Lepe Circular Walk
View PhotosLepe Circular Walk
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The Lepe Circular Walk is a lovely choice for combining typical New Forest terrain with a stretch of coastline. The route starts with a pleasant stroll along Lepe Beach, with excellent views out over the Solent. Leaving the beach behind, walk north through meadows and forest towards a stretch of open farmland. Loop around the farm and return south along a clearly marked footpath to complete the walk.
Getting there
To get to the Lepe Circular Walk, head for the Lepe Beach bus station—this is located at a bend in Lepe Road with The Lookout café on the east side of the street. Continue west along the coastal stretch of the road until you reach a car park, roughly 984ft from the bus station. You will have to pay for parking here.
About
When to do | Year-round |
Backcountry Campsites | No |
Pets allowed | Yes - On Leash |
Family friendly | Yes |
Route Signage | Average |
Crowd Levels | Moderate |
Route Type | Circuit |
Lepe Circular Walk
Elevation Graph
Weather
Lepe Circular Walk Description
To begin the Lepe Circular Walk in the New Forest, set off from the car park towards the beach. Cross the road and stroll west along the stony coast. You’ll pass cottages, a boathouse, and a small white lighthouse as you walk. The Lepe House and Gardens also emerge on your right, owned by the same family since 1879. As you pass this plot of land, the path splits, with one fork bending to the right. This is the one to follow on our map. However, if the tide is out, you could continue along the beach until you reach its end, since both paths converge at this point.
If you’re turning right at the fork, turn left at the next junction to continue west along a lane, parallel to the beach. You’ll pass Inchmery House on your left before the lane meets the end of the beach. Follow the road as it curves north, then turn right along a path with a gate. This path leads through meadows then into a stretch of forest before exiting the woods and following their perimeter. Continue past the first intersection of paths to reach a T-junction. Turn right here and walk east along the footpath.
The path crosses a lane and widens into a track. Follow this through farmland, rounding the East Hill Farm and turning right onto a path that cuts back towards the farm before bending south. This path takes you through a mix of farmland and meadow, crossing a marshy area (often muddy after rain) and eventually reaching a fork. Turn left and head through a gate to reach the car park you started the walk from.
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