Autumnal Strolls at Shorefield Holidays
According to a study by the charity, Ramblers, over 10 million people in the UK take a walking holiday each year. So now is the perfect time to slip on your walking boots and soak up all the season has to offer here at Shorefield Holidays.
Whether you’re looking for a weekend break or where to spend your October half-term holiday, there is no better place to enjoy autumn in its full glory than the surrounding areas to our parks. From kicking up the leaves in our bountiful forest walking routes in and around the New Forest, or digging those layers out of the wardrobe and wrapping up for a bracing walk along our Dorset coast line - equally good for you, the choices are endless at our locations.
Get under the boughs
Walking is a great way to maintain physical fitness, and many health experts suggest starting your day with a walk as it can can boost energy levels and serotonin - exactly what you’re looking for from a break from the daily grind at home and work and prevent the traditional autumn and winter blues as the nights draw in.
Whilst our forests look vibrant, green and full in summer, they look even more spectacular in autumn once the trees turn a beautiful bright orange and red throughout the New Forest. Feel the leaves crunch under your feet after watching them fall off the trees to join the autumnal palette on the floor.
The New Forest is also well known for its roaming cattle and ponies and we’re currently in 'Pannage Season' where domestic pigs are released into the forest to eat fallen acorns (also known as ‘Common of mast’). This tradition goes all the way back to the time of William the Conqueror, who founded The New Forest in 1079.
Oakdene Forest Park and Forest Edge Holiday Park also provide the perfect spot to enjoy the fresh autumn air and picturesque views during a leisurely stroll. There are many other fantastic walking trails throughout the New Forest, in close proximity to Shorefield’s parks. Some of these walking routes include:
Rockford Common - 21 minute drive from Oakdene Forest Park
Hale and Woodgreen - 22 minute drive from Forest Edge Park
Blackwater Trail - 25 minute drive from Shorefield Country Park
Plus there’s plenty of bikes to hire in the area for all abilities so no need to worry if you haven't ridden a bike since childhood - grab an ebike to take a little of the load!
Beach life…not just for Summer
Even though you may have put those flip flops away, you’ll find plenty of reasons to get down on the beach when you visit our parks. Our coastline is one of the UK’s hidden treasures with brightly coloured beach huts, pebbles for skimming, rock pools for marine discoveries and all the way through to world famous and very instagrammable spots like Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove on the Jurassic Coast.
Just a short walk from Shorefield Country Park, you’ll find the beautiful beach of Milford-on-Sea, perfect for strolling with children and dogs. Amble your way down the beach for a bracing walk on the endless expanse, where some days it may feel like you’re the only person on the beach. Warm-up with a flask of hot chocolate and take in the coastal breeze. Or why not take on a 45-minute walk across the beach to Hurst Castle, one of the most idyllic day trips in the New Forest, complete with sea views overlooking the Isle of Wight.
Nestled in the hills above Swanage beach lies Shorefield’s Swanage Coastal Park. When staying on this park you have direct access to rocky clifftop paths for strolls along the Jurassic Coast and the more well known seaside and beach resorts of Bournemouth and Poole are just a short drive away.
What's more, Shorefield's properties are all pet friendly, so that means your furry companion is more than welcome to join you on your Autumn outdoor adventures. Then head back to our parks and cocoon up with a cosy night in or grab a cheeky hot tub on the deck with a mug of hot chocolate.
