With picture-perfect scenery and tranquillity at every turn, the New Forest is a stunning place to visit with your significant other.
Whether you’re making the most of Valentine’s Day, celebrating an anniversary or just want to spend some quality time together, a stay at one of our luxury New Forest cottages could make your getaway all that more memorable!
Plus when you stay at one of our cottages, you’ll be right next to some of the best romantic walks around, perfect for soaking up the beautiful countryside and coastline together.
Feel that wonderful sea breeze against your face along this route that follows part of the Solent Way. Stroll out to Hurst Spit from Milford on Sea before making your way back via Keyhaven.
Along the way, you’ll enjoy wonderful sights of shingle beaches, salt marshes and quaint fishing boats, along with glorious vistas out towards the Isle of Wight.
Once you’ve explored this peaceful route, head back to town to find an array of restaurants, pubs and cafes to recharge. To find out more about this lovely area, read our insider’s guide to Milford on Sea.
For a shorter walk with a great picnic spot at the end, head along the route from Tanners Lane towards Lymington. The walk here isn’t long, and once you’ve walked away from the parking area, you’ll likely find you have the place to yourselves.
Make the short stroll along the coast and marshes before settling in for a beach picnic with spectacular views of The Solent and the Isle of Wight. If you’re lucky, you might even spot some New Forest ponies enjoying Tanners Lane Beach as they’ve been known to roll in the sand here.
If you want to continue on your walk rather than setting up with a picnic for the afternoon, you can do the Tanners Lane and Lymington Pier circular route.
With its dense, ancient woodland, you could head in pretty much any direction in Brockenhurst and stumble across a wonderful walk. One popular route is to head out from the quaint village, skirting heath, marsh and woods to enjoy some of the best scenes the New Forest has to offer, ending by the village’s train station.
Once you make your way back to the village, settle in at one of the many great local pubs and eateries to reward yourself for all your hard work! The Huntsman and The Pig are both great places to make a pit stop.
Just down from Brockenhurst, you’ll find another peaceful village walk providing quintessential New Forest scenes. The route around Boldre takes you through country lanes, farmland and Roydon Woods nature reserve, as well as past various charming historic properties. You’ll also meander alongside the Lymington River as you back your way back to the beginning of the loop.
If you’re visiting in spring, look out for pretty carpets of bluebells on the woodland floor. The start/end of the walk is the Red Lion country pub, which is ideal for a traditional post-walk lunch.
For big open skies and a chance to gaze across vast heathland, head to Lyndhurst. The Heath and Forest walk is a nice, easy circular route that takes you around the heath, inviting you to enjoy the area’s stunning natural beauty. You’ll see lots of ponies along this track!
This walk goes past both the ancient Yews at the top of Bolton’s Bench and the fabulous Lime Wood Hotel, which makes the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat. It is well-loved by locals and visitors alike so make sure to book ahead.
If you’re staying in Burley and fancy a short countryside walk, the Burbush circular walk is ideal. Head along the old railway line and past Whitten Pond to enjoy extensive views of the surrounding heathland dotted with vibrant heather.
There are plenty of other nearby trails so you can extend your walk here if you wish.
For another forest sojourn, head to the Wilverley Inclosure, where you’ll be surrounded by dense ancient woodland with impressive trees that tower over you and line your walk.
There are plenty of rest spots with benches, so you can take your time enjoying the great outdoors together. Wilverley Plain also offers open views, with the chance to see roaming ponies, cattle and deer. You can also catch some great sky and sunset views across here.
And once you’ve had your fill of romantic walks, why not get inspired by our guide to the best romantic things to do in the New Forest?
If you’re still looking for somewhere to cosy up on your couples’ break, check out our hand-picked selection of romantic New Forest getaways.
With charming country cottages and chic coastal lookouts, whatever kind of stay you have in mind, we have plenty of options to suit the occasion.
For even more lovely recs, see our guide on where to see bluebells in the New Forest.
