Starting from Knightwood Oak car park, this walk visits the largest oak in the forest.
Start: Knightwood Oak car park, grid ref SU 263 062, SO43 7QB.
(S/E) This Forestry England trail is a waymarked walk.
From Knightwood Oak car park cross the main road and stake the path opposite. Go right and at the next junction left to go around the Oak tree. Come back using the second path back to the main road then the car park. Just follow the waymarker posts to enjoy an easy to follow route for all. (S/E)
Start/finish: Knightwood Oak car park, grid ref SU 263 062, SO43 7QB.
Ordnance Survey map: Explorer OL 22 New Forest
Getting there: No public transport links, parking at Knightwood Oak car park.
Local facilities: Knightwood Oak car park has plenty of room to accommodate visitors.
Accessibility: The trail is suitable for all users. The path is a fairly smooth gravelled surface and is flat with frequent resting places.
Note: Please be aware of the New Forest Code when walking in the National Park.]
Find more information and walks at New Forest National Park here.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
The Knightwood Oak is the largest, and most famous oak tree in the New Forest. It is also known as the Queen of the Forest and is over 500 years old with a girth of 7.38 metres – the tree is still growing. It was pollarded when it was about 200 years old and is thought to have been last pollarded about 150 years ago. It is also protected by a traditional cleft oak fence – once all New Forest fences would have been made this way. During this walk you can see an example of ‘inosculation’ which is when the branches of two adjacent trees unite. Forestry England have pollarded some of the young oaks around the Knightwood Oak, and planted out a number of saplings from the Knightwood Oak itself.
Blackwater : Tall Trees Trail
National Park 2.28 km
+8 m
-8 m
0h 40
Easy
Departure from Brockenhurst (Hampshire)
A woodland walk for all seasons. Stimulate your senses on this short trail around the Forestry Commission's Blackwater Arboretum, with its small but nationally important collection of trees from all over the world. Sensory information boards along the trail. This walk takes you past majestic conifers planted in the 1850s, some of the oldest Douglas fir trees in Britain and includes views of two enormous redwoods.
Tall Trees Trail alternative
Walker 
2.80 km
+10 m
-10 m
0h 50
Easy
Departure from Brockenhurst (Hampshire)
A flat circular walk with views of two enormous redwoods and using a part of the Tall Trees Trail.
Blackwater : Heartwood TrailNational Park 1.06 km
+7 m
-7 m
0h 20
Easy
Departure from Brockenhurst (Hampshire)
An easy waymarked walk through the Arboretum to experience the woodland and take in the variety of tree species. There are regular seats with backs to rest on along this route.
Blackwater : Tall Trees Arboretum LinkNational Park 1.77 km
+7 m
-7 m
0h 30
Easy
Departure from Brockenhurst (Hampshire)
This is an easy walk through woodland, passing through the Arboretum which houses a beautiful collection of trees from many countries. The walk passes Scrag Hill Nursery and ends with a stroll down a short section of the Tall Trees Trail.
Bolderwood : Jubilee Grove TrailNational Park 1.69 km
+39 m
-39 m
0h 35
Easy
Departure from Minstead (Hampshire)
Wander into Bolderwood and back via the deer viewing platform. Starting from Bolderwood car park this meandering route leads you past the deer fields and some majestic trees, the oldest of which date back to 1860. Unfortunately a large number of trees were lost in the Great Storms of 1987 and 1991, but many new trees have been planted and more will be planted over the coming years.
Bolderwood: Deer Watch TrailNational Park 0.95 km
+28 m
-28 m
0h 20
Easy
Departure from Minstead (Hampshire)
Spot deer on this very short circular walk. This short stroll from Bolderwood car park leads you to a deer viewing platform overlooking fields where wild herds of fallow deer are regularly seen. From Easter to mid-September the herd is fed daily by one of the Forestry England keepers.
Walk from Furzey Gardens Around MinsteadWalker 6.90 km
+79 m
-80 m
2h 10
Easy
Departure from Minstead (Hampshire)
A lovely circular walk from Furzey Gardens that takes you through Minstead village and into the New Forest. It is a fairly easy walk although it can get muddy in places. The walk starts at Furzey Gardens Car Park (Free) where there is a delightful cafe serving drinks and light refreshments. Furzey Gardens are a charity to help people with learning difficulties and are open to the public. A reasonable donation is requested on entry.
Brockenhurst villageNational Park 8.13 km
+11 m
-11 m
2h 20
Easy
Departure from Brockenhurst (Hampshire)
Brockenhurst is a picturesque village in the heart of the New Forest surrounded by some of the loveliest Forest landscapes. Starting from the village with its famous watersplash, this varied walk takes you across grazed lawns and through riverside woodlands before skirting around the edge of the village to take in some great heathland views. Return through the village to Brockenhurst station.
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