Here’s a small selection of some of my personal favourites:

Longdown/Deerleap Inclosure – free car parking opposite the New Forest Wildlife Centre, Longdown Road, Nr Marchwood.  (Note: the gravel road into the car park is very bumpy!)

Route 1: Take the left hand gravel path for a circular, mostly flat but in some parts gently uphill, walk of between 1-2 hrs (depending on which way you choose to go).  There is a short cut back through the woods for a 1 hour walk, or continue towards the railway then join the open space and follow a different path back for a longer walk.  Generally fair underfoot.  You may pass the occasional cyclist in dry weather.

On a sunny, frosty day this route is beautifully austere and wonderfully peaceful.  Despite the occasional glimpses of a house in the distance, its solitude is something to savour.  

Route 2: Alternatively, go straight ahead from the car park for an enjoyable ramble over  grass, or follow the right hand path, also straight ahead, which takes you up past the gated entrance to the actual Deerleap Inclosure on the right (Longdown Inclosure being behind you).

You can choose to enter the Inclosure (dogs must be kept on leads due to ground nesting birds) on a circular walk, or continue to walk ‘freestyle’ as far as you wish in the open spaces.

I personally enjoy the variety of landscape on this ‘freestyle’ walk. You pass a viaduct which attracts birdlife when quiet – I spotted a Little Egret; you can cross the railway bridge leading to several watering holes for dogs to splash in; and out on to typical open heathland where you will see ponies and sometimes cattle.  

This walk is mostly easy apart from one small section of gentle hill, and usually fair to good underfoot.  (Muddy in sections in wet weather but passable).

It can be as long as you want – allow at least 40 minutes but an hour or more would be better to explore it more fully.  

This is a popular place for walkers, with and without dogs.  The gravel paths and Deerleap Inclosure itself are suitable for sturdy pushchairs and bikes.

Although you are likely to come across a few other people at most times of day, the size of these routes make it feel like open countryside and there is plenty of room for throwing a ball for your dog too!


Dibden Inclosure

– always good for a brisk hour’s walk (and a picnic in good weather).  My favourite area is the views of open heathland glimpsed from the path where birds of prey can be seen circling, and the knotty fallen oaks on the return leg.  

There are many different choices of walks within the Enclosure, from wooded to open heath. Good variety of terrain and pleasant views.  

Can be uphill to ‘strenuous’ in places but flat routes can be easily found if sticking to the gravel paths.  Generally good underfoot on the main paths. Good for mountain biking, pushchairs OK on main paths only unless all-terrain types. The car park is bumpy but large!

Most walks are circular – sort of!  Allow an hour for a comfortable circuit.

Popular with dog walkers & cyclists during good weather, but never feels crowded.

Marchwood Inclosure – a much shorter walk that will take about 30 minutes round depending on speed, but still good for meandering through the woods.  

Can be wet underfoot – choose your route according to the weather.

Uphill in places including a strenuous uphill path towards the back of the Inclosure – good for exercise though!

Popular with dog walkers but be careful at the back of the Inclosure if your dog’s recall is a bit dodgy – this is the area where you come within a few hundred yards of Beaulieu Road (and maybe see enticing rabbits or horses nearby).  

I like this Inclosure for a shorter walk, the only negative for me being an unusually high frequency of dog mess & human rubbish on the actual path back to the car park - which has been a magnet for my dogs several times!  

Wildlife - I once saw an adder basking on a sunny afternoon, always plenty of birdlife.