The Altruistic Traveller
  • Home
  • Travel Resources
    • What is Responsible Tourism?
    • How to be a Sustainable Traveller
    • What is Community-based Tourism
    • Responsible Volunteering
    • The Rise of Impact Travel
    • Ethical Animal Encounters
    • The Importance of Fair Trade
    • Responsible Travel Websites
    • Sustainable Tourism Organisations & Experiences
    • Sustainable Tourism Podcasts
    • Travel Insurance (that covers COVID-19)
  • About
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Featured In
    • Work with us
  • Contribute
    • List a Sustainable Tourism Organisation or Experience
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Travel Resources
    • What is Responsible Tourism?
    • How to be a Sustainable Traveller
    • What is Community-based Tourism
    • Responsible Volunteering
    • The Rise of Impact Travel
    • Ethical Animal Encounters
    • The Importance of Fair Trade
    • Responsible Travel Websites
    • Sustainable Tourism Organisations & Experiences
    • Sustainable Tourism Podcasts
    • Travel Insurance (that covers COVID-19)
  • About
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Featured In
    • Work with us
  • Contribute
    • List a Sustainable Tourism Organisation or Experience
  • Contact Us

The Altruistic Traveller

News & Resources On Advocating For a Better Tourism Industry

EnglandEnvironmental Awareness

The best places to go forest hiking in the UK

by Guest Submission March 14, 2023March 14, 2023
written by Guest Submission March 14, 2023March 14, 2023
forest-hiking-UK

Spending time in nature is incredibly important for our physical and mental health. It helps us to reconnect with the world, relieve stress and exercise our bodies. The benefits of nature and forest hiking for kids are particularly salient, with their confidence, creativity, sense of responsibility, and cognitive and motor development all growing when they spend more time outdoors. However, the joys of nature are not just restricted to little ones – adults can find the outdoors calming and energising too.

Woodland and forest environments are arguably the best for families, solo travellers and small groups to explore. There are plenty of sights, sounds, smells and textures to investigate, and the shelter of the trees can provide useful protection against pouring rain or blazing sun. If you’re looking for a forest hike to escape to, here are 5 of the best places to go:

1. Grizedale Forest, Lake District

Stretching between Windermere and Coniston Water, Grizedale Forest offers 8,000 acres of undulating mixed woodland. There are endless forest hiking trails to tramp in varying difficulties, and the forest is dotted with impressive sculptures created by some of the UK’s best contemporary artists. You can also find plenty of scenic viewing spots, with the highest being the 314m high Carron Crag, which offers incredible panoramic views of the rolling, rugged countryside.

2. Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

AA Milne took inspiration from Ashdown Forest for his renowned Winnie-the-Pooh stories, and it’s easy to see why when you take in the region’s pretty rolling hills and heathland. Milne lived at the edge of the forest and created Hundred Acre Wood in its image. There are a couple of Winnie-the-Pooh forest hiking paths to take which kids will love. They include points of interest from the stories, including a wooden Pooh Sticks bridge and Roo’s Sandy Pit.

Related Reading: Why we need to plant more trees, starting today

3. Sherwood Forest, Nottingham

Known for being the old stomping ground of legendary Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest is an essential visit for history buffs. You can visit the renowned Major Oak, which is thought to be around 1000 years old. This is where Robin Hood and his Merry Men were said to have taken shelter. Sherwood Forest is now a nature reserve and home to Europe’s biggest collection of ancient oak trees, as well as many rare birds, mammals, insects and fungi.

4. The New Forest, Hampshire

Covering over 140,000 acres, the New Forest is one of the largest remaining patches of woodland, heathland and pastureland in the south of England. It incorporates 15 miles of the south coast, between Hurst Castle and Calshot Castle. This means you can find hiking routes that offer the best of both worlds if you can’t decide between a woodland walk and a coastal trail.

5. Kielder Forest, Northumberland

If you want to catch sight of native red squirrels, Kielder Forest is the place to do it. Half of England’s red squirrel population resides here, so bring a pair of binoculars. There’s a wide range of trails to choose from in the trees, but if you’re not afraid of the dark, then consider taking a walk at night to go stargazing. The forest is part of Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, which means it’s free enough from light pollution that you can catch incredible views of the night sky.

Get outdoors with a forest hike

Now you know about some of the best spots for forest hiking, there’s no excuse not to put on your walking boots and get out in the great outdoors.

0 comment
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinRedditStumbleuponEmail
previous post
A Sustainable Travel Guide To Malta & Gozo 2023
next post
All You Need To Know About Bianca’s New Memoir – Soul Truth

You may also like

How to Say “No Straw Please” in 40...

April 3, 2019

Ethical Gifts For Him This Valentine’s Day

February 8, 2018

Using Earth bags to Rebuild Nepal – Sustainable...

July 29, 2017

5 Of Asia’s Most Beautiful Destinations Destroyed By...

July 4, 2016

Leading Waste Management initiatives in the Maldives –...

October 21, 2018

These Organisations Will Inspire You To Save Our...

June 4, 2019

The Company Pioneering Ecotourism in the Maldives –...

October 23, 2018

How to Talk to Your Friends About Sustainability...

July 9, 2019

Why Do We Need to Plant More Trees,...

August 27, 2020

From Trash to Treasure – How Organisations in...

January 17, 2019

About Us

About Us

Meet the team

We are Bianca & Faye, two passionate storytellers with a common mission to share ways in which tourism can be approached in a more sustainable way. We share discussions, ideas and recommendations on how to travel with more compassion, integrity and conscious awareness.

Keep in touch

Facebook Pinterest Linkedin Youtube Spotify

Receive Our Articles In Your Inbox

Sign up for the latest news & content from The Altruistic Traveller [no spam ever ;)]

Please wait...

Thank you for advocating for a better tourism industry.

Listen to The Altruistic Traveller Podcast

2022 Award Winner

The Altruistic Traveller has been included by Twinkl as one of their picks for Top Sustainability Blogs 2022.

House Sit & Travel The World

trusted-housesitters

Save $$$ on your currency conversion while you travel

Transfer-wise

Offset Your Travel with Offsetra

Offset Your Travel with Offsetra

Get Travel Insurance

incurance-that-covers-covid-19

Learn a language online with Live Lingua

Get green hosting for your website

Browse Sustainable Accommodation options

social-bnb

JOIN THE IMPACT TRAVEL ALLIANCE MEDIA NETWORK

Are you a content creator specialising in sustainable travel? Join the ITA media network.

Donate a meal to someone in need

sharethemeal web graphic_0

Book Travel with Kiwi


Learn how to become location independent

Use code thealtruistictraveller10 for 10% off courses

NomadsSkillshare

Dine with Locals on EatWith

eat-with-coupon-7B728BBE

Find Ethical Food Venues Nearest to you with Fair Food Forager

fair-food-forager

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Email
  • Spotify
  • RSS

@2023 - The Altruistic Traveller. Developed by Cybernite Technologies and sustainably hosted by Green Geeks.
The Altruistic Traveller uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase using a link, we may receive a commission. Such revenue helps keep this website running, and allows us to keep the content free for readers like you.
This website uses cookies. To learn more or opt-out please visit my Privacy Policy.


Back To Top

Soul Truth Pop-up