Tall Trees Trail, Blackwater Arboretum Circular Walk – Ancient Giant Redwoods and Douglas Firs Trees in the New Forest

Region: Burley — New Forest National Park, England

Places To Stay: Great bases for this walk are Burley, Ringwood, Brockenhurst and Christchurch all within easy driving distance of Burley. For a wider choice across the National Park, browse places to stay in the New Forest.

Below are a few ideas for day trips and experiences around the New Forest National Park, with GetYourGuide offering great discounts and easy booking + a huge amount of options in the Hampshire area.

For a wider choice of accommodation in the New Forest, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through.

This is one of the easiest and most accessible walks in the New Forest, and it’s very special. The Tall Trees Trail at Blackwater Arboretum takes you through a section of forest packed with enormous Douglas firs, redwoods and ornamental trees planted here over a century ago. Some of them absolutely tower above the path, giving parts of the walk a real Pacific Northwest sort of feel, not something you expect in southern England.

The route itself is short and straightforward, making it ideal for families, relaxed afternoons, or combining with a longer wander in the surrounding forest. What makes it stand out though is the atmosphere. The light filtering through the huge trunks, the smell of pine and damp earth, and the contrast between carefully planted arboretum and the wilder open forest around it all give this area a different feel to most New Forest walks.

You’ll also find plenty of New Forest history here too. The surrounding woodland forms part of the ancient royal hunting forest created by William the Conqueror nearly 1,000 years ago, while the arboretum itself became an important forestry experiment site during the 19th and early 20th centuries, testing tree species from around the world.

Getting There: Directions, GPX and Map

• Start/Finish: Blackwater Arboretum or Brock Hill car parks on Rhinefield Ornamental Drive.
• Parking: Large Forestry England pay-and-display car parks onsite.
• Transport: Nearest train station is Brockenhurst, around 10 minutes away by taxi/car. Public transport directly to the arboretum is limited.
• Download the GPX file here.
• Follow this route on my Outdooractive profile.

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Hike Profile

• Distance: ~3–5 km circular (depending on added forest loops)
• Duration: ~1-2 hours (longer with stops / photos)
• Ascent/Descent: Minimal
• Highest Point: Mostly flat throughout
• Difficulty: Easy
• Terrain: Gravel forest paths, woodland tracks, accessible surfaces
• Best for: Families, photography, autumn colours, accessible walking, giant trees, peaceful forest atmosphere

Route Overview (Clockwise from Burley)

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Hike Description

The walk can start from the large car park at Blackwater Arboretum, or at the smaller Brock Hill car park alittle further up along Rhinefield Ornamental Drive. If you do the loop you will pass through both car parks, and worth noting that at Blackwater there are public toilets.

Leaving from either within a few minutes you’re already under some seriously impressive trees. At first the path feels like a normal easy forest stroll, but then the scale of the trees slowly starts to hit you. The trunks become wider, the canopy higher, and suddenly you’re walking beneath trees that feel completely out of place in southern England.

The Tall Trees Trail was originally created to showcase exotic and commercial tree species planted here during the Victorian and Edwardian periods, when forestry experts experimented with species from North America and beyond. Some of the Douglas firs planted here are now among the tallest and largest trees in Britain, and standing beneath them genuinely gives you that tiny-human feeling.

One of the best things about this walk is how atmospheric it feels. On bright days the sunlight pours through the trees in long beams, while damp or misty weather gives the forest a moody, almost prehistoric feel. Autumn is especially good here when the colours start changing and the ground becomes covered in pine needles and fallen leaves.

As you continue around the loop, you leave the main concentration of giant trees and drift into quieter sections of woodland. The sounds change too fewer people, more birds, and that soft forest silence that the New Forest does so well. You’ll often spot ponies grazing nearby, and depending on the season there’s a good chance of seeing deer moving through the trees as well.

Although it’s an easy walk physically, it never really feels boring because the scenery constantly changes. One minute you’re beneath towering redwoods, the next you’re walking through open glades or alongside darker pine woodland that feels almost alpine.

There are picnic spots, toilets and plenty of space to relax for a while before heading home. It’s a walk that works for almost anyone, easy enough for families and casual walkers, but still interesting enough if you’re into photography, nature, forestry or just being outdoors somewhere genuinely peaceful.

I could have easily spent all day here, and I’m so glad we discovered this walk.

Places to Stay in Burley & Brockenhurst

Staying in Burley puts you right on the edge of the New Forest, with walking routes straight from the village. It’s a great base with pubs, cafés, and that classic forest feel. Nearby Brockenhurst is another solid option, offering more accommodation and transport links.

For a wider choice of accommodation in the New Forest, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through.

Recommended Stays

Cottage Lodge Hotel

Cottage Lodge Hotel is set in the Victorian village of Brockenhurst, nestled in the heart of the New Forest National Park. This charming 17th-century residence offers cosy rooms, as well as tea, coffee and cake on arrival.

Check Availability

Burley Manor

Burley Manor is a striking Grade II–listed Victorian manor house dating from 1852, nestled within 8 acres of landscaped parkland and adjacent to a red‑deer sanctuary in the heart of Hampshire’s New Forest.

Check Availability

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Practicalities

• Best season: Autumn is brilliant here for colours, but the walk works all year round.
• Footwear: Trainers or trail shoes are fine in dry weather. Some paths can become muddy after heavy rain.
• Parking: Forestry England parking charges apply.
• Toilets: Available near the car park.
• Dogs: Great dog-walking route, but leads may be needed around wildlife and ponies.
• Accessibility: Large sections of the Tall Trees Trail are suitable for pushchairs and accessible users.
• Food & drink: Bring snacks or combine with cafés in Brockenhurst afterwards.
• Photography: Morning light through the trees is especially good.
• Wildlife: Look out for ponies, deer and woodland birds throughout the area.

Tall Trees Trail FAQs

Walk this route yourself in 3D!

The video is a 3D walkthrough of this route; it’ll give you a great idea of what to expect before you set foot on the mountain.

I’ve created 3D videos of my walks and shared them with the Outdooractive and Welsh Man Walking communities.

New Forest Tall Trees Trail – 3D Video

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