Our Favourite Walks

There are plenty of wonderful walks near our parks, why not try out some of these fantastic places this weekend.

Hengistbury Head

Voted number 4 out of 25 in TripAdvisor's top beaches in the United Kingdom, this is an ideal place for those who want to see the abundance of wildlife that thrives here. More than 500 plant species and more than 300 bird species have been recorded here over time as well as many reptiles and amphibians, making Hengistbury Head a place of importance for wildlife. Hengistbury Head is also great for dog walking as the beach is dog friendly.

 You can find out more on the Hengistbury Head website.

 New Forest

There are plenty of fantastic walks around the New Forest for all ages as well as a selection of pubs on route so you can refuel after your stroll. There's also the chance to spot the famous New Forest pony as well as cattle, deer and lots of other wildlife which call the New Forest their home. 

More details on walking routes in the New Forest can be found on the New Forest National Park website.

Swanage

Swanage is the perfect place to take in some beautiful views as well as historic landscapes. There are many walks that take you throughout the countryside and heathland, some are for more experienced walkers, however there are some suitable for pushchair and wheelchair users.

Corfe Castle, located nearby, is also great place to explore. With its high vantage point across the surrounding area you can take in some beautiful views and you might even see the steam train cut across the landscape.

There are some fantastic Swanage walking routes on the Walking in England website.  

Brownsea Island

Filled with plenty to do for the whole family, Brownsea Island is the perfect place to explore. There are many varied habitats including woodland, heathland, lagoon and more, making it a fantastic place for wildlife. Brownsea Island is also one of the few places in southern England where you can see red squirrels; due to the lack of predators and grey squirrels, the population is thriving.

You can find out more about Brownsea Island walking routes on the Brownsea Island website.   

Milford on Sea

There are some beautiful walks only a few miles away from Shorefield Country Park. Enjoy a stroll along the cliff-tops or maybe take a walk on one of the many dog friendly beaches in the area.

There are some spectacular views of the Isle of Wight, Bournemouth and Swanage to be enjoyed as well, so remember to bring your camera along with you.

You can find out more about walking in Milford on Sea on the Enjoy Milford on Sea website.

So if you do head out on any of the walks we've suggested, remember to post your pictures on our Facebook page. WI 

Hurst Castle

On Saturday I visited Hurst Castle, a place full of history as well as beautiful views of the South Coast and the Isle of Wight. There are two ways you can get over to the castle, you can walk the 1.5 miles from Milford-On-Sea on the shingle spit or take a ferry which leaves every 20 minutes from Keyhaven or Hurst. We opted for the ferry from Keyhaven which took about 10 minutes and cost £5.50 for a return each.

Once we arrived we were amazed at the size of the castle; two large wings were built in the Napoleonic wars and they surround the original castle built by Henry VIII. Due to its diverse history there is plenty to explore, including barracks and shell stores from its time as a manned fortress during World War II, large 38 ton guns from the Napoleonic wars, the area that Charles I was thought to be imprisoned before his trial and execution in London and much more.

It took us a good hour and half to make our way round the Henry VIII part of the castle as there was a lot to look at. Most of the rooms were accessible and once you had climbed to the top of the castle there were amazing views over to Milford and the Isle of Wight, making it the perfect photo opportunity. We then made our way over to the other wing which featured more of the World War II historical items and rooms such as the laundry, barracks and a theatre which is thought to be the only surviving World War 2 ENSA theatre.

I would recommend Hurst Castle as place to visit if you are staying at one of our parks; it does take quite a while to explore fully and some of the rooms are completely empty which means you do have to use your imagination a bit. However, it is a very important historical landmark and very much worth a visit especially for the views.

 You can see more photos on our Facebook page. WI