Walking in the New Forest

Plan ahead by downloading walking itineraries from the New Forest website. They have over 40 different walks.

If you’re going it alone, the Forest can be dense in places and in some areas it’s easy to get lost – take a map, or download one onto your phone – there may not always be enough signal for Google Maps.

You can also opt for a guided walk – there are different themes available including a wildlife walk. See the New Forest website for what’s available. Wild New Forest offer also guided walking tours through the forest, with an emphasis on the environment and conservation.

Walking is wondrous at any time of year. It really depends on what weather you want and how much solitude.

Things gets crowded in school holidays (July and August), around the main hubs of Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst, as do some of the most popular walking trails. But the weather is usually the warmest – you can paddle in the streams too.

Spring is lovely, with forest floors carpeted with bluebells and yellow daffodils; Autumn (September-October) sees a riot of colour, as the deciduous trees start to shed their leaves. Winter can be bracing, but extra rewarding when you retire to a roaring fire back at the pub or your hotel.