Walking in the New Forest, is possibly the best way to explore the New Forest National Park, depending on your preference of course, as cyclists may have another opinion! If you truly want to experience all the great things we have to share here in this lovely part of Hampshire, why not put on some suitable footwear, grab a flask and rucksack and get out there.
There are over 140 miles of tracks and footpaths to be walked and there is more than enough space for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors.
Our magnificent area of outstanding beauty is where dreams are made of, just imagine ancient woodland, stunning heathland, quaint English villages and a 40-mile coastline on the doorstep. It goes without saying that anyone with a keen passion for walking and is thinking of spending time walking here, they will love the diverse variety this unique landscape presents.
What Makes Walking in The New Forest So Special?
There is a walk for everyone to enjoy here in the New Forest. Whether it`s easy-to-follow walking routes, short strolls or long-distance trails. It offers something for both young, old, the fit and no so fit. Marvel at the wonderful scenery, breathe in the fresh clean air, take a picnic, immerse yourself in nature. I might be a little biased but it really is a special treat to go walking in the New Forest.
This popular English gem can be easily accessed whether you are planning on arriving by car, we are less that one minute’s drive from the M27, or by train, just 89 minutes from London Waterloo.
Do I Need To Be Fit?
The New Forest walking routes cater for all abilities of walker. If you are bringing the family then look out for our shorter family walks which include those suitable for pushchairs. There are walks that are accessable for visitors with mobility problems, wildlife walks nature lovers who want to spot some of our amazing flora and fauna. Furthermore, there are also walks that incorporate The New Forest`s lovely towns and villages.
For the super fit or more adventurous, there are opportunities to undertake more long distance walking routes. Why not take a look at the 34 mile Avon Valley Path from Salisbury to Christchurch Harbour. Another popular route is the Solent Way, a 60 mile route from Milford-on-sea to Emsworth Harbour.
Walking in the New Forest is an excellent way to enjoy the atmosphere and scenery of this magical landscape. The Forestry Commission gravel tracks within the New Forest appear to be endless so you are never short of routes to follow, there are also many grassy rides throughout the enclosures and open heathland criss-crossed with sandy tracks. All of them are perfectly suitable for walking on with appropriate footwear.
There are a numerous car parks situated throughout the New Forest which are easy to find and provide a perfect start and end point of the majority of New Forest walks. You will be glad to hear a good pub is never far away to quench your thirst and recall the adventures of the day over a meal and good ale perhaps.
What To Wear
The New Forest terrain is fairly easy to walk on, so sturdy walking boots are really not that essential, although more preferable in the wetter months such as Autumn and Winter. Walking trainer-type shoes would be more suitable with a decent tread. However, the main problem encountered whilst walking in the New Forest are the boggy areas, especially during the Winter months. After prolonged periods of long and heavy rain the forest can get very wet underfoot.
If you adhere to the gravel tracks and paths this really shouldn`t be much of an issue but venturing off these tracks to walk across heathland or grassy rides increases the risk of encountering wet boggy areas. Be warned some of the boggy areas can be quite deep so it is recommended to stay on the marked tracks and paths. If you are looking to spot wildlife, in particular the varying species of deer that roam the New Forest, then dark coloured and ‘rustle-free’ clothing is favoured for obvious reasons.
Walking Safety
The New Forest doesn`t compare with the jungles of Belize, or The Amazon for example, so it isn`t what you’d call a ‘high risk’ environment for walkers. Aside the boggy areas, there’s not alot of things that are going to put you in mortal danger. There are no Grizzlies here, tigers or goat eating pythons!
But it`s worth noting adders are present in the area. they tend to favour the heather-covered heathlands, though they are not limited to this habitat by any means.
The adder is Britain’s only poisonous snake and it will prefer to slide away from you before you get a chance to run from it. Having said that, it is possible to surprise an adder that is basking and not paying attention, particularly if you are out walking with your dog. In such a situation a bite isn’t completely out of the question, though it is a rare occurance.
There are around 100 adder bites documented in the whole of the UK annually and roughly half a dozen of those occur in the New Forest. If you happen to stumble upon an unsuspecting adder then giving it a wide berth is by far your best bet.
Meeting Ponies
While an adder encounter will probably never happen on your walk, it’s very likely, in fact pretty much certain that you’ll see New Forest ponies. They may appear to be wild animals, but in actual fact they are all privately owned and are very used to humans. They tend not to run off if you approach them, but it’s always best to express caution when you are near them.
Approaching any of the Commoner-owned animals on the Open Forest and Heathland, that can include ponies, cattle and pigs is strongly discouraged. Please also be advised that feeding them is strictly prohibited.
Staying On Track
If you’ve never visited the area before, carrying a map would be a sensible idea. While the New Forest isn`t a vast wilderness where your life could be in danger if lost, it is possible to get disoriented and confused sometimes!
Be rest assured you will never be too far away from help, and using some common sense beforehand will go along way. Though not seeing anyone for a few hours is quite possible, particularly on weekdays.
As with anywhere new or unfamiliar, taking the necessary precautions is vital. Having said that, the walking in this beautiful landscape is fantastic and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a relaxing an enjoyable experience whilst walking in The New Forest.