5 Of The Best Scenic Walks in Hampshire
Given its abundance of beautiful countryside, ancient woodlands and nature reserves, deciding on a walking route in Hampshire is no easy feat. National parks, rivers, forests, salt marshes, rugged coastline, pretty villages… there’s plenty of variety here, whether you’re after a short walk, a family walk, a circular walk or a long-distance route.
To help you pick one that suits you, we’ve chosen five of the best scenic walks Hampshire has to offer, for visitors, locals and long-distance ramblers alike. And if you are a visitor to the area – or taking on one of the long-distance trails – you’ll need a place to rest your head. Camping and glamping are lovely ways to extend your outdoor time, so take a look at Pitchup’s range of outdoor accommodation to find a place suitable for your needs.
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New Forest National Park
Hampshire’s most famous natural area and England’s smallest national park, the New Forest National Park has lots to offer for walkers of all ages and abilities. The park has over 140 miles of trails, tracks and footpaths through its peaceful woodland, and it’s also home to free-wandering deer, cattle, donkeys, pigs and New Forest ponies (naturally) – with plenty of excellent pubs and cafés to visit as well.
There are lots of great walks to choose from in the New Forest – try the short Bolderwood Deer Watch Trail for wildlife-spotting with young children or the five-mile Bishop’s Dyke Walk for a circular walk from a train station. The seven-mile Brook to Minstead walk is another great choice, but our favourite walk has to be the Denny Wood circular trail.
This easy five-mile circular walk near Lyndhurst takes you into the heart of the forest, with something different to see in every season – it’s particularly fabulous in autumn, when the trees put on a colourful display. The area is home to woodpeckers, owls and an assortment of other birds, and you may well spot some of the resident deer as you walk too. If the full five-mile trail is too much for you, there are shorter trails around Denny Wood too – including a wheelchair-accessible trail.
The Solent Way Walk
If it’s coastal rambles you prefer, take a look at the Solent Way Walk, a 60-mile hike along Hampshire’s edge stretching from Milford-on-Sea to Emsworth Harbour. The waymarked route takes you through the county’s prettiest harbours and deserted coastal marshes, with plenty of riverside pubs, seafront cafés and places of interest to visit along the way.
Notable places to visit en route include Lymington, Beaulieu, Hurst Castle, Buckler’s Hard and Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard; you’ll also pass through several nature reserves and enjoy spectacular views out over the Solent as you walk.
The Solent Way Walk is divided into eight sections, ranging from three to 12 miles, so it’s a great option for either a multi-day hike or a single day of walking – perhaps with some stops along the way to visit attractions and enjoy waterside drinks and meals. There are car parks and decent public transport options along the way to help you return to your starting point.
The Chawton Loop
For book lovers, Hampshire is Jane Austen country, and a walk along the Chawton Loop is the best opportunity to explore both the village and surroundings that were once home to this great literary figure.
This circular trail starts in the village of Chawton, near Alton, and passes places like St. Nicholas church, Noar Copse (the highest point, for outstanding views), the village of Farringdon and its Church of All Saints, and the now-disused Meon Valley railway line. It combines very well with a visit to Jane Austen’s House, the cottage where she lived and wrote several of her novels, and a stop at one of the pubs in Chawton or Farringdon.
For more Austen action, spend some time in the city of Winchester, which has a good number of landmarks including the places of the author’s birth, death and burial.
South Downs Way National Trail
Up for a good challenge? Plan a walk along the South Downs Way National Trail. At 100 miles in length, it runs across the full length of the South Downs National Park, taking you from Winchester in the west to the seaside town of Eastbourne in the east.
Along the way you’ll take in countryside and coast views, passing through woodland, farmland, river valleys and hilly areas, including the 270-metre ascent to Hampshire’s highest point at Butser Hill. Old Winchester Hill, Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Amberley village, Arundel castle and cathedral, Devil’s Dyke, the Seven Sisters cliffs and Beachy Head lighthouse are among the sights to see as you walk the trail.
Completing the full 100-mile length of the South Downs Way usually takes around 8-10 days depending on how long you spend exploring the villages and sights along the way. That’s not for everyone, of course, but this trail is endlessly flexible, lending itself to day-long point-to-point walks or linking up with local paths to form circular routes. 
Shipwrights Way
Another good long-distance trail is the Shipwrights Way, with 50 miles of superb trekking trail running from north to south through some of the most captivating scenery in Hampshire. The route’s theme is Hampshire’s extensive shipbuilding history – fittingly, it starts at Alice Holt Forest, a major source of ship-building timber in Tudor times, and finishes in Portsmouth where a number of historic ships are now docked.
The route is divided into 12 sections ranging from two to seven miles, so it easily lends itself to day walks as well as multi-day outings. Handy rail stations along the way include Petersfield, Liss, Bentley and Rowlands Castle – all good options for a walk by public transport.
There are lots of wonderful views and interesting attractions along the way, as well as plenty of excellent pubs and cafés. Also look out for the 20 sculptures along the route, carved from Portland stone by artist Richard Perry – they add a lovely extra dimension to the trail.
If you’re visiting the area and want to try a few of our favourite Hampshire walks – or you’re planning one of the long-distance trails – you’ll need a place to stay, and Pitchup has a great range to choose from. With prices starting from just £12 per night, choosing a campsite for a night or two is an excellent way to plan a walking break on a budget. Take a look at the full range below to see what’s on offer.