Blog - Things To Do - New Forest

Wild and Wonderful Walks In The New Forest

Most of us relish the prospect of escaping the city and planting our feet squarely on a soft bedding of grass and leaves. If you’re a hardened walker, Exploring the nooks and crannies of the magical New Forest is a delight.

The New Forest showcases some of the best walking routes in the country. We have 10 campsites in The New Forest so thought you might like a brief guide to the most popular trails, and what you can expect to see…
Beautiful-New-Forest

Brockenhurst walk

This trail begins near the parish church of Saint Nicholas, the oldest of its kind in the New Forest.

Its existence precedes Norman builders, who in 1086 used some of the earlier Saxon walling to construct the nave that stands today. St. Nicholas is open to the public from the early afternoon onward, making it a great launching point for your stroll near our Roundhill campsite.

After moving through Brockenhurst Park, and crossing the Lymington River, you’ll pass long stretches of trees, open heath and farmland. Head north, then west – the whole distance amounts to an eight-mile trek, bringing you back to Brockenhurst in due course. See the full trail here.

Lyndhurst walks

Lyndhurst - Route One

Lyndhurst-Ponies (Shutterstock, Kit Leong)

If you’re up for something a touch more challenging, then the Lyndhurst route is worth checking out. There are hills and some dense areas, but the main cause for its progressive difficulty is the sparse landmarks, which aren’t easily navigated.

We’ve mapped out this trail for you. Identify the waypoints and get ready for a long, sprawling day of pony-and-bird-watching. The New Forest’s ponies are a star attraction; you’ll see them grazing not far from the Andrews Mare car park, your starting ground at the centre of the wood. Read more about the New Forest ponies here. This area is full of fauna, making visiting in the autumn a real spectacle.

Lyndhurst – Route Two

If you’d rather save those calf muscles for a less demanding walk, return to Lyndhurst, setting off on a gentler path from the Blackwater Arboretum. This is home to some of the oldest, tallest trees in Britain, deservingly famous for its mystical canopies hugging either side of your jaunt. In two hours’ time, you’ll do roughly three miles on your feet, welcoming parts of the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, a road flecked with more firs and redwoods.

This route is at least half the distance of other walks on our list making it great for older kids to get involved. The circuit does have a pair of ford crossings, so we don’t recommend it after a bout of heavy rain!

Fritham & Cadman’s Pool

Our Ocknell campsite is within shouting distance of the village of Fritham, home to the charming 17^th century thatched restaurant, The Old Oak. Once you’ve filled your boots (metaphorically, we hope!) with grub, you can head out to the clear skies of Fritham Plain, and through the trees to the south of Sloden Inclosure.

It’ll last between 5-6.5 miles, depending on how far you want to head into the thick underbrush. You’ll cross back over Dockens Water at Splash Bridge; then, the real marvel begins, as you’ll come upon the glass-like Cadman’s Pool before returning to the village via the South Bentley Inclosure. Check out the trail here.

Are you out of breath yet? We hope not, walking is a great excuse to swing a rucksack over your shoulders, inhale deeply, and let the wider world melt to nothing at all…

View all of our New Forest campsites to start planning your Camping in the Forest trip away.