Hampshire Accessible Countryside
Disabled Access, Wheelchair walks, Easy Access, Access for All, Mobility, Walks on Wheels, Miles without Stiles - whatever the term the following is all about accessibility to the countryside and green spaces of Hampshire.
Walks Greenspaces and Countryside
Alice Holt Forest - "Alice Holt Forest is a 610 acre woodland just 5 miles from Farnham. Enjoy a great day out in the woods on foot or by bike, with a range of trails to suit every ability and bike hire available on site. For visitors with limited mobility we are proud of our Easy Access Trail suitable for wheelchair and pushchair users, our state of the art Changing Places registered facilities, and our accessible bike hire facilities. " from the Forestry England website
- also see a trail leaflet in our archive
Blackwater Arboretum - "Blackwater is maturing into an excellent arboretum with an interesting range of trees in an atmospheric location." - from the Forestry England website
Blackwater Arboretum Trail - 1.5 miles (2.4 km) - "You can experience the Forest through touching tactile sculptures" - "Located around the short, circular route these sculptures depict the seeds from a sycamore, oak, Douglas fir and redwood" - Download a trail leaflet from our archive
Tall Trees Trail - 1.5 miles (2.4 km) - "a walk under the impressive giant redwoods in the New Forest" - "The path has a fairly smooth, gravel surface with one very gentle slope. There are frequent spots to rest and admire the view and no gates along the trail". " - Download a trail leaflet from our archive
Bolderwood - Deer watch trail - 0.5 miles (0.75 km) - "A short stroll leading you to a deer viewing platform overlooking fields where a wild herd of fallow deer are frequently seen" - "The path is a moderately smooth, with a gravel surface, gentle slopes and benches along the way. The trail is accessible by a gate with a low catch" - from the Forestry England website - Jubliee trail - 1 mile (1.6 km) - "a circular stroll through ancient woods and deer watching spots" - "The path is a moderately smooth, with a gravel surface and two short, but steep slopes with benches along the way. The trail is accessible by a gate with a low catch." - Radnor trail - 2 miles (3.2 km) - "a longer walk through ancient and modern woodland" - The path is a moderately smooth, with a gravel surface and two short, but steep slopes with benches along the way. The trail is accessible by a gate with a low catch." - from the Forestry England website
- Download a trail leaflet from the New Forest National Park website
Butts Brow to Burling Gap - 11km / 6.5 miles - trail from Butts Brow car park - from the Eastbourne Council website
- Download a trail leaflet from our archive
Cadman’s Pool Archived PDF download - This is a good area for picnics, or just to sit and enjoy the view. There is an easy walk around the Pool on firm grass, gravel and concrete path. The gentle walk around the Pool is 500 metres (550 yards) - from the New Forest website
Download a trail leaflet from our archive
Devils Dyke - "There is good wheelchair access around the hilltop and a fully accessible trail for wheelchairs and bikes back into Brighton" - from the National Trails website
- Download a trail leaflet from our archive
Eastrop Park Tree Trail - Green Flag Award - "The majority of the Tree Trail follows a hard tarmac path, suitable for prams, buggies, wheelchairs and mobility scooters". "Each of the 23 tree species is identified by a wooden marker post." from the Basingstoke Council website
- see also
Emsworth Easier Access Route - 1mile / 1.6km - "A stroll on good paths around the thriving Harbourside settlement of Emsworth with a choice of cafés and pubs. Check for high tide in order to see the water and boating activity. A solar powered boat operates from the public jetty during the summer holidays. It has a wheelchair ramp. See www.conservancy.co.uk for information." - from the Chichester Harbour Conservancy website
- Download a trail leaflet from their website
Hogmoor Inclosure - Bordon- “Hogmoor Inclosure is a haven for a variety of species of birds, with Foreys pond an excellent destination for those looking to take in some of the local wildlife. Hogmoor’s bat hibernation bunker is also an important facility to protect the local bat population, and if you go for a walk in the twilight you might see some of these amazing creatures flying around. You may also come across some of our bug hotels which provide a home for Hogmoor’s smallest residents, allowing them to shelter, grow and thrive. Open daily in conjunction with café opening hours. Other facilities include: • Baby changing facility • Changing places - There are both surfaced and unsurfaced paths. The land is generally level throughout, although uneven and wet in some places.”
- "We understand that from the 18th March 2023 there will also be a mobility scooter available for hire here - please check availability before travel"
Hordle Cliff - Milford-on-Sea Walk 1 - "This lovely walk is along the cliff top from the car park in both directions. To the east, once you get to the Paddy’s Gap car park, there is a long gentle slope down towards the White House, although this is less than 5% gradient. There are bench seats at frequent and regular intervals all along the coastal path, as well as the wooden or brick shelters with seating, marked on the map. This is a very easy walkwith lovely views over the Solent and you can choose the length of the walk to suit your circumstances." Walk 2 -" You can continue along the promenade to the east. This walk is made more difficult by a short but awkward stretch where the promenade curves seaward to pass around the White House. There are gradients of 15% down with a crossfall of 16% in places for 20 metres (22 yards) followed by a 5 metres (5.5 yards) stretch upwards of 14% slope with a crossfall of up to 8%. (It is possible to go inland here around the White House grounds and rejoin the walk at Hurst Road car park). You can travel as far as the Hurst Road East car park, although the views in places are partly spoiled by the concrete roofs of beach huts on the shingle seafront below. The Sturt Pond walk starts from this car park" - from the New Forest website
-Download a trail leaflet from our archive
Janesmoor Pond - 300 Metres - "a New Forest Access For All route. This is an easy walk around the Pond, enjoying the views of the water. Janesmoor Pond is also a great area to enjoy a picnic." - from the New Forest website
- Download a trail leaflet
Keyhaven Harbour - 1.9 Miles - Keyhaven is approached from Milford-on-Sea. It is a small village with a very pretty harbour. There are easy walks along the sea wall with views of Keyhaven harbour, the Isle of Wight and Hurst Spit. The area is a good spot for bird watching. Note - A width restriction between two posts of 90cms to access the gravel path leading to the sea wall - from the New Forest website
- Download a trail leaflet
Knightwood Oak - "Starting from Knightwood Oak car park, this walk visits the Knightwood Oak. This is the largest oak in the forest and is protected by a traditional cleft oak fence - once all New Forest fences would have been made this way." "The trail is suitable for all users. The path is a fairly smooth gravelled surface and is flat with frequent resting places." - from the New Forest National Park website <br>
Magdalen Hill Down -" A disabled access track runs through Pathfield on the upper part of the reserve between a small carpark down the track (disabled access with RADAR key) adjoining the cemetery at the western end and the St Swithin’s school entrance at the eastern end." - from the Butterfly Conservation website
Meon Valley Trail - 11 miles (17.7km) - A multi-user track utilising an old railway track - "Mostly flat and wide path, suitable for pushchairs and mobility scooters." - from the Hampshire County Council website
- Download the trail map leaflet
North Common Easier Access Route - 1.25miles / 2km - "A short stroll through natural scrub and along the shoreline of Chichester Harbour, with splendid views to Emsworth and the South Downs as a backdrop in the distance. There is a kissing gate and a 1-bar gate with a RADAR padlock at the start and the path is suitable for those using a wheelchair/mobility scooter for about half the total distance. This is also a good location for bird watching in the wintertime." - from the Chichester Harbour Conservancy website
- Download a trail leaflet from their website
Queen Elizabeth Country Park - this is just off the A3, three miles south of Petersfield in Hampshire and lies within the South Downs National Park. "Queen Elizabeth Country Park is partially accessible for wheelchairs users and prams. There is an accessible toilet adjacent to the visitor centre and another near Juniper BBQ site"
- We understand that from the 18th March 2023 there will also be two mobility scooters available at the park - please check availability before travel
New Forest Reptile Centre - (seasonal) - "This circular walk and sensory trail for children start and finish at the Reptile Centre near Lyndhurst, with its wide range of native reptiles for you to spot. This walk can be followed without a map, simply follow the red marker posts on the ground. " "The path has a fairly smooth gravelled surface, although some of the trail is a grassy path that can become muddy during wet weather." - from the New Forest National Park website
Sturt Pond - 1.9 Miles - "There are no significant slopes on this walk apart from the entrances to the first bridge. This has a 15% slope up for 3 metres, (3.3yards) and a 15% slope down for 2 metres (2.2yards). There is also a step of 4-5cms (2 inches) where the gravel has eroded at either end of the bridge. (If this is a problem you can omit this part of the walk). Hurst Spit - There are two slopes near the second bridge which lead up to Hurst Spit. The second of these slopes is reasonably firm gravel - 35 metres (40 yards) long with a 15% gradient and leads to the top of the spit. There is a great view from there if you can make it safely. - Some loose shingle alongside the Hurst Spit part of the walk, mainly between the two bridges" - from the New Forest website
- Download a trail leaflet
Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve We understand there are walks around the Lakes, to the Centre and to the bird hides, are surfaced paths and waymarked, most are relatively flat and have benches at regular intervals. "Please note that some of the paths regularly flood during winter". - "There are Radar locks on all the gates to allow wheelchair access. If you do not have a Radar key, we have one at the Testwood Lakes Centre that you can use during your visit. An all-terrain wheelchair is available for hire". - from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust website
- Download the trail leaflet
West Walk - "At 350 hectares, it is the largest remaining fragment of the ancient Forest of Bere." - "Set amongst the tall pine trees, our play area is great for keeping your children entertained. Including a balance beam and all-ability swing, swinging hoops, rotating climbing chimney and for the little ones" - from the Forestry England website
- Download a Miles Without Stiles trail leaflet from the South Downs National Park website