New Forest Winter Walks: The Hockey’s Farm Loop
The days between Christmas and New Year offer a welcome opportunity to spend time outdoors, enjoy good food and make the most of the New Forest landscape. With routines more flexible and daylight hours still inviting crisp morning walks, it is a popular time to head out on foot and enjoy everything the area has to offer.
At Hockey’s Farm, winter walks have long been part of the rhythm of life on the farm. The Hockey’s Farm Loop Walk is a well-established local route that starts and finishes on site, making it easy to combine time in the Forest with a visit to the farm, the shop and the cafe. It is a simple, enjoyable way to experience the New Forest during the winter months.
A Natural Time to Be Outdoors
As one year draws to a close and another approaches, many people naturally find themselves spending more time outside. Winter walking in the New Forest is practical and rewarding, with cooler temperatures, open views and paths that feel calm and expansive.
Rather than long or demanding routes, many walkers favour steady, familiar loops that fit comfortably into the day. The Hockey’s Farm Loop Walk does exactly that, offering a route that feels purposeful without requiring extensive planning or preparation.
The Hockey’s Farm Loop Walk
The Hockey’s Farm Loop Walk begins and ends at the farm and covers approximately 2.5 miles, taking around 1.5 hours to complete. It is a clearly defined route that offers variety without being challenging, making it popular with locals, visitors, families and dog walkers.
From the farm entrance, the walk follows quiet lanes and grassy verges before opening out onto classic New Forest heathland. From there, it continues along forest tracks and country paths, with a mix of wide open stretches and more sheltered sections. Free-roaming New Forest animals are often seen along the way, adding to the sense of place that defines walking in this landscape.
The route feels balanced and unrushed. It lends itself to conversation, relaxed walking and enjoying the surroundings, rather than focusing on distance or pace.
Full route details, distance and guidance are outlined in the official Hockey’s Farm Loop Walk information, which confirms the walk starts and finishes at the farm and takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete.
A Walk That Fits Easily Around a Visit to the Farm
One of the reasons the Hockey’s Farm Loop Walk is so popular is how naturally it fits around a visit to the farm. The route starts and finishes here, it becomes part of the experience rather than the main focus of the day.
Some visitors arrive and spend time at the farm before heading out for their walk, while others return from the Forest ready to sit down and enjoy food and a drink. Either way, the walk provides a natural flow between the Forest, the farm and the cafe.
Time at The Farmyard Cafe
A visit to The Farmyard Cafe often forms an important part of the day. Whether it is breakfast before heading out or lunch on return, the cafe offers a relaxed and welcoming space to enjoy good food made using ingredients sourced from the farm shop wherever possible.
After a winter walk, sitting down with a hot drink and a proper meal feels particularly satisfying. It adds comfort and warmth to the experience and turns a simple walk into a complete outing that can be enjoyed with friends, family or on your own.
More to Enjoy at Hockey’s Farm
For many visitors, the Loop Walk is just one part of their visit. After returning to the farm, there is time to browse the farm shop, which stocks a wide range of local produce, everyday essentials and seasonal items.
The wider farm offers space to explore, with animals to see and an open layout that encourages people to linger. For families, it is an easy place to spend time together, while for visitors to the New Forest it provides a welcoming stop that reflects the area’s farming heritage and strong sense of community.
Winter Walking in the New Forest
Winter is an excellent time to explore the New Forest on foot. Cooler weather makes walking comfortable, and the landscape takes on a different character as the seasons change. Heathland views feel more expansive, woodland paths quieter, and clear days often bring long views across the Forest.
The Hockey’s Farm Loop Walk works well throughout the winter months and is often revisited by those who enjoy seeing the landscape change over time. It offers consistency, familiarity and variety in equal measure, making it a reliable choice for regular walks.
Time Well Spent at Hockey’s Farm
As attention begins to turn towards the year ahead, it is often the simplest experiences that feel most rewarding. A walk across the Forest, time outdoors and a good meal enjoyed at the farm are easy pleasures that fit naturally into the days between Christmas and New Year.
The Hockey’s Farm Loop Walk brings these elements together in a way that feels straightforward and unforced. Whether you are local to the area or visiting the New Forest during the winter break, it offers an easy and enjoyable way to experience the landscape alongside everything Hockey’s Farm has to offer.
Pull on your wellies, enjoy the fresh air and take your time. Start with breakfast or finish with lunch - either way, winter walks are well spent at Hockey’s Farm!
