The New Forest named ‘Europe’s best national park for hiking’ & our top New Forest hiking trails
Good news! The New Forest has been named ‘Europe’s best national park for hiking’.
According to data by ‘Cotswold Outdoor’, the New Forest is top spot for the best choice of activities and resources with a huge selection of 216 hiking trails. This is amazing news for visitors and holidaymakers in the area, with tough competition against more than 80 of Europe’s national parks.
The top five are the Lake District, Teide National Park, Calanques National Park in Spain and Krka National Park in Croatia.
If you’re curious about hiking levels, the parks average hike distance and duration is 9.3km and 2.2hrs making them one of the easiest in the continent.
Looking to explore the New Forest? Our sites are your perfect base! Find out which location is the best choice for your adventuring needs by checking out our Holiday Locations.
Now for our top picks of places to explore near us in the New Forest...
Denny Wood, Hampshire (3 miles, 1 1/2 hours)
A great starter trail for those looking for their first exploration of the New Forest. Look out for the famous fallow deer stags on route as they dart through the ancient heathlands.
Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst, Hampshire (9 miles, 5 hours)
For those that want to make a day of it, this 9 mile walk starts at Hollands Wood in Brockenhurst and finishes at the picturesque village of Lyndhurst.
The Solent Way, Hampshire (97km, several days)
The closest route to our Shorefield Country Park site, this long distance route runs through Hampshire from Milford-on-Sea to Emsworth Harbour. It's usually divided between a couple of days and takes the adventurer through coastline, heaths, woodlands, estuary and marshes. Our favourite part is the picturesque walk through Beaulieu village with its extensive history.
Tall Tree Trails, New Forest (1.5 miles, 30 minutes)
If you're looking for outstanding natural beauty, head for the Tall Tree Trails at the famous Rhinefield Ornamental Drive. This choice is the perfect one for those with younger families as it's mostly a gentle and flat walk.
