Discover the best of the New Forest on this rewarding circular walk linking the villages of Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst.

Wander through peaceful forest tracks and ancient woodland, cross the Lymington River at Bolderford Bridge, and enjoy plenty of opportunities to stop for a coffee, cake or pub lunch at either village

With historic landmarks, beautiful scenery and classic New Forest landscapes, this walk is a fantastic way to experience the area on foot.

Clockwise route

Lyndhurst to 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.

The Frohawk Ride was created in 1995 to commemorate the contribution to the study of butterflies made by Frederick William Frohawk (1861-1946).

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 also departs from Lyndhurst village car park.

Clockwise route

Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst

 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.

Turn left at the the junction with Chapel Lane. Cross the A35 and turn right and walk towards the centre of Lyndhurst.

The 86 New Forest Breezer goes to Ashurst and Southampton from The Crown Hotel. It goes to Brockenhurst from Goose Green.
The New Forest Tour Red also departs from Lyndhurst village car park.

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.

Cross at the zebra crossing and go up the path into the adjoining grounds of the Parish Church of St Michael and All-Angels. The Victorian church dominates the skyline of the village and if you follow the path round the back of the building, you’ll see the memorial to a Mrs Reginald Hargreaves in the graveyard. 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 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.

Anti-clockwise route

Lyndhurst to Brockenhurst

From the Lyndhurst village car park, exit from the top entrance alongside the community centre and walk up Church Lane and into the church grounds of St Michael and All Angels.

The Victorian church dominates the skyline of the village and if you follow the path round the back of the building, you’ll see the memorial to a Mrs Reginald Hargreaves in the graveyard. 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 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.

Leave the church grounds and cross the high street using the zebra crossing in front of the infants school.

Turn left and walk out of the village on the footpath along Bournemouth Road.

On the other side of the road you’ll see the King’s House. The imposing red brick building currently houses Forestry England offices, but it 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.

Discover more about the history of Lyndhurst on our Lyndhurst Explorer walk

Continue walking out of the village for 450m. Cross the road and walk down Chapel Lane for 400m before turning on to Pinkney Lane.

Walk along the lane for 1.2km until you reach the gate leading in to Brick Kiln Inclosure at cycle marker post 259.

Continue on the downhill path straight through the inclosure for 1km. Beech, oak and sweet chestnut trees are all around. The inclosure was the site of a brick kiln which supplied the local area with bricks until the late 19th Century. You can still see some bricks in the path under your feet.

Go through the gate at the end of the inclosure and continue on the path across the small open area of Butts Lawn.

Follow the path as it bends to the right and then splits after 450m. Turn left and go through the gate in to New Park Plantation at cycle marker post 258.

Follow the path through the inclosure, turning right at cycle marker post 262 and exiting the inclosure by the gate close to Bolderford Bridge.

Cross the bridge and at cycle marker post 264, take the track to the left that leads straight across Black Knowl for 1.45km towards Brockenhurst.

When you reach Meerut Road, cross the road to the footpath alongside Rhinefield Road which passes St Anne’s Church as you head towards the village centre. At the ford, known as Brookley Watersplash, turn left across the footbridge and head up Brookley Road. There are a number of shops and cafes to stop at, or continue for 600m 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.

If you do not wish to go to the station, turn left on to Grigg Lane and follow the road past the football club until it meets Lyndhurst Road.

Anti-clockwise route

Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst

From the station, turn left and follow the A337 Lyndhurst Road out of the village, passing Carey’s Manor Hotel.

Continue walking out of the village and, after passing the Balmer Lawn Hotel enter Hollands Wood campsite on your right. Walk the length of the central path through the campsite until you reach cycle marker post 277 at its perimiter.

Follow the path straight ahead, past the barrier, and continue straight through the woods. The path eventually heads up hill. Pass through the gate and continue on the path until it reaches cycle marker post 275.

Turn right and after a short distance, you’ll come to cycle marker post 274. Turn left and follow the path as it dips then climbs to meet a T-junction at cycle marker post 273.

Walk to the next junction opposite Frohawk Ride.
The Frohawk Ride was created in 1995 to commemorate the contribution to the study of butterflies made by Frederick William Frohawk (1861-1946).

At cycle marker post 272, and turn left. Walk for 450m towards another junction at cycle marker post 271.

Go straight ahead at the crossroads and continue for 700m as the path bends round to the right before coming to a gate at cycle marker post 270.

Turn left and walk 1.5km along Beechen Lane through some wonderful ancient woodlands. Go through the inclosure gate and walk along the remainder of Beechen Lane until you come to the junction with the A337.

Turn right and walk the short distance to Goose Green.

The 86 New Forest Breezer goes to Brockenhurst from Goose Green. It goes to Ashurst and Southampton from the Crown Hotel and Lyndhurst fire station
The New Forest Tour Red route also departs from Brockenhurst Station.

When the footpath ends, cross on to the path across Goose Green and turn right, heading up Gosport Lane for 550m. Either turn into the car park and New Forest Heritage Centre on the left, or continue a short distance further to join Lyndhurst High Street.

In Pictures