The New Forest has been named the best national park in Europe for hiking, according to the British outdoor gear specialists, Cotswold Outdoor.
It beat out other national parks such as the Lake District, Teide National Park in Spain and Calanques National Park in France.
Speaking on its methodology Cotswold Outdoor said: "Identifying the best hikes found among the best natural backdrops, our latest study reveals which of Europe’s national parks offer the best hiking experiences.
"Combing through 80+ of Europe’s national parks, from Slovenia’s famed Slovak Paradise to Croatia’s incredible Krka, we assess multiple factors across the popularity, difficulty, and activities/amenities categories."
The New Forest ranking as first was in part down to its great choice of amenities and activities, including campsites, viewpoints/historical landmarks and hiking trails.
As part of this, we've included a few walks you can take in the New Forest if you fancied doing a bit of hiking.
5 walks to take in the New Forest
Hale Purlieu figure of eight walk
This walk takes in views across the common’s valleys and mires and should take between 60-90 minutes to complete.
It is stated as being 'Moderate' in difficulty due to a fairly steep descent and climb at the beginning and end of the route.
Dogs on leads are welcomed and it is advised to wear waterproof boots as the route crosses water at several points.
A full route map can be seen on the National Trust website here.
Short walk around Hightown
A quick walk if you don't have a lot of time to spare, it is based on the National Trust's smallest heathland site in the New Forest.
It only lasts between 20-30 minutes, is dog-friendly and is described as 'Easy' due to it being over mostly flat terrain.
A full route map can be seen on the National Trust website here.
Rockford Common trail
This Rockford Common walk is full of points of historical interest and has the option of a longer or shorter version.
The main route takes in a southern section (on unsurfaced rights of way with some gates and stiles), the other (shorter) route is via surfaced tracks.
If you fancy the shorter version, it'll take around 45 minutes to complete, whilst the longer one will take 90 minutes.
A full route map and further information can be seen on the New Forest National Park Authority website.
Knightwood Oak stroll
This walk will allow you to see the largest and most famous oak tree in the New Forest.
Additionally, you'll be able to see an example of ‘inosculation’ which is when the branches of two adjacent trees unite.
The walk is only 0.4 miles long and should be able to complete in under an hour.
A full route map and further information can be seen on the New Forest National Park Authority website.
Ashurst Stroll
A full route map for this walk and further information can be seen on the New Forest National Park Authority website.
Starting at the Ashurst New Forest railway station, this walk explores a variety of landscapes that characterise the area.
It is described as easy walking on level ground with a few gentle gradients.
The walk is 2.8 miles long and should take between one and two hours to complete.
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