The popular New Forest Walking Festival run by the national prk authority will feature dozens of strolls led by rangers and volunteers

The popular New Forest Walking Festival returns later this month as part of celebrations to mark the national park’s 20th anniversary.

The 13th annual New Forest Walking Festival running from 18th October to 2nd November will feature family-friendly half-term walks; long, more challenging rambles; and plenty of accessible routes.

The event will offer participants a chance to go behind the scenes, with a variety of walks led by rangers and expert guides touching on heritage, wildlife, and connections to nature. Walkers can also learn why the New Forest is internationally important for nature and find out how they can help look after it.

Last year the festival welcomed hundreds of walkers across 35 events run by national park authority staff and volunteers, as well as 11 partner organisations and local experts.

New Forest NPA access officer Adam Vasey said: “The walking festival is the perfect way to explore the New Forest.

“You might find a new favourite spot or learn something new about the rare and exciting wildlife and habitats we have here, as well as its rich culture and history.

‘Walking in nature is also great for our physical and mental wellbeing.”

All routes are available through the New Forest National Park Walks app, which was downloaded nearly 29,000 times last year. The app features GPS navigation to keep walkers on the right track even without phone signal, and a checklist to tick off completed walks.

The full events timetable is available at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/walkingfestival