Hale Purley Figure of Eight Walk, SW Hants

This short figure-of-eight loop begins and ends in the small village of Hale, tucked into the south-western corner of Hampshire on the fringes of the New Forest. At just under three miles with modest ascent, it makes for a relaxed outing on quiet lanes and woodland tracks.

From Hale the route heads out through gently rolling countryside, weaving past Stricklands Plantation before returning to the village to complete its second loop. Along the way you pass close to a patchwork of small woodlands, including Warrenhouse Copse, The Plantation and Inner Plantation, with the hamlet of Hale Purley and the trees of Mays Firs nearby. The mix of open ground and shaded copse gives the walk plenty of variety despite its short length.

Because it is a figure of eight, the two halves can easily be walked separately if time is short, and the crossing point back at Hale offers a natural pause. Expect a peaceful, unhurried ramble with the softly wooded character of the New Forest borderlands throughout.