The 2025 New Forest Walking Festival has been hailed a success by organisers.

This year the festival ran for two weeks from 18 October to 2 November, with expert-guided walks for all interests and abilities.

This year, the festival marked the 20th anniversary of the New Forest being designated a National Park.

Dozens of organisers hosted events with around a third of the fortnight’s 47 walks sold out or having registrations closed, and numerous others close to being full.

Highlights of the 2025 Walking Festival included a heritage walk on the Breamore Railway Line with the project leaders working on improvements, a series of Ranger-led walks, a Young Commoner-led session, and multiple fungi identification events. 

Accessible and family-friendly sessions with Halloween, folklore, and woodland themes also proved popular. 

New Forest National Park Authority lead access and volunteering officer, Adam Vasey, said the Walking Festival was “the perfect way to explore the New Forest”.

“‘2025 has been another fantastic year for the New Forest Walking Festival and it was lovely to see such enthusiasm in the National Park’s 20th anniversary year. 

“The Festival is a real opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to experience the Forest and to meet some of those working hard to protect it, while discovering ways we can all help. 

“A huge thank you to all the organisers and everybody who attended an event to take the chance to discover the wonderful New Forest.”