Blackwater Arboretum

• Tactile sculptures of seeds from sycamore, oak, Douglas fir and redwood, placed along the short circular route
• Mature specimen trees, many labelled, at a scale that rewards standing still and looking up
• Benches along the trail if you want to sit rather than keep walking
• A picnic area near the car park for a longer pause

• Blackwater Arboretum trail: a short circular route of 0.75 km / 0.5 miles, about 15 minutes, taking in the sculptures and benches. It is also described as around 1 mile / half an hour at a slower, stop-and-read pace.
• Tall Trees route around Blackwater: an accessible 1.5-mile walk of about half an hour, threading past the oldest conifers and the redwoods. This is the one to pick if the arboretum loop alone feels too brief.
• There is an easy access trail here, so the tree collection is reachable without tackling rougher forest tracks.

• Park at Blackwater car park on Ornamental Drive, about half a mile along Rhinefield Drive from the A35 junction; postcode SO42 7QB.
• Two accessible parking spaces and toilets are provided at the car park.
• Dogs are allowed.
• BBQs and outdoor cooking equipment are banned across the New Forest, so plan a cold picnic instead.

The arboretum loop is genuinely short at half a mile, so on its own it can feel over almost as soon as it starts. Combine it with the 1.5-mile Tall Trees route to turn the visit into a proper walk rather than a quick detour.