The 10 best walks in the New Forest National Park

The 10 best walks in the New Forest National Park

The best walks in the New Forest National Park reveal a slice of the English countryside

Despite its name, the New Forest is neither new nor a large forest. The region was first declared a royal hunting ground by William the Conqueror in 1079 and the landscape is more heathland (the largest remaining area in Europe) than continuous woodland. The word “forest” actually comes from the Old French for “hunting area.”

Contradictions aside, the park is home to forest areas consisting of both native and non-native trees. There are avenues lined with Victorian firs and redwoods, as well as groves of ancient oaks and yews believed to be over 1,000 years old.

Picturesque villages are connected by a network of scenic hiking and cycling trails, showcasing a variety of wildlife and landscapes. Wild ponies and five species of deer roam the pretty bushland, while the park is bordered to the south by 42km of coastline dotted with mud flats and salt marshes.

Our guide to the best walks in the New Forest National Park offers 10 great ways to explore this rare and extraordinary landscape.

Best hikes in the New Forest National Park

There are a total of 15 national parks in Great Britain. Established in 2005, the New Forest in Hampshire is the second youngest national park in the country and one of the most accessible, considering it is just an hour and a half from London.

Below we share the best walks in the New Forest National Park, from a leisurely stroll through a wildlife reserve to a more challenging section of the Solent Way.

For more information about activities and accommodation in the New Forest, visit the National Park website.

1. Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary Walk

Distance: 2.7km (1.7mi)Duration: 1 hourDifficulty: Easy

Atlas & BootsA herd of deer at Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary

This short and sweet loop hike heads to Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, where hikers are guaranteed the best views of deer in the entire park. There is a purpose-built platform overlooking a large meadow just a short walk from the car park.

There are three walking trails in the area - all wheelchair accessible - which wind between some of the tallest trees in the New Forest, including non-native firs and sequoias, as well as endemic beech and oak. Bolderwood also has a large designated picnic area.

From April to September, the deer are fed by rangers daily between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., providing a great photography opportunity.

2. Denny Wood

Distance: 4.7 km (3 miles)Duration: 1-2 hoursDifficulty: Easy

Triple H Images/ShutterstockDenny Wood in autumn

This enchanting walk takes you through a series of quintessential inland New Forest scenes. The path initially crosses open heathland before passing some burial mounds. (For the uninitiated among us, a tumulus is a Bronze Age burial mound.)

The path continues over a footbridge and through a series of small woods before returning to Beaulieu Road Station, where the nearby Drift Inn provides perfect post-walk refreshment.

In the fall, pay close attention to herds of roaring fallow and red deer as they begin their annual rut.

3. Rheinfeld and Vinney Ridge

Distance: 4.8 km (3 miles)Duration: 1-2 hoursDifficulty: Easy

Willy Barton/ShutterstockThe entrance to Blackwater Arboretum

Rhinefield Ornamental Drive is a narrow road lined with a mix of large rhododendrons and azaleas, as well as 50m tall redwoods and towering Douglas firs planted by the Victorians in the 1850s.

After following the ride from the Blackwater parking lot, the trail loops left and enters the Blackwater Arboretum over a wooden arch, then crosses the Blackwater River before looping back to the parking lot.

The route is best done in late May or early June when the rhododendrons should be in full bloom.

4. Keyhaven to Hurst Castle

Distance: 7.2km (4.5mi)Duration: 1-2 hoursDifficulty: Easy

Ryan Kempster/ShutterstockKeyhaven to Hurst Castle is one of the best walks in the New Forest National Park

This unique coastal walk takes you to Hurst Castle, built by Henry VIII between 1541 and 1544 at the seaward end of a coastal headland. Because the route follows the exposed landform, be prepared for an invigorating journey when the wind picks up.

The walk begins in the charming village of Keyhaven and follows the sea wall south-west before turning south-east along the narrow shingle spit to Hurst Castle.

Although Keyhaven is technically outside the park boundaries, the path heads back into the park on the way to Hurst Castle.

5. Burley Village

Distance: 7.4km (4.6mi)Duration: ModerateDifficulty: 2-3 hours

Atlas & BootsOne of the hiking trails near Burley

The village of Burley lies in the lee of a hill, surrounded by sturdy oaks and tall pines. The village lies in the heart of the national park and offers excellent access to some of the best walking and cycling routes, as well as convenient bike hire in the village center.

The circular route we have chosen is a peaceful path that passes an Iron Age hill fort on Castle Hill before looping and descending along the edge of a forest back to the village.

On a clear day, the natural cliff offers impressive views over the park, which is usually dotted with grazing ponies, cattle and donkeys.

6. Acres Down and Canadian War Memorial

Distance: 9.3km (5.8mi)Duration: EasyDifficulty: 2-3 hours

Luke____s/ShutterstockA New Forest pony near Acres Down

This longer loop trail takes walkers through a mix of wooded pine and ancient and ornamental forests and passes the Canadian War Memorial, a simple wooden roadside memorial to Canadian soldiers and airmen stationed in the New Forest during World War II.

The walk starts from the Acres Down car park and can easily be extended to include the Lyndhurst Hill and Swan Green route below and/or a visit to the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary.

If cream teas are your thing – and they really should be – then nearby Acres Down Farm serves up some of the best in the country.

7. Lyndhurst Hill and Swan Green

Distance: 10.5 km (6.5 miles)Duration: EasyDifficulty: 3-4 hours

Konmac/ShutterstockA thatched cottage near Lyndhurst

Known as the capital of the New Forest after William the Conqueror founded the royal hunting ground in 1079, Lyndhurst has been visited over the centuries by kings and queens who stayed at the Royal Manor.

The circular route takes in the wider Lyndhurst community, including Emery Down, Gritnam Wood and the picturesque thatched cottages of Swan Green, one of the most photographed places in the New Forest.

Today the village remains the administrative heart of the New Forest and a popular visitor stop with a fine selection of cozy tea rooms, traditional pubs, cafes, restaurants and an ice cream parlour.

8. Fritham

Distance: 11km (7mi)Duration: 3-4 hoursDifficulty: Moderate

Chris Button/ShutterstockA single oak tree near Fritham

The area around the wooded hamlet of Fritham in the north of the New Forest does not receive as many visitors as Brockenhurst, Burley and Lyndhurst, meaning the surrounding paths and plains are generally a little quieter.

The footpath winds through the countryside, passing a range of woodland areas lined with beech and gnarled oak trees, the open plains of Ragged Boys Hill and the Sloden Inclosure, home to a shy herd of fallow deer.

Most people who complete this walk end up at Fritham's award-winning Royal Oak Pub, which serves traditional cask ales and hearty snacks.

9. Brockenhurst and the tall trees

Distance: 15.6km (9.6mi)Duration: 3-4 hoursDifficulty: Moderate

Chris Button/ShutterstockPonies graze in Brockenhurst

This route is an alternative way to explore the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive. It begins in the charming settlement of Brockenhurst. No trip to the New Forest is complete without a visit to Brockenhurst, repeatedly named one of the most beautiful villages in England.

This hiking route can easily be combined with the Rhinefield and Vinney Ridge route above to visit the Blackwater Arboretum. Another popular alternative is the Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst Loop Walk.

10. Solent Way

Distance: 15.7 km (9.7 mi)Duration: 3-4 hoursDifficulty: Moderate

alt="The village and pond of Beaulieu">IntREEGUE Photography/ShutterstockThe historic village of Beaulieu

The Solent Way is a 97km walking route that starts in Milford-on-Sea and ends in Emsworth Harbour. Throughout its length the path traverses a variety of landscapes including the Hampshire countryside, the Solent and the Isle of Wight.

The Lymington to Beaulieu section crosses the Lymington River and then runs parallel to the coast. Although it lies about a mile from the sea, the path occasionally offers glimpses of the busy Solent to the east.

The trail then turns inland and roughly follows the Beaulieu River as it passes through patches of forest and circles the idyllic Sowley Pond before reaching the picturesque village of Beaulieu.

Main image: Nick Brundle Photography/Shutterstock

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