This circular walk links two of the New Forest’s main villages – Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst. Starting from either village, you’ll wind your way along forest tracks before discovering the history – and tea shops – in each village.

Route from Lyndhurst | (Route from Brockenhurst)

From the centre of Lyndhurst follow Gosport Lane southward, past Goose Green, to Beechen Lane, opposite the Foxlease Park outdoor centre.

Walk down the lane past the houses until you come to the double pedestrian gate into the forest inclosure. Go through the gate and continue straight ahead for about 1.5km until you reach cycle route marker post 270. Take a right turn through the gate.

Continue along the gravel path for about 700m until a junction with another path. Take the path to the right at cycle marker post 271. Continue for another 500m and turn right at cycle marker post 272, opposite the Frohawk Ride.

After 250m, turn left down the hill at cycle marker post 273. After the path climbs again, turn right at cycle marker post 274 and continue along a rougher path for 400m.

At a fork in the path, turn left at cycle marker post 275. Head downhill and pass through a gate which will take you to the edge of the Hollands Wood campsite.

Follow the path straight through the campsite and on to the footpath alongside the A337 in front of the Balmer Lawn Hotel. Walking towards the village, you’ll pass the ‘Brockenhurst Beach’, a stretch of the Lymington River which is a very popular bathing spot for families in the summer.

To by-pass the village centre and continue with the return route to Lyndhurst, cross the A337 and walk down Meerut Road for 800m and join the straight path on the right which heads across the open expanse of Black Knowl.

Follow the road for a further 1km until you reach Brockenhurst Station.

Brockenhurst station has trains to Ashurst, Beaulieu Road and Sway, as well as Lymington.
The 86 New Forest Breezer goes to Lyndhurst and Ashurst.
The New Forest Tour Red, Blue and Green routes also depart from Brockenhurst Station.

 From Brockenhurst Station turn down Brookley Road, past the cycle shop and Foresters Arms pub. Continue down the street until you reach the ford known as the Watersplash. Turn right on to Rhinefield Road and continue for 400m until you reach Meerut Road. Take the straight track across Black Knowl, with the village allotments on your right.

 After 1.2km turn right into the trees and another popular river bathing spot – Bolderford Bridge. Cross the bridge and go through the gate into New Park Plantation at cycle marker post 263. After 90m turn left at cycle marker post 262 and continue on the cycle path for 1.4km. In spring this woodland is a great place to see a display of bluebells.

At the inclosure gate, turn right at cycle marker post 298 and continue on the path as it bends to the right crossing the small open grass area of Butts Lawn. Go through another gate into Brick Kiln Inclosure.

After a gentle 1km climb through the inclosure, you’ll exit on to Pinkney Lane. Turn left to visit the small village of Bank and the popular Oak Inn. Or turn right and follow the lane back towards Lyndhurst. Take care as there is no footpath on the lane.

Cross Chapel Lane and pass along Sandy Lane to get to the high street

At the junction at the top of the high street, you’ll walk past the King’s House. The imposing red brick building has been the seat of power in the New Forest going back centuries. The current building is on the site of the original manor house of Lyndhurst where the king’s official, the Lord Warden of the Forest, would reside. It’s called either the King’s or the Queen’s house depending on the reigning monarch. It houses the Court of Verderers which administers the rights of the New Forest’s 300 Commoners.

The church itself was built in the 1860s, replacing one dating from a century before. However there is evidence of religious activity on the site dating back to medieval times.

The interior features lavish decorations, including a fresco of the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins behind the altar created by Frederic Leighton.

Follow the zigzag path downhill through the church grounds which emerges on to Church Lane. A short walk down the lane will take you back to the car park. Or you can turn left and spend a while exploring the shops, pubs and cafes on the high street.

Route from Brockenhurst

From Brockenhurst Station turn down Brookley Road, past the cycle shop and Foresters Arms pub. Continue down the street until you reach the ford known as the Watersplash. Turn right on to Rhinefield Road and continue for 400m until you reach Meerut Road. Take the straight track across Black Knowl, with the village allotments on your right.

 At the end of the path, turn right into the trees and another popular river bathing spot – Bolderford Bridge. Go through the inclosure gate and follow the marked cycle path into New Park Plantation, turning left after about 90m. In spring this woodland is a great place to see a display of bluebells. At the next inclosure gate, turn right and continue past the small grassy open space of Butts Lawn and through another gate leading into Brick Kiln Inclosure. After a gentle climb through the inclosure, you’ll exit on to Pinkney Lane. Turn left to visit the small village of Bank and the popular Oak Inn. Or turn right and follow the lane back towards Lyndhurst.

From Chapel Lane, cut through Sandy Lane towards the centre of the village.

You’ll walk past the King’s House – the imposing red brick building has been the seat of power in the New Forest going back centuries. The current building is on the site of the original manor house of Lyndhurst where the king’s official, the Lord Warden of the Forest, would reside. It’s called either the King’s or the Queen’s house – depending on the reigning monarch. It houses the Court of Verderers which administers the rights of the New Forest’s 300 Commoners.

Beside the King’s House is the Parish Church of St Michael and All-Angels which dominates the skyline of the village. In the graveyard behind the church you’ll see the memorial to a Mrs Reginald Hargreaves. As a girl, Alice Lidell was the inspiration behind the Alice in Wonderland story written by a family friend, Charles Dodgson, under the pen-name Lewis Carroll.

The church itself was built in the 1860s, replacing one dating from a century before. However evidence of religious activity on the site goes back to medieval times.

Its interior features lavish decorations, including a fresco of the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins behind the altar created by Frederic Leighton.

Exit the churchyard on to Church Lane. Turn left on to the High Street and at the bottom of the street, turn right on to Gosport Lane. Walk for about 1km following Gosport Lane southward, past Goose Green, to Beechen Lane, opposite the Foxlease Park outdoor centre.

Walk down the lane until you come to the gate into the forest inclosure and continue straight ahead for about 1.5km until you reach a cycle route marker post 270. Take a right turn through the gate.

Continue along the gravel path for about 700m until a junction with another path. Take the path to the right at cycle marker post 271. Continue for another 500m and turn right at cycle marker post 272, opposite the Frohawk Ride.

After 250m, turn left down the hill at cycle marker post 273. After the path climbs again, turn right at cycle marker post 274 and continue along a rougher path for 400m. At a fork in the path, turn left at cycle marker post 275. Head downhill and pass through a gate which will take you to the edge of the Hollands Wood campsite.

Follow the path straight through the campsite and onto the A337 in front of the Balmer Lawn Hotel. Walking towards the village, you’ll pass the ‘Brockenhurst Beach’, a stretch of the Lymington River which is a very popular bathing spot for families in the summer.

Continue to walk down the A337, past the Huntsman Pub, back towards the train station.

In Pictures