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 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 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 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.

Walking in the New Forest - Quick Facts

Location: Hampshire and south-east Wiltshire, southern England 
Number of routes: 30 day walks 
Distance: 5–17 km (3–10 miles) per route 
Duration: 2–4 hours per route 
Areas covered: Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Beaulieu, Burley, Lymington, Bolderwood, Rhinefield, Blackwater, Hatchet Pond, and the New Forest coastline 
Route type: Well-marked forest tracks, heathland paths, riverside and coastal trails 
Difficulty: Gentle strolls to moderate rambles (routes can be shortened, lengthened, or combined) 
Terrain: Ancient woodlands, lowland heath, valley mires, rivers, coastline, picturesque villages 
Navigation: 1:25,000 OS Explorer maps, detailed route descriptions, downloadable GPX tracks 
Best season: Excellent year-round walking, especially in spring and autumn 
Highlights: Wild ponies and deer, veteran trees, thatched cottages, historic churches, colourful gardens, cosy pubs, village greens, wildlife encounters 
Equipment: Good walking shoes/boots, outdoor clothing, a map or a GPX device recommended 
Accommodation: Pubs, inns, B&Bs, hotels, and campsites in New Forest villages and towns   
 

Author Highlight

"The New Forest may not be a very hilly landscape and there are no sweeping mountain views, but a walk in the Forest takes you into a part of southern Britain that William the Conqueror would probably still recognise. Couple that with the fleeting glimpses of wildlife – a deer suddenly stops to look before magically disappearing in the blink of an eye, birdsong mingles with the rustle of the wind in the trees, wildflowers add splashes of colour to the beauty of the enchanting woods, the commoners’ stock grazes the land as it has done for centuries – and you have all the ingredients that make walking in the New Forest National Park such a unique and rewarding experience.” 

- Steve Davison, author of Walking in the New Forest

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
 

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.

December 2021

2021 reprint route updates

July 2021

Walk 26 (page 172-3)

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