New Forest picked as best family-friendly hiking spot in Millets research

RESEARCH to find the best family-friendly hiking spots in the UK has put the New Forest in top spot.

Results showed more than a quarter of all walks were voted as good for both kids and adults.

Undertaken by outdoor clothing company Millets, it also found 81% of restaurants in the Forest were child-friendly while there were 48 campsites best for families.

Millets analysed factors including TripAdvisor reviews, the average length of the walks, nearest beaches, facilities, average temperatures and number of visitors.

The Forest took top spot thanks to the fact that three-quarters of hiking routes in the Forest are under 10km, making them suitable for children aged eight-plus.

One of the most popular trails was the Brockenhurst village walk – an 8.4km circuit which takes around two hours to complete.

The amount and variety of family-friendly restaurants, bars and cafes also helped the Forest win Best Location, with many offering kids' menus, high chairs and baby changing facilities.

Campsites were also voted best for families wanting to take in the great outdoors while offering pony, donkey and deer spotting.