The New Forest Walking Festival returns for 2026 offering guided walks for all to boost health and wellbeing in the National Park.
The popular annual event is back for its 14th year running from Saturday 17 October until Sunday 1 November set against a stunning autumn backdrop celebrating wildlife, heritage, and communities in the Forest.
A packed programme of events includes family-friendly walks during the school half-term and a spooky Halloween weekend, as well as chances to discover the National Park through the eyes of rangers and other Forest experts.
All the events across the fortnight invite people to spend time outside feeling the benefits nature can have on their physical and mental health.
From folklore-based and mindful forest bathing sessions to discovering centuries-old charcoal producing traditions, learning how to identify some of the thousands of New Forest fungi, to joining National Park Authority rangers for a series of accessible and longer routes, the Walking Festival has something for all.
This year’s New Forest Walking Festival forms part of a month-long ‘For-Rest’ campaign of health and wellbeing initiatives across the National Park, itself part of National Park UK’s ‘national parks are the answer’ initiative. Look out for more during October at
www.newforestnpa.gov.uk.
- Biofluorescent night walks with National Park Authority rangers and wildlife experts
- Guided bird watching with Bird Aware Solent
- Conservation, coppicing, and charcoal walks with Pondhead Conservation Trust
- Fungi identification walks with a wildlife expert
- Halloween wildlife explorer sessions for the whole family
- Autumn tours with the Head Gardener at Exbury Gardens
- Networking walks for local professionals, students and volunteers interested in nature
New Forest National Park Authority Access and Learning Manager, Jim Mitchell, said:
‘Spending time in nature is a fantastic way to improve your physical and mental health, and the New Forest Walking Festival gives plenty of opportunities to get involved.
‘The Festival offers a fascinating variety of events celebrating the nature and history that makes the National Park such a special place.
‘From family-friendly and accessible walks to the chance to learn about the area’s wildlife and traditions, the Walking Festival is a great opportunity to explore a new corner of the Forest.’
Led by the New Forest NPA, the two-week Walking Festival brings walks together from organisations across the Forest.
Find the full events timetable and book tickets at: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/walkingfestival.
Please remember to always follow the New Forest code when out enjoying the National Park: https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/visiting/help-care-for-the-forest/new-forest-code/
You can find and download walking and accessible routes through the NPA website year-round at: https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/enjoying/things-to-see-do/walking/.
The routes are also available through the New Forest National Park Walks app, which was downloaded nearly 26,000 times last year. The app features GPS navigation to keep you on the right track even without phone signal, and a checklist so you can tick off all the walks you have completed.
Parking charges apply, including in Forestry England car parks. Find out more.