Countryside access
The New Forest National Park has over 30,000 hectares of accessible countryside and 310 kilometres of public rights of way for you to explore and enjoy.
The Crown Lands, which are managed by the Forestry Commission, make up the majority of the accessible land. There are no designated public rights of way on the Crown Lands, and here there are many tracks and paths to follow and you may walk freely across the open heathland and through the woodland.
Up to date information about open access land is available from Natural England on the Countryside Access website. The Ordnance Survey Explorer Series maps clearly show both open access land and public rights of way.
The rights of way in the area are a great way to experience the New Forest on foot, bicycle or horseback. They are managed by Hampshire County Council and Wiltshire County Council.
