New Forest Wildlife 🐴 Ancient Woodlands | Brockenhurst | Free Hike 25K (15.5mi)

📈 GRADE 🥾🥾🥾3.5/5 (mostly flat)
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REMINDER MESSAGE 20 APRIL 2026:
If you’re planning to attend, I recommend buying your advance single tickets a week or some days in advance rather than on the day, as prices are much higher then.

Book here: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/

As of Mon 20 April, advance single costs are:
08:05 Waterloo → Brockenhurst: £21.30
17:44 Brockenhurst → Waterloo: £13.80
Total: £35.10

We aim to finish around 17:00. The 17:44 return or later is recommended, especially if you’d like a pub stop.

If you’re on the waitlist, feel free to confirm your attendance with me in advance.
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ABOUT THE HIKE
Join us for a scenic woodland adventure through the heart of the New Forest, exploring the trails around Brockenhurst.

Winding through ancient woodland, open heath, and quiet gravel tracks, this route showcases the gentle beauty the New Forest is known for. Expect towering oaks, dappled sunlight, and the chance to spot free-roaming ponies along the way.

Starting from the charming village of Brockenhurst, we’ll follow a relaxed but rewarding route that blends forest paths with open stretches, offering plenty of variety and space to take it all in. There will be opportunities to pause, enjoy the scenery, and take a well-earned break along the way.

We aim for a steady-paced hike, ideal for those looking to enjoy good company, fresh air, and a classic New Forest experience.

At the end of the hike, there will be an opportunity to visit a local pub to celebrate the day’s achievement.
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OVERVIEW
📏 Distance: 25 km (≈15.5 miles)
💪 Difficulty: Moderate
⛰️ Ascent / Descent: 72 m ↑ ↓
⏱️ Walking time: approx. 6 hours
🕒 Total time: approx. 7 hours (including breaks)

🚶 Pace: This hike is about enjoying nature, not rushing from start to finish. We will walk at a steady pace of around 5 to 5.5 km/h (approximately 12 to 11 minutes per km on easier sections). It is a moderate (Normal) pace and not a very fast pace hike.

🌿 Terrain: Mix of gravel tracks, woodland trails, and open grassy or muddy paths
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MEETING POINT AND TIMINGS
📍 09:40 Meet at Brockenhurst railway station car park.
🚶 Hike starts: 09:50
🏁 Finish: approx. 17:00 in Brockenhurst town centre

🔴 PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME, WE WILL NOT WAIT FOR LATECOMERS
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📍 OPTIONAL LONDON GROUP TRAVEL
07:40 Meet at London Waterloo ticket office
07:50 Walk to platform
08:05 Train departs London Waterloo
09:37 Arrive at Brockenhurst

🚂 TRAINS
From London Waterloo
08:05 → arrives Brockenhurst 09:37
Approx. £27.60 return at time of publish

🟡 I would recommend you buy an advance singles ticket in advance to save on travel costs. If you wait until the last minute, expect higher travel costs.

From Weymouth
08:20 → arrives Brockenhurst 09:43
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↩️ RETURN JOURNEY
Regular trains run from Brockenhurst to Weymouth and London Waterloo.

Return Trains to London (Saturday 02 May)
17:14 → arrives Waterloo 18:47 ← optimistic
17:44 → arrives Waterloo 19:20 ← realistic
18:14 → arrives Waterloo 19:46
Check exact times closer the travel date.

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🅿️ CAR PARKING
Parking available at Brockenhurst railway station.
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🍔🚻 LUNCH AND FACILITIES
🥪 Lunch: Bring a packed lunch
🚻 Facilities: Public toilets available during the lunch break
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🎒 WHAT TO BRING
Packed lunch, snacks, and sufficient water
Proper hiking boots with good grip
Weather-appropriate layers and waterproofs
Fully charged phone
Personal medication and basic first aid
Sun protection
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📅 RSVP & ATTENDANCE
RSVP only if you plan to attend.

Please cancel as early as possible if you can no longer make it so others can join.

A no-show includes:

• Not attending after RSVPing
• Cancelling just before or after the start time without notice

Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal.

Reliable regulars on the waitlist may message the host for priority consideration.
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✅ WHO CAN JOIN
Adults aged 21+
No children
No pets
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👣 GROUP PACE & PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES
This is a friendly, social hike where we walk together and enjoy the experience as a group.

Please stay with the group rather than hiking ahead independently, as the aim is to connect and share the journey.

Participants should choose events suited to their fitness level and be able to maintain the advertised pace. The overall pace will not be adjusted for individuals.

A back marker may not always be present, so please keep others in sight and remain within a reasonable distance of the group.

To help keep the group together: Faster walkers should wait at junctions. If someone ahead is moving significantly slower, feel free to pass and stay with the main group. Organisers may pause at suitable points to regroup

While we make reasonable efforts to keep everyone together, it is not practical or safe to stop frequently for individuals who are unable to maintain the pace. In such cases, participants may need to continue at their own pace.

If you choose to move ahead of the group or leave the group structure, you will be considered to be continuing independently and responsible for your own route and safety. If you do so without informing an organiser, it will be assumed that you are managing independently.

By attending, you agree to follow these guidelines.
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EXIT POINTS
Lyndhurst (get a taxi back to Brockenhurst)
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CONTACT
📞 For pre-event questions, please message the event host via Meetup. On the day of the walk, if required, you may contact AdrianB via WhatsApp on +44 (0) 7438 812 663.
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⚠️ DISCLAIMER
By joining, you confirm that you have read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety. Neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.