Spring
With time to listen to water and the buds of flowers opening, spring is the perfect, fresh-air walk you need. With hints of bluebells, wild garlic and beautiful crisp skies, this circular walk around Boldre Village unfolds like a gentle narrative across the New Forest’s softer edges. Beginning at the welcoming door of the Red Lion Pub, the route threads through hedgerows and pastoral fields, crosses the meandering Lymington River by footbridge, then climbs toward the curve of Church Road to pause at St John the Baptist, then follows to Roydon wood and manor before looping back to the pub.
Distance: 4.3 miles (6.9 km)
Duration: 2-3 hours
Summer
Gather the family for a stroll along some of the beaches nearby or encounter some of the New Forest’s charming Deer.
The Bolderwood Deer Watch Trail is a leisurely circular walk through towering beech and oak, leading to a viewing platform where fallow deer graze in serene meadows. From Easter to mid-September, a keeper feeds the deer daily, offering a quiet spectacle of forest life. The gentle, accessible path, dotted with benches, invites pause and reflection with the calm of the New Forest.
Distance: 0.3 miles (0.5 km)
Duration: Under 1 hour
Autumn
It can be tricky to choose what to do with so many things to do in the New Forest in Autumn. Leaves begin to turn rich shades of orange and red as they then begin to fall, and our pockets fill up with conkers and acorns.
In autumn, Rockford Common transforms into an enchanted dreamland, as the air turns crisp with the scent of the deep greens of ancient oaks and birches. In the fields, you will find Gloucester Old Spot pigs, where pannage is carried out each autumn. The domestic pigs forage and eat acorns, protecting the ponies and cattle.
Discover sand pits, Bronze Age burial mounds, heathland and Moyles Court Manor House, perfect for a cosy day exploring.
Distance: 1.7 miles (2.7 km) or 2.5 miles (4km)
Duration: 45 minutes or 1.5 hours
Winter
Wrap up warm and awaken your senses along coastal paths of the Lymington Marshes. For keen bird spotters, winter is when the largest number of wading birds can be seen visiting, including wigeon, redshanks and curlews!
Begin at Lymington Town Station, stepping out into the narrow cobbled lanes, past the bustle of the quay, sea water baths and harbour. The walk then leads onto the seawall, where tidal mudflats lie and the salt marshes stretch toward the distant Solent of the Isle of Wight. This walk is just moments away from your Stanwell suite.
Distance: 3.7 miles (6 km)
Duration: 1-2 hours
New Forest Cycling Tours
Cycling tours in the New Forest offer a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and natural beauty. With over 100 miles of designated cycle routes winding through ancient woodlands, open heathlands, and charming villages, riders can enjoy peaceful, traffic-free paths surrounded by wildlife such as New Forest ponies and deer. No matter your ability, our partnership with New Forest Cycling Tours offers guided tours and bike rentals, making it easy to explore this stunning National Park at your own pace.
FAQs
Can I walk anywhere in the New Forest?
Yes! You can walk freely on most open access land, including heath, grassland, and unenclosed woodland. Avoid private land and respect any temporary closures for wildlife or conservation. Always follow the New Forest Code: keep dogs under control, leave gates as found, and don’t disturb wildlife.
Do you have to pay to go into the New Forest?
To enter the New Forest, you do not need to pay and can walk, cycle, or horse-ride freely across the public land. However, you may need to pay for parking in designated areas if you want to drive. We do have free parking at Stanwell House when you are a guest, if you want to walk or use public transport.
What is the best time to visit the New Forest?
It really depends on what you plan on doing when visiting or even your favourite season, but most visitors tend to visit the New Forest from Spring to Autumn between May and September. Summer can get quite busy, but it does have some of the warmest weather for outdoor activities, or wrap up warm in the quieter months and encounter some of the shyer wildlife.
Do you need a car to visit the New Forest?
You do not need a car to visit the New Forest and can actually be most scenic when taking public transport, walking or cycling from your stay at Stanwell House.
