Walks And Walking – Hampshire Walks – New Forest Walking Route
This was one of our very first walking weekends away so we decided to go to the New Forest in Hampshire. The New Forest offers a multitude of great walks along ancient woodland trails, forest tracks, heathland pathways and trying to combat the thick gorse. This walking route started at Brock Hill, just off the A35 near Lyndhurst.
In terms of walking clothes, you are quite protected in the forest and woodland areas but can be quite exposed to the blustery winds and our interchangeable weather so having a windproof jacket stored in your rucksack is advisable as well as gaiters for when you reach the gorse. It was early spring when we went so I put my walking shorts on and my The North Face walking boots and off we went.
Hampshire Walks New Forest Walking Route Ancient Woodland Trail
From the south end of the car park by the information post we found a gravel path that ran adjacent to the road. We then turned right just before the bench to go down the gravel track keeping ahead as the track started to bend left and straight on to reach a gate by the A35 road. We crossed the A35 to enter a gate at the other side to walk along the pathway and up to a junction where we turned right to then follow the path all the way to the car park at Knightwood Oak.
We then went right along the road before turning right in to the woodland to cross a stream and then reach a gravel pathway which started to bear right. We then followed the red trail signposts to a fork in the track where we turned left to the gate and the road. Walking passed the path through the Holiday Hill Inclosure we then reached the Portuguese Fireplace War Memorial, the only remains of a hutted camp occupied by a Portuguese army unit during the first World War.
New Forest Ancient Woodland Hampshire
Walking back to rejoin the main walk we then returned through the Holiday Hills Inclosure at the fork to now follow this track all the way to the New Forest Reptile Centre passing the access drive, passed the cottage and turning left at the barrier to walk down a path to then cross the bridge.We continued along this main pathway passing through the open clearing of Allum Green to walk uphill and then turn right at the crossing of paths bearing right to then find the clearing and footbridge.
We then continued along by the woodland edge to an electricity pole bearing right and then left through a gate to meet the A35 again. We then turned left and right across the road to a gate walking straight ahead to the garden boundary to the turn right to the path that then lead to a lane where we turned right passed Oak Inn and through the Bank area and across the cattle grid where we then turned right through a gate to a gravel track signposted for Brockenhurst.
We then followed this track until it reached a junction and small green area where we forked right towards Brockenhurst where we then entered Hursthill Inclosure through the gate to walk down passed a right turn to climb uphill and then bear left at the next fork. We then kept to the waymarker trail as the path now went downhill passed another right turn where we then left Hursthill Inclosure at the gate where we then walked straight ahead on the track to the bridge over Highland Water to continue along the same track to our right hand side.
The Opposite Side OF Highland Water Ancient Woodland Trails New Forest Walking Route Hampshire Walks
We then passed through the gate to follow the waymarker trail and into Poundhill Inclosure to a 5 way junction at Post 24 where we turned right and followed the track as it turned sharp right to continue the along the same track to the junction at the road, Ornamental Drive where we then turned left in to the car park.
This walk took us just under 4 hours and covered about 8 miles and for all the photos of this walk please visit: Walks And Walking Photobucket
UK Walking Routes 