Walking in the New Forest. Steve Davison

This guidebook presents 30 walks in the New Forest in Hampshire and Wiltshire, Britain's smallest National Park. Easily accessible from Southampton, Bournemouth, Salisbury and Winchester, the New Forest encompasses varied landscapes, from ancient woodlands to open heaths, rivers and coastline. Routes of between 5 and 16km (3 and 10 miles) explore the Forest, mainly on fairly flat terrain, often on well-defined tracks and paths. Most walks are suitable for all the family and many can be combined to make longer outings. Each walk is described in detail, highlighting the many points of interest in this area – ancient sites and castles, picture postcard villages with thatched cottages or historic churches – with fascinating background detail. An extract of 1:25,000 OS mapping makes each route easy to follow, and suggestions for refreshment stops like pubs and tea rooms are included. All walks offer a good chance of seeing wildlife, including the famous New Forest ponies. This area has been protected and nurtured by ancient laws for over 900 years, and is the largest remaining area of lowland heath in Europe. It is this sense of history and the unique patchwork of habitats that make walking in the New Forest National Park such a rewarding experience.