8 family-friendly walks in the New Forest

If you’re looking for walks near Brockenhurst, the Tall Trees Trail is one of the most popular New Forest circular walks for families.

The Tall Trees Trail at Blackwater is a woodland walk, comprising some of the oldest trees in the New Forest.

It’s a family-friendly, circular walk of 1.5 miles which leads under some magnificent trees, including redwoods and two giant sequoias.  Information boards along the way provide a handy guide to what to look out for.

Finally, at the end of the Tall Trees trail you can do an additional walk around Blackwater Arboretum.  This arboretum is small but has a collection of over 100 tree species from around the world.  The Blackwater Arboretum Trail is about 1 mile.

Now, one of the best places for a nature walk near Lyndhurst is from the Bolderwood Green car park on Ornamental Drive.   This is one of the top New Forest walks for kids, especially if they love wildlife.

The viewing platform is one of the easiest places to see deer in the New Forest, as it overlooks the feeding areas. New Forest Rangers come daily to the field to feed the deer (from Easter to September), so you’ll get a good view of the wild animals.

Take a left at the viewing platform, to follow the way-marked Radnor Trail.  This 2-mile trail is one of the quieter New Forest nature trails, ideal for spotting wildlife.

If you’re looking for New Forest coastal walks, give the Solent Way a go.

The Solent Way runs for 60 miles on the coastal path from Milford-on-Sea to Emsworth Harbour.  This long-distance hike is divided into 8 sections, so you can do as little or much as you please.

The Solent Way is a picturesque coastal trail, which passes pretty harbours, charming villages, and historical attractions.

One of our favourite sections of the Solent Way is the first stretch from Milford-on-Sea.  This is one of the most enjoyable New Forest Coastal walks for families.

The walk starts on the shingle spit, which leads to Hurst Castle.  History lovers will enjoy a stop at this Tudor fortress, built in built in 1544 to protect the entrance to the Solent.  Hurst Castle now belongs to English Heritage.  Admission is cheap, so it’s worth a visit.  If not, you could stop outside for a coffee and look at the lighthouse.

From Hurst Castle, you can retrace your steps or return on the passenger ferry to Keyhaven Marshes.  This nature reserve provides a fabulous route for nature lovers and bird spotters.  It’s also a good spot for crabbing, so perfect fun for children.

Another scenic walk on the Solent Way is the stretch from the charming village of Beaulieu to Buckler’s Hard.  It’s one of the loveliest walks near Beaulieu and ideal for families.

This riverside walk is on a flat, easy trail, which follows the route of the River Beaulieu.

On arrival, you can explore Buckler’s Hard, the shipbuilding village which provided the fleet for Admiral Nelson.  Then, have a wander round the Maritime Museum, pop into some of the houses, before stopping by the river for an ice-cream.

Afterwards, you can return on the same route.  Obviously, you could do this trail in reverse!

The Burley Food Trail starts in the centre of Burley, a village steeped in legends of witches and dragons.  It’s one of the most unique walks near Burley and perfect for food lovers.

Families will love the short route, which takes you on a food tour of local tea rooms and pubs.  It’s bursting with opportunities to sample New Forest produce.

If you’re feeling energetic,  extend your walk along the disused railway line to The Old Station House Tea Rooms at Holmsley.

Burley is also a fantastic place for hiring bikes in the New Forest, with nine traffic-free cycle routes starting in the village.

Another popular circular walk near Brockenhurst is at Whitefield Moor.  Here, you’ll find two waymarked circular routes, both of which take you along the Ober Water.

From the car park follow the path until you reach Puttles Bridge.  This crosses a pretty stretch of stream, which flows from nearby Burley.  It’s a way-marked trail (the red route), which then follows through the Aldridge woodland until you come to 2 more footbridges.  Cross over the second one which returns back across open heathland to the car park.

The Whitefield Moor walk is ideal for families as you can paddle in the water.  You can also see ponies and cattle grazing in the heathland by the car park.

The last of our family walks in the New Forest is from Ashlett Creek near Fawley to Calshot.  It is a trail of contrasting landscapes, where the area’s industrial past blends seamlessly with the surrounding nature.

The walk starts at the slipway in Ashlett Creek, opposite a historic 19^th century tidal mill.  There is then a choice of two footpaths, depending on whether it is high tide.

The trail to Calshot begins with a pretty country path, but gradually leads to a more industrial landscape.  You’ll see Fawley Power Station and the factory where they paint the blades for wind turbines.  They are enormous!

As the trail reaches the spit at Calshot, you’ll have views across the Calshot Nature Reserve and a tidal pond.  This stretch is perfect if you enjoy New Forest coastal walks, with sweeping views across the Solent.  You can stop at the café at Calshot Activities Centre or continue up to Calshot Castle, another of the Tudor defences on this coastline.

The New Forest is brilliant for family walking, as there is so much to see and do.  It is full of easy, family-friendly walks for all ages.  Whether you want woodland, coast or wildlife, there’s a trail for every type of day out.

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