NEW FOREST
220 SQUARE MILES of ancient woodland and heath and pony-grazed glades in the south-east of England: no wonder this national park is a popular spot. But local readers tell us you don’t have to go far to escape the crowds. “I walk in the New Forest every day,” says Clare Johnston, “and as soon as
I get away from the car parks I hardly see anyone, especially as I like exploring the small grassy tracks rather than the main ones.” Elaine Davenport agrees: “I live on the New Forest and you can go pretty much anywhere and be on your own most of the time. Bolderwood is very popular but once you walk away from the picnic area and deer viewing platform, there are generally empty tracks. I would probably go to Acres Down as the car park is tucked away down a side road, or Church Place in Ashurst, or King’s Hat Inclosure.”
Maria Hutchings describes a 14-mile loop from Godshill Wood near Fordingbridge on the western fringe of the park as her favourite: “There’s a different view at every turn and you’ll visit historic Breamore with its Miz Maze, gorgeous tiny villages with ridiculously cute churches, and three pub stops. It’s not in the usual forest haunts so it’s away from the many visitors.” (Find a route guide at fancyfreewalks.org/Hampshire/Fordingbridge.pdf ).
And there’s coastal walking too. Richard Inns says “...a route at Pennington Marshes and Keyhaven in the most southern part of the national park is great, along with a walk along the spit and around Hurst Castle”, and Jenny Leckenby suggests you go ‘out to Moonhills near Beaulieu, then down to the beach at Lepe for a walk along the shoreline towards Calshot and back again, before a pint at the Royal Oak or Montagu Arms”.