum is located just a few miles south west of Lyndhurst and not far from Burley where there are some nice trails through the Old and New Inclosures. The major village of Brockenhurst, with its main line train station is also just to the south east. View Full Details>> | |
| Blashford Lakes | 5.3 miles (8.5 km) | This walk takes you around Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve and Ibsley Water on the edge of the New Forest. There are good surfaced footpaths to follow around several lakes with the Avon Valley Path also running through the site. You can stop and use won of the many bird hides to look out for woodpecker, nuthatch, grey heron, great crested grebe, coot and sand martin. Adder, grass snake and kingfisher can be seen in the summer months. There are good facilities with a visitor centre and car park. If you would like to extend your walk you could continue along the Avon Valley Path towards the pretty village of Ibsley or head east, on any number of footpaths, into the New Forest. Just to the east of the reserve you will find the expansive Rockford and Ibsley Commons where there are miles of heathland and woodland trails. View Full Details>> | |
| Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary | 1.2 miles (2 km) | This is a short walk in the New Forest taking you around the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary. Here you will find a large herd of fallow deer with a viewing platform overlooking the meadow where the deer congregate. The deer are fed daily by the Forestry Commission keeper so it's highly likely you will see a large number of deer in the early afternoon. There is a good sized car park right next to the sanctuary and a number of graded walks taking you through the surrounding woodland. There is also a large lawn area, picnic tables and an information cabin. The sanctuary is located about 4 miles west of Lyndhurst and about 6 miles east of Ringwood. To extend your walking in the area you could follow our Lyndhurst Circular Walk and visit the Knightwood Oak. The tree is over 500 years old and the largest oak tree in the New Forest. View Full Details>> | |
| Bramble Hill | 4 miles (6.5 km) | This circular walk in the New Forest explores the area around Bramble Hill near the village of Bramshaw. View Full Details>> | |
| Brockenhurst | 6.5 miles (10.5 km) | The large village of Brockenhurst is a popular base for walkers wishing to explore the New Forest. The train station also makes it easily accessible with regular trains from London, Bournemouth and Poole. This circular walk explores the woodland to the east of the village, visiting Lymington Water, the Perrywood Ironshill Inclosure, the New Copse Inclosure, Standing Hat and Balmer Lawn. View Full Details>> | |
| Brockenhurst to Boldre via Roydon Woods | 3.1 miles (5 km) | This route follows bridleways between Brockenhurst and the village of Boldre in the New Forest. It's suitable for both cyclists and walkers, following country lanes and traffic free forest paths through a really pretty section of the forest. The route also passes the delightful Roydon Woods which consists of ancient woodland, pastures, ponds, heaths and the Lymington River. It's worth exploring this area and looking out for the wide variety of wildlife that dwells here. This includes Tawny owls, nightjars, various butterflies and deer. View Full Details>> | |
| Brockenhurst to Lymington Walk | 14 miles (22.5 km) | Follow public footpaths and country lanes from the New Forest to the coast. The route heads through some nice woodland around Brockenhurst before passing through attractive farmland on your way to the coast. Here you follow a lovely coastal path around Keyhaven Marshes into Lymington town centre. The walk starts in Brockenhurst, near the train station. You then follow country lanes and bridleways south east through Brockenhurst Park and Roydon Woods to Setley Common. Public footpaths then take you past Battramsley to Shirly Holms Farm. The route continues south through Upper Pennington before following Avon Water to the beautiful Keyhaven Marshes. Here you pick up a coastal section along the Solent Way on the sea wall. This section has great views of the Isle of Wight and lots of wildlife to look out for in the marshes. After a few miles the trail comes into Lymington, passing along the pretty harbour before finishing at the train station where you can catch a train back to Brockenhurst. View Full Details>> | |
| Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst Walk | 5 miles (8 km) | This walk takes you between two major settlements in the New Forest National Park. The route runs for about 5 miles through the Ranmore, Tarkhill, Park Ground and Pondhead Inclosures. The walk is reasonably flat, with a couple of small climbs along the way. It takes place on a series of nice wide trails many of which are shared with cyclists. View Full Details>> | |
| Burley New Forest | 4 miles (6.5 km) | Enjoy a series of nice footpaths through the Old and New Burley Inclosures in the New Forest. The village of Burley is a popular spot with a number of good options for walkers. You could start from the village but this circular route begins from the car park off Lyndhurst Road, just to the north east of Burley. From here you can pick up the trails heading east through the New Inclosure to Dames Slough Inclosure and Blackwater Bridge. The route returns through the Old Inclosure, passing Cockroad Hill on the way. The route takes place on generally good quality paths with the chance of seeing deer and ponies on the way. Just to the east of this route you can pick up the splendid Blackwater Arboretum Trail. The trail is lined with majestic Douglas fir trees which are among the tallest and oldest trees in Britain. Also near Burley is the Knightwood Oak where you will find the largest oak tree in the forest. The lovely Ober Water is located just a mile or so south east of the Old Inclosure. You can follow some nice waterside footpaths here. View Full Details>> | |
| Cadman's Pool | 3.7 miles (6 km) | This walk visits a particularly lovely and fairly quiet area of the New Forest. The attractive little pool is located near Fritham and Stoney Cross. It attracts a variety of birdlife and is a great place for a picnic. This walk starts from the Cadman's Pool car park and takes you around the pond to Splash Bridge through the Holly Hatch Inclosure. You then follow Dockens Water back to the car park. It's a nice stretch with riverside willows and pretty bridges over the water. The area is also great for wildlife spotting. Look out for deer, ponies and birds such as finches, firecrests, and woodlarks. If you would like to extend your walk then you could head to Latchmore Brook and the Hasley Hill Inclosure which is only about a mile west of the pool. Our Fritham Circular Walk visits the pool and the pretty Green Pond and Janesmoor Pond. View Full Details>> | |
| Castleman Trailway | 16.2 miles (26 km) | Travel from Ringwood to Poole along the disused Southampton to Dorchester railway line on this easy cycle and walking route. Route highlights include 3 lovely country parks - Avon Heath Country Park, Moors Valley Country Park and Upton Country Park. View Full Details>> | |
| Denny Wood | 5 miles (8 km) | This walk visits Denny Wood and the Denny Inclosure in the New Forest. It's one of the more peaceful areas of the forest with mainly oak and beech trees. Keep your eyes peeled for deer on the walk as they are often spotted in this tranquil area. View Full Details>> | |
| Dibden Inclosure | 1.6 miles (2.5 km) | This area of the New Forest is a popular spot for walkers. You can start your walk from the car park just off the Beaulieu Road near the village of Dibden Purlieu. From here you can pick up some really nice trails around the enclosure. The area has some pretty streams and ponds with great views across the forest from the high points. Also look out for lovely heather in the late summer and new forest ponies which like to roam around Dibden Bottom. The area is a popular spot with dog walkers with free parking and an off lead area. If you'd like to reach the area by bike then National Cycle Network Route 2 passes through Dibden Purlieu from Hythe. View Full Details>> | |
| Exbury Gardens | 1.6 miles (2.5 km) | Explore 200 acres of beautiful gardens on this easy walk in the New Forest National Park. The gardens have miles of well laid out footpaths perfect for an afternoon stroll. In the gardens you'll find a wonderful collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, rare trees and plants. There are also tranquil lakes and ponds with pretty wooden bridges over the water. Other highlights include the Hydrangea Walk, the Rock Garden, Iris Garden, the Camellia Walk and a riverside path along the Beaulieu river. You can also catch the super Steam railway which will take you on a wonderful tour of the gardens. If you would like to extend your walking in the area you could pick up the Solent Way and enjoy a riverside walk along the Beaulieu River. View Full Details>> | |
| Fordingbridge | 4 miles (6.5 km) | This walk follows a section of the Avon Valley Path from the Hampshire town of Fordingbridge to Ibsley. View Full Details>> | |
| Fritham | 5 miles (8 km) | This loop walk explores the area surrounding the pretty village of Fritham in the New Forest. On the walk you'll visit Green Pond, Janesmoor Pond and the popular Cadman's Pool. View Full Details>> | |
| Frogham to Fritham Circular Walk | 8.9 miles (14.4 km) | This circular walk explores a lovely area of the New Forest between the village of Frogham and Fritham in Hampshire. View Full Details>> | |
| Furzey Gardens | 0.6 miles (1 km) | Enjoy a peaceful stroll around these beautiful gardens in Minstead in the New Forest. There are well laid out footpaths taking you through the gardens with Azaleas, Rhododendrons and woodland glades. Other highlights include the delightful 16th Century Cottage which you can explore, and a tranquil lake with a variety of plants and flowers around its borders. There are also viewpoints with views towards the Isle of Wight and New Forest. View Full Details>> | |
| Godshill | 4.8 miles (7.8 km) | This New Forest village is a fine place to start a walk with a number of great local trails and a fine local pub to relax in after your exercise. View Full Details>> | |
| Hatchet Pond | 1.9 miles (3 km) | This large pond in the New Forest makes for a nice, easy circular walk. The pond is located about a mile west from Beaulieu with a good sized parking area at the eastern end. There's a nice footpath to follow around the water where you will often see New Forest Ponies enjoying a drink! The pond is the largest body of water in the New Forest so it's about a 2 mile walk all the way around. It's a great spot for a picnic with facilities that include toilets and an ice cream van in the summer months. Wildlife lovers can look out for birds on the water such as Herons and Egrets. View Full Details>> | |
| Hurst Castle Spit | 4.3 miles (7 km) | Walk along this long shingle spit to one of Henry VIII's Device Forts on this lovely coastal walk in Hampshire. The walk starts at Keyhaven in between The walk starts at Keyhaven in between Lymington and Milford on Sea. You follow the shingle spit for about 1.5 miles out to the castle where there are splendid views of the nearby Isle of Wight and the south coast. The striking coastal structure is an artillery fort established by Henry VIII between 1541 and 1544. It formed part of the king's Device Forts coastal protection programme against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire, and defended the western entrance to the Solent waterway. English Heritage own the site so you can explore the castle for a reasonable fee. There's interesting exhibitions around the castle which provide you with a chance to piece together Hurst Castle's long history. Highlights include spectacular views from the roof of the Tudor keep across The Needles Passage to the Isle of Wight. The Keep is also notable as the place where Charles I was probably kept prisoner in 1648. View Full Details>> | |
| Keyhaven Marshes | 6.2 miles (10 km) | This coastal cycle or walk takes you from Lymington to Keyhaven through the beautiful Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes. The path runs along a sea wall with the marshes on one side and the sea on the other. As such you are surrounded by varied and beautiful scenery for the length of the route. In the marsh area you will pass a number of pretty lagoons where you can look out for a wide variety of birdlife including Egret, Shelduck, Curlew and Heron. On the coastal side there are fabulous views of the Isle of Wight which is less than 2 miles away. Hurst Castle is also visible for most of the way - you could extend your walk by walking along the shingle spit to Henry VIII's Device Fort if you have time. View Full Details>> | |
| Knightwood Oak | 0.6 miles (1 km) | Visit the largest oak tree in the New Forest on this short, accessible walk. You start off at the Knightwood Oak car park and follow a nice gravel path to the impressive tree. It's over 500 years old, has a girth of 7.38 metres (24.2 ft) and is still growing!
The Knightwood Oak trail is located just a few miles west of Lyndhurst. You could extend your walk by trying the New Forest Reptile Centre Trail which is less than a mile away. You could follow our Lyndhurst Circular Walk to visit the centre and the lovely Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary. View Full Details>> | |
| Latchmore Brook and Hasley Hill Inclosure | 2.8 miles (4.5 km) | Enjoy a waterside walk along the delighful Latchmore Brook, near Fordingbridge in the New Forest. The brook and surrounding countryside are an idyllic area, often surrounded by horses, ponies and deer. The walk continues into the Hasley Hill Inclosure where you will find a series of pretty woodland paths. The walk begins from the Ogdens car park near Fordingbridge on the eastern side of the New Forest. If you'd like to extend your walk then the pretty Cadman's Pool is only about a mile to the east. You could also try our Fordingbridge River Walk which takes you along the River Avon to Ibsley. View Full Details>> | |
| Lepe Country Park | 3.4 miles (5.5 km) | Lepe is a coastal Country Park located near Southampton, in the New Forest National Park. There is a large beach and stunning cliffs where there are fabulous views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. The park has excellent facilities with Barbeque areas, picnic areas and a cafe.
The route below is designed for walkers but there is a Lepe cycle route running through the park and the surrounding area - please click here for details. View Full Details>> | |
| Lymington | 6.8 miles (11 km) | The Hampshire town of Lymington is in a great location for exploring the New Forest, the south coast and the Isle of Wight. View Full Details>> | |
| Lyndhurst | 10 miles (16.1 km) | This walk visits some of the highlights of the Lyndhurst Area of the New Forest. The village is conviently located to visit a number of major attractions on foot. The 10 mile circular walk visits the New Forest Reptile Centre Trail, the Knightwood Oak and the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary. The walk starts in Lyndhurst on Swan Green, just to the west of the village centre. Follow Cut Walk south west to Warwick Slade where you cross the Highland Water stream. Here you turn right to visit the New Forest Reptile Centre where there's a nice trail on well surfaced tree lined paths with a variety of wildlife to look out for. The centre has all of Britain's native lizards, snakes, frogs and toads. The route then passes through Wooson's Hill Inclosure before coming to the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary. Here you will find a large herd of fallow deer with a viewing platform overlooking the meadow where the deer congregate. At Bolderwood you turn south, heading through the North Oakley Inclosure to the Knightwood Oak. The tree is over 500 years old and the largest oak tree in the New Forest. The route then returns to the village, passing the Reptile Centre and White Moor. Lyndhurst has an attractive high street with a number of good cafes and pubs where you can enjoy refreshments after your walk. View Full Details>> | |
| Minstead | 5 miles (8 km) | This pretty New Forest village is located just north of Lyndhurst. The little village is very attractive with a photogenic village green, thatched cottages, a popular local pub and a historic 13th century church. It also has literary connections with novelist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who is buried in the churchyard here. View Full Details>> | |
| Moors Valley Country Park | 3.1 miles (5 km) | Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, is situated in Ashley Heath, on the Dorset/Hampshire border. The park has a number of peaceful woodland paths so is a great place for a safe and easy cycle or walk. There are a number of well waymarked cycle and walking routes through the park, while there is also cycle hire available throughout the year.
The park contains the Moors River and two Lakes where you can see Grey Herons, Great Crested Grebes, Mallards and Mute Swans. There is also a steam railway and a 'Go Ape' adventure park. Moors Valley is situated right next to Ringwood Forest so there is scope for continuing your ride for several miles through more peaceful woodland. View Full Details>> | |
| New Forest Reptile Centre Trail | 1.2 miles (2 km) | Follow the Reptile Discovery Trail on this easy walk in the New Forest. The trail takes place on well surfaced tree lined paths with a variety of wildlife to look out for. The centre has all of Britain's native lizards, snakes, frogs and toads. You can also view birds of prey on the nest cams and look out for dragonflies and tadpoles in the pond. It's a great educational walk for families or anyone looking for an easy, informative stroll. If you'd like to extend your walk you could pick up our Lyndhurst Circular Walk and visit the Knightwood Oak which is less than a mile from the trail. View Full Details>> | |
| Ober Water | 1.9 miles (3 km) | This nice, easy walk takes you around the pretty Ober Water in the New Forest. The circular walk starts from the Whitefield Moor car park and follows good tracks through the Aldridge Hill woodland and the Ober Valley. It's a really delightful spot with the tranquil stream surrounded by shady woodland glades. It's a great place for a picnic and a paddle on a summer's day! Ober Water is located just over a mile west of Brockenhurst. If you'd like to extend your walk then the Blackwater Arboretum Trail is located just over a mile to the north. The village of Burley is also nearby. There's nice trails to try here in the Old and New Inclosures. View Full Details>> | |
| Ringwood | 9 miles (14.5 km) | This circular walk from Ringwood takes you to some of the highlights of the area. You'll visit the lovely Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve and the expansive Rockford and Ibsley Commons where there are miles of nice trails to try. The walk starts from the car park in the town centre near the tourist information centre and Bickerley Common. From here you can pick up the Avon Valley Path and follow it north through the town to Blashford Lakes. There's a series of nice footpaths to follow around the site which includes several pretty lakes and a number of bird hides. From here you can look out for many different types of bird including woodpecker, nuthatch, grey heron, great crested grebe, coot and sand martin. After exploring the lakes the walk then enters the adjacent Ibsley and Rockford Commons. There's miles of heathland and woodland trails here with pretty heather, gorse and grazing New Forest Ponies to see here. After rounding the woodland inclosures on the common the trails return to Blashford where you can pick up the Avon Valley Path and follow it back into Ringwood. View Full Details>> | |
| Rockford and Ibsley Common | 4.6 miles (7.4 km) | This circular walk explores the Rockford and Ibsley Commons in the New Forest. On the expansive commons you'll find miles of footpaths taking you to attractive heathland and woodland. The commons are also in an elevated position so there are fine views over the surrounding areas from the high points. Look out for grazing ponies and some pretty babbling brooks as you go. You can start the walk from the car park just to the east of Rockford Green and Blashford Lakes. From here you can pick up footpaths heading east to the Appleslade Inclosure and Red Shoot Wood. You then follow nice trails along the Linford Brook in the Great Linford Inclosure. The final section takes you past Bigsburn Hill before returning to the car park. View Full Details>> | |
| Solent Way | 59.7 miles (96 km) | Follow the Solent Way along the beautiful south coast from Milford on Sea to Emsworth. The route starts off at Milford on Sea and heads along the coastal marshes to Lymington with splendid views of the Isle of Wight. This section runs through the beautiful Keyhaven Marshes where you can look out for a wide variety of birdlife. You also have the option of heading along the long shingle spit to Hurst Castle, one of Henry VIII's Device Forts. At Lymington the route heads inland through the New Forest towards Hythe passing the excellent Beaulieu Motor Museum, the pretty Dibden Inclosure and the Beaulieu River as you go. At Hythe you cross Southampton water on the Hythe Ferry taking you to Southampton where you follow the coast to Gosport and Lee on Solent. On this section you will pass the delightful riverside villages of Hamble-le Rice and Warsash, catching a ferry over the River Hamble between the two settlements. Near here there's also Alver Valley Country Park and the delightful Titchfield Haven nature reserve at Fareham. Here you will find 369 acres of River, fen, pools, reedbed and meadow with a variety of wildlife to look out for. From Gosport a ferry ride takes you over the River Hamble to Portsmouth with its fascinating maritime history. Highlights here include the D-Day Museum where you can see the Overlord Embroidery. This tells the story of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in 34 extraordinary hand-stitched panels with a total length of 83 metres. The final stretch leads you around the attractive Langstone Harbour to the finish at Emsworth Quay. View Full Details>> | |
| Standing Hat | 2.5 miles (4 km) | This easy circular walk takes you through Forestry Commission managed Inclosures near Brockenhurst in the New Forest. You can park at the car park at Balmer Lawn and then follow good footpaths through the delightful woodland in the Pignal Inclosure. It's a lovely spot for an easy, peaceful stroll. Look out for the New Forest Ponies on your walk. If you'd like to try more easy walks near Brockenhurst then the Ober Water Walk and the Blackwater Arboretum Trail are both good options. View Full Details>> | |
| Tall Trees Walk New Forest | 1.4 miles (2.3 km) | This circular walk follows the Tall Trees Trail on the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, Blackwater Arboretum. View Full Details>> | |
| Testwood Lakes | 1.6 miles (2.5 km) | Enjoy an easy, waterside walk around these two pretty lakes in Totton, on the eastern edge of the New Forest. There are well surfaced footpaths all the way around the lakes. The area is managed as a nature reserve so you will find a variety of interesting wild flowers and woodland around the lakes. You can also look out for various wildfowl and waders on the water using the two bird hides. There are good facilities with a Visitor centre, toilets and parking. If you'd like to extend your walk you could pick up the Test Way and follow the River Test to the nearby Lower Test Nature Reserve. View Full Details>> | |
| Wilverley Plain | 3.1 miles (5 km) | This circular walk visits Wilverley Plain and the Wilverley Inclosure in the New Forest. View Full Details>> |
