Walking in the New Forest

Discover the New Forest National Park through a diverse collection of 30 waymarked walks that reveal the essence of one of England’s most historic and enchanting landscapes. Explore iconic areas such as Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Beaulieu, Burley, and Lymington. Ranging from gentle woodland strolls to expansive heathland rambles, these routes weave through the heart of Hampshire and Wiltshire, offering a rich tapestry of open heaths, ancient forests, tranquil rivers, picturesque villages, and the New Forest coastline.

Ideal for both new and experienced walkers, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook suggests 30 manageable day walks in the New Forest, each designed to be completed in two to four hours. Terrain is mostly level and accessible to all ages, with routes ranging from 5 to 17km (3–10 miles), making these walks perfect for families, casual explorers, or ramblers seeking a deeper connection to the Forest’s wild character.

• Traverse the varied landscapes of the New Forest: wander through ancient and ornamental woods in Bolderwood and Rhinefield, home to the greatest concentration of veteran trees in western Europe; cross sweeping heaths near Blackwater and Hatchet Pond grazed by wild ponies and deer; and explore stretches of unspoilt coastline and magical valley mires unique to the New Forest National Park.
• Experience the New Forest’s seasonal beauty: bursts of wildflowers in spring, vibrant foliage in autumn, and abundant wildlife year-round. Birdsong mingles with the rustle of leaves, while glimpses of deer, ponies, and rare plants enhance every outing.
• Walks can be tailored to suit your schedule, combine routes for a full day’s exploration or select shorter loops for a leisurely afternoon. The guide highlights which New Forest walks can be easily linked together.
• Each route features a detailed summary box with start and finish points, OS Explorer map references, parking, estimated walking time, and information on nearby pubs and cafés in villages such as Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Beaulieu, Burley, and Lymington. Refreshment and transport options are included for every walk, with guidance on public transport links to key New Forest locations.
• Extracts from 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey maps accompany every route, and free GPX tracks are available for download, making navigation in the New Forest simple and reliable, whether you’re on a well-marked track or a hidden forest path.

Plan your New Forest adventure with confidence and immerse yourself in landscapes shaped by nearly a thousand years of history, from William the Conqueror’s royal hunting ground to Britain’s smallest national park. With the definitive Cicerone’s guidebook, discover the Forest’s captivating blend of wildlife, heritage, and natural beauty at your own pace, in every season.

Seasons

Walking in the New Forest is good at any time of the year. Spring brings new life into the forest, summers are mild and the ground is usually dry making walking easier, though this is peak tourist season. Autumn brings vivid displays of colour and good clear days, winter has the least number of visitors, though some of the routes can become rather wet underfoot

Centres

The main towns within the New Forest are Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst, with Lymington, Ringwood and Fordingbridge lying just outside it. The New Forest is easily accessible from larger centres, including Southampton, Bournemouth (both with airports), Salisbury and Winchester.

Difficulty

Walks are on fairly flat terrain with no real climbs, and paths range from good gravel tracks to narrow paths over open heath. There are some stream crossings without bridges, although these should not pose any difficulties unless there has been heavy rainfall. Navigation is normally straightforward, though care is sometimes required on indistinct paths over open heath, or through woods.

Must See

Walks cover all areas of the New Forest National Park, including forests, ancient and ornamental woods, open heaths, rivers and coastal stretches. They pass numerous places of interest, from historic churches to ancient sites. The area is also a great place for seeing wildlife, everything from New Forest ponies to all six of Britain's native reptiles.

Contents

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Plants and wildlife

Geology

History of the New Forest

Walking in the New Forest

Getting to the New Forest

Getting around the New Forest

Food and drink

Where to stay

Countryside codes

Your safety

Access and rights of way

The New Forest online

Longer walks and long-distance routes

Maps

Using this guide

Walk 1 Langley Wood and Hamptworth

Walk 2 Godshill and Castle Hill

Walk 3 Hatchet Green and Woodgreen

Walk 4 Bramshaw Telegraph and Eyeworth Pond

Walk 5 Bramshaw Church and Nomansland

Walk 6 Abbots Well and Alderhill Inclosure

Walk 7 Fritham and Cadman’s Pool

Walk 8 Janesmoor Pond and the Rufus Stone

Walk 9 High Corner Inn and Ogden’s Purlieu

Walk 10 Appleslade Bottom to Rockford via Ibsley Common

Walk 11 Castle Piece and Linford Brook

Walk 12 Exploring Bolderwood

Walk 13 Minstead and Furzey Gardens

Walk 14 Portuguese Fireplace and the Knightwood Oak

Walk 15 Bank and Gritnam

Walk 16 Ober Water and Blackwater Arboretum

Walk 17 Holmsley Walk and Burley

Walk 18 Wilverley Inclosure and Castleman’s Corkscrew

Walk 19 Lyndhurst and Bolton’s Bench

Walk 20 Ashurst figure-of-eight

Walk 21 Beaulieu Road and Bishop’s Dyke

Walk 22 King’s Hat, Dibden Bottom and the Beaulieu River

Walk 23 Stubby Copse Inclosure and Balmer Lawn

Walk 24 Brockenhurst and Dilton

Walk 25 Hatchet Pond and Hawkhill Inclosure

Walk 26 Beaulieu River from Beaulieu to Buckler’s Hard

Walk 27 Setley Common and Boldre Church

Walk 28 Exploring the coastline from Lymington to Keyhaven

Walk 29 Milford on Sea and Hurst Castle

Walk 30 Lepe and Exbury

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Useful contact information

Appendix C Glossary

Appendix D Bibliography