FREE The New Forest Essential Guide to the National Park 2019 Maps Events guide Places to explore Walking & cycling The New Forest Essential Guide is brought to you by: Welcome Meet Year of Green Action the locals! If you enjoy seeing the When you visit the New Forest one of the first in the New Forest commoners’ animals things you will notice is the free roaming animals. in the National Park It’s rare to travel more than a few miles without The New Forest National Park is a world-class landscape then help us protect of spectacular beauty, rare wildlife and ancient traditions - them through some coming across these famous Forest residents. thanks to a range of organisations working together. simple actions: The ponies, cattle, pigs, donkeys The ponies and cattle are and, in certain areas, sheep sometimes described as ‘the 1. Please #keepyourdistance Join us in celebrating UK National Parks’ 70th birthday graze and forage on unfenced architects of the Forest’. Their from the animals. However common land and are owned grazing creates the special qualities and the Forestry Commission’s 100th birthday with tame they may appear they are by local families using their of the New Forest, that we all love unpredictable, and can bite and exciting activities throughout 2019. commoning rights. and enjoy – the open landscape, kick. Take particular care around the close-cropped ‘lawns’ and the ponies with foals and cattle The members of these families distinctive ‘browse line’ on the especially if you have a dog are called ‘commoners’ – ordinary trees marking the highest point Celebrating 100 with you. people with an extraordinary they can reach. This supports commitment to this special place. years of forestry 2. Please don’t feed the animals. incredible biodiversity, making They have commoning rights from It is vital that they graze naturally, the New Forest a home for many land they own, rent or share that both for their own survival all year rare and threatened species. allows them to graze their animals The New Forest events are part A small grants scheme for groups round and for the benefits this on the Open Forest. of a nationwide Year of Green • to bid for financial support for brings to the landscape. Action - a year-long drive to get their green action ideas Please help reduce animal more people from all ages and 3. The Big Pedall Ride Out– an all- accidents by driving with backgrounds involved in improving •inclusive celebrity-led bike ride extra care, particularly in poor the natural world. Did you for all. visibility. Just #add3minutes The area in which a Many of the initiatives are to your journey across the New pony lives is known specifically aimed at those aged Forest to keep yourself and the know? Plenty more events are planned. as its haunt. 20 or under and include: Read on to see our events pages commoners’ animals safe. Fun wildlife activities for all ages or visit newforestnpa.gov.uk/ The ponies move around their • haunt according to the seasons at the New Forest Show in July YOGA for more details. Animal emergency hotline cards are and weather. In the summer Opportunities for hundreds Plus find out more at: available from Local ponies often go to shade under •of youngsters to take part in Information Points forestryengland.uk/newforest and garages across the same trees each day, outdoor experiences as part newforestnpa.gov.uk the Forest, keep one commoners have names for of the John Muir and National in your wallet so you know what to do if each of these ‘shades’ and will Citizenship Service schemes @newforestnpa you are involved in search them out when looking newforestnpa an accident. for their ponies. 2 3 FREE Walking pack Subscribe to our email newsletter at Walking in the newforestnpa.gov.uk and receive a free Free walking online walking pack of routes and New Forest routes app ranger tips. There’s an easy way for you to follow the best walks routes in the Follow our waymarked walks and trails... New Forest this year The following trails are marked on the ground by wooden marker posts –the National Park’s with coloured bands. An overview map of each route is displayed at the walking routes app. start point in the car park. All routes are circular and will bring you back to Available for Android and iPhone, your starting point. The numbers refer to map locations on centre pages. the app features 27 walking routes of various lengths from coastal strolls to woodland walks. 2 From Bolderwood car park 6 From Blackwater or 3 Reptile Centre car park: It makes following the routes easier Deer Watch Trail Brockhill car parks: Reptile Trail than ever, with GPS navigation 0.75km/0.5 miles Tall Trees Trail 2km/1.5 miles allowing you to see your location A short stroll leading you to a 2.5km/1.5 miles Enjoy a circular walk through the at all times. This removes the need deer viewing platform overlooking Follow the marker posts and you woods. The trail mainly follows a to read a map or decipher written fields where wild herds of fallow will be guided along a shady path fairly smooth, gravelled surface. directions, making it perfect for the deer are frequently seen. The beneath mighty Douglas firs and casual walker. 8 Wilverley car parks: path is a moderately smooth, redwoods that were planted Each route on the app also features Wilverley Wander No smartphone? gravelled surface with gentle during the reign of Queen Victoria. points of interest, where you can 4.2km/2.5 miles slopes and benches along the The path has a fairly smooth, find out about interesting history A longer and more informal trail No problem! way. The trail is accessed by a gravelled surface. The trail is flat or nature facts along the route. gate which has a low catch. with frequent resting places and which winds through this diverse Learn more about All walks are available to no gates. and working woodland. The paths the special qualities Download for free at download and print at Jubilee Grove Trail are moderately smooth, gravelled of the New Forest newforestnpa.gov.uk/walksapp newforestnpa.gov.uk/routes 1.5km/1 mile Blackwater Arboretum Trail surfaces with some short, steep while enjoying a Including the deer fields, this 0.75km/0.5 miles slopes. Please note that part of this healthy stroll. meandering route leads you past A circular route which leads you trail is on a cycle route. some majestic trees, the oldest past tree species from around the of which date back to 1860. world. By following the unique 5 Knightwood car park: Sample walks Benches from which to admire panels you can use your senses Knightwood Oak Keyhaven Marshes their beauty can be found along to discover the secrets that these Less than 0.25 miles A 3.5 mile walk with coastal the way. The path is a moderately trees hold. Benches are located A short stroll to one of the most birdlife and views of the Isle smooth, gravelled surface with two along the walk. The path has a famous trees in the New Forest. of Wight. short ‘but fairly steep’ slopes and fairly smooth, gravelled surface Believed to have been planted frequent resting places. The trail with one very gentle slope. before 1600, this tree is still Burley village is accessed via a gate which has going strong and is a spectacular A 4.2 mile walk full of stories 7 From Whitefield Moor or a low catch. example of the ancient practice of of folklore and smuggling. Puttles Bridge car parks: pollarding. Benches are located Radnor Trail Brook to Minstead village Ober Water Trails throughout. The path has a fairly 3km/2 miles A 7.2 mile walk to the Rufus 1.5km/1 mile (red trail) smooth, gravelled surface. A longer route which takes you 2.5km/1.5miles (yellow trail) Stone to discover the mystery into the heart of the forest and surrounding the death of Two circular routes follow the Miles of waymarked trails across the Bratley Water stream. Ober Water midway between its King William II. to explore! Benches and picnic benches are source and the sea. Close to this Godshill and Castle Hill located along the trail. The path meandering stream is the open A 2.6 mile walk along quiet field is a moderately smooth, gravelled grassy expanse of Whitefield Moor. and woodland paths to the site surface with two short ‘but fairly The paths are moderately smooth, of an Iron Age hill fort. steep’ slopes and frequent resting gravelled surfaces and compacted places. The trail is accessed via a grassy ground with some gentle gate which has a low catch. slopes and a few resting places. This trail can be muddy after wet weather. 4 5 We’ve got the trails are you ready to ride? Explore the National Follow the New Park on two wheels, Forest Cycle Code Adventure with more than 100 The New Forest is a working cycling miles of waymarked forest, with forestry, farming and equestrian activity on its narrow For more adventurous cyclists, family-friendly cycle roads and tracks. Ponies, cattle and there are purpose-built mountain routes, much of it off other animals are free to roam the bike skills circuits at Moors Valley forest and most of its roads. Country Park, Ringwood. Here the public highway and you will find a network of forest traffic-free. Be aware that animals are easily road graded trails, as well as blue startled and may suddenly move graded single track.