A walkers paradise, the New Forest is a less-shouted about gem for a short break in the UK. Offering both coast and countryside, it’s perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer trip.
There’s nowhere better if you love spending time outdoors. Walking is the obvious pastime but the area is also popular with cyclists and runners. I was keen to hit the trails for a change of scenery, as someone who’s been pretty much exclusively road running for the last five years. There’s a beautiful, but challengingly hilly, route through Wilverley Inclosure which was the first run of the weekend. I can see why people love trail running, being among the trees with so much to look at, the famous New Forest horses even made an appearance.
If pub walks are your thing, you’ll be spoilt for choice. A long afternoon walk across the heathland followed by lunch in a cosy pub, or a stop for tea, coffee and a slice of cake in one of the cafes should be top of the to-do list for your weekend in the New Forest. The village of Beaulieu offers exactly this, you can walk along the scenic river to the next village, Buckler’s Hard which is about two miles and stop at either end.
To get among the trees, visit the Blackwater Arboretum which again offers an extensive network of running, walking and cycling trails through the forest.
I’d recommend finishing the weekend with a trip to the seaside. Highcliffe Beach is a stunning stretch of sandy shingle, with views across to the Needles off the coast of the Isle of Wight on a clear day. The beach is popular with bodyboarders which made entertaining people watching from the rocks and there are walks along the cliffs or beach with great views.
