Hikes & Walks In The New Forest

The Solent Way in the New Forest is a captivating long-distance walking trail that showcases the beauty of the Solent coastline. This 60-mile (96-kilometer) route spans from Milford-on-Sea to Emsworth, passing through the heart of the New Forest National Park. The trail takes you along picturesque estuaries, tidal marshes, and sandy beaches, offering stunning views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight. As you traverse the Solent Way, you'll encounter diverse wildlife, including wading birds and seals, and have the opportunity to explore charming coastal towns and villages along the route.

Discover the idyllic village of Burley and its surrounding countryside on this circular walk. Wander through woodlands, across open moorland, and past charming thatched cottages. Look out for the famous New Forest ponies that freely roam the area and explore the delightful shops and tearooms in Burley.

Explore Beaulieu Heath. Beaulieu Heath is located just west of Beaulieu village and is home to the Hatchet Pond which is a great picnic spot favourite and with its large and flat surfaces and expansive views of the Isle of Wight's hills, it's perfect for a family-friendly hike. There are multiple pathways here to explore here and are great for short distance walking. The pathways will take you through a variety of landscapes in which is made up of extensive heathland, as well as historic and beautiful forest in Rans Wood, followed by Hawkhill's broad-leaved and coniferous inclosure woodland. 

Another popular walk is the Lyndhurst Circular Walk, which offers a great combination of all the different terrain that the New Forest has to offer. The environment is known for its natural beauty, including heathland, bogs, mature woods, open areas, and newer plantings. The New Forest also still maintains commoning, a historic habit that allows livestock to graze freely, so you're likely to encounter a variety of animals.

It's not always easy to detect deer in the New Forest, but in Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, there's a specially erected observation platform overlooking a huge meadow area where a herd of fallow deer gathers on a regular basis.  On a calm day, the tracks pass past areas of Bolderwood's Ancient and Ornamental Woodland, where you may view a variety of species. While the deer sanctuary is the major attraction at Bolderwood, there are also graded trails and a big picnic area among the tall trees, as well as a New Forest information cabin operated by a Forest Ranger (which is not always open).