New Forest walks

Starting from Knightwood Oak car park, this walk visits the largest oak in the forest.

A woodland walk for all seasons. Stimulate your senses on this short trail around the Forestry Commission's Blackwater Arboretum, with its small but nationally important collection of trees from all over the world. Sensory information boards along the trail. This walk takes you past majestic conifers planted in the 1850s, some of the oldest Douglas fir trees in Britain and includes views of two enormous redwoods.

A flat circular walk with views of two enormous redwoods and using a part of the Tall Trees Trail.

An easy waymarked walk through the Arboretum to experience the woodland and take in the variety of tree species. There are regular seats with backs to rest on along this route.

This is an easy walk through woodland, passing through the Arboretum which houses a beautiful collection of trees from many countries. The walk passes Scrag Hill Nursery and ends with a stroll down a short section of the Tall Trees Trail.

Wander into Bolderwood and back via the deer viewing platform. Starting from Bolderwood car park this meandering route leads you past the deer fields and some majestic trees, the oldest of which date back to 1860. Unfortunately a large number of trees were lost in the Great Storms of 1987 and 1991, but many new trees have been planted and more will be planted over the coming years.

Spot deer on this very short circular walk. This short stroll from Bolderwood car park leads you to a deer viewing platform overlooking fields where wild herds of fallow deer are regularly seen. From Easter to mid-September the herd is fed daily by one of the Forestry England keepers.

A lovely circular walk from Furzey Gardens that takes you through Minstead village and into the New Forest. It is a fairly easy walk although it can get muddy in places. The walk starts at Furzey Gardens Car Park (Free) where there is a delightful cafe serving drinks and light refreshments. Furzey Gardens are a charity to help people with learning difficulties and are open to the public. A reasonable donation is requested on entry.

Brockenhurst is a picturesque village in the heart of the New Forest surrounded by some of the loveliest Forest landscapes. Starting from the village with its famous watersplash, this varied walk takes you across grazed lawns and through riverside woodlands before skirting around the edge of the village to take in some great heathland views. Return through the village to Brockenhurst station.

This walk starts at the village centre before setting out on a circular walk around the edge of the village. There is a gentle uphill climb along Castle Hill Lane where there are good views across the Avon Valley; the perfect setting for stories about dragons and smugglers. The route passes an ancient hill fort on Castle Hill before descending back to the village and along the edge of the Open Forest. The walks return to the village centre past pretty Forest properties and the Queen's Head pub.

Visit the Rufus Stone to discover the mystery surrounding the death of King William II. The route then follows quiet country lanes to the unspoilt village of Minstead where the famous detective writer and spiritualist Sir Arthur Conon Doyle is buried in the grounds of All Saints Church. Return via winding lanes and fields to Canterton and Brook.

From Ashurst railway station this short and easy walk explores a variety of landscapes that characterise the New Forest. The route first takes you past open Forest lawns where ponies graze and through Churchplace Inclosure, a timber plantation, before crossing the railway into Ashurst Wood. Then continue along a road that winds pleasantly through ancient pasture woodland and across a grassy lawn to the historic remains of a saltpetre house. Return via a roadside cycle track to Ashurst village.

This walk starts by passing St Mary's Church before winding through Copythorne Common and its interesting mix of woodland and open glades. The route then follows rhododendron and woodland edged tracks to the Cadnam River and the northern commons. Here you can watch ponies grazing before returning through Newbridge and Copythorne Common back to the start.

A peaceful and varied walk through country lanes, farmland and an ancient woodland nature reserve. Beginning in the pretty village of Boldre, this is a peaceful and varied walk through country lanes, farmland and an ancient woodland nature reserve. The route is dotted with traditional Forest properties and visits St John the Baptist Church, which has a fascinating literary connection with the village. The walk returns alongside the meandering Lymington River to Boldre Bridge.

A comprehensive exploration of a classic area of the New Forest, including open heathland, wildlife-rich woodland, and the Forest's largest area of open water.

This walk takes you along quiet field and woodland paths to the site of an Iron Age hill fort. It then continues to a stream-side hamlet on the edge of Castle Hill. There are views across the beautiful Avon Valley with its wildlife-rich water meadows and pasture and an optional detour to Castle Hill fort before returning along field and woodland paths to Godshill.

A rewarding walk using a superb but little-known permissive path along an attractive stretch of the Solent foreshore, returning via parkland and a former WW2 airstrip.

Stroll along the bird-rich Lymington River, returning via a monument to a local naval hero.

Starting from Fawley town centre, with views over Southampton Water and the historic inlet of Ashlett Creek. This walk is great for families with young children, starting from Fawley town centre and following a pretty country lane with views over Southampton Water to the small and historic inlet of Ashlett Creek. It then passes the Jolly Sailor pub and 19th century tidal mill before following the coast through a contrasting landscape of industry and wildlife.