A completely different starting point for this walk and the third one with SPR Expeditions – just south of Lyndhurst in the New Forest. Today there were three of us walking, Steve the leader and another member called Annie. Part of the attraction of this walking group is that part of the deal involves being transported to and from the walk!
As we parked, having already queued our way through the town, it became apparent that it was going to be a warm walk. Almost predictable as children go back to school the sun starts to shine!
Steve had a route more or less organised in his mind and we parked just off the Beaulieu road in a very sandy area. He wanted us to enter the forest on the southern side of the road and announced the path was in 500 metres. Annie had the previous day led a walk which was the last part of the Cotswold Way and was 17 miles long. It then became evident that he wanted to use this walk as a training experience for her. Asking about double paces to 100 metres he was surprised that I knew exactly what he meant and that I knew mine to be 70. Really pleased to say I was only about 2 metres out when we arrived at the path. He had recommended 65 for Annie and she fell short.
We started our walk mostly on well defined tracks which are now marked as cycle paths and of course it wasn’t long before we saw the obligatory New Forest ponies!
The weather was getting hotter all the time and we soon decided to divert onto a less distinct path which genuinely needed more acute navigation skills. The forest is a maze of paths and I know from past experience it is all too easy to become confused.
I have camped in the forest as a Guide myself and also taken groups to Foxlease, one of the Guide Association Centres for weekends throughout the year.
Reflection- some interesting times supervising young people on Duke of Edinburgh Silver expeditions and explorations, in the forest. The later were interesting as they sought to find out more about the area eg origin of names, vernacular architecture.
We continued with Annie busily counting and taking bearings. I by checking on my OS app was able to confirm our position! I did however notice that her steps were much shorter than Steve’s and after a suggestion of 68 double paces she was much more accurate.
I have to admit to being a bit passive in this process and coming home and looking at the map I wouldn’t be able to plot our exact route!
Having crossed over the busy road just outside Brockenhurst, after walking through Holland’s Wood campsite we were next to a small river and we stopped for lunch. We were joined part the way through! Very friendly though, they obviously enjoyed a quick dip in the water to cool off.
My sister has for many years stayed in the forest with her caravan, in fact she was somewhere in the vicinity on this particular day. For several summers we joined her for a few days when the boys were younger and enjoyed walks and playing in a very similar river to this one. Looking carefully at the map I believe that was Ober Water which joined our route.
There was an interesting section by the river where the map shows two fences/ boundary lines quite close together. One was obviously the boundary of Black Knowl which was a large area of mostly unwooded scrub and rough grass but the other was a distinct earthwork type ditch.
Our path took us around the edge of New Park which is also an Agricultural Showground which allows camping. A very large open field in complete contrast to the various little clearings and discrete corners in the previous campsite.
We walked in a north easterly direction passed Whitely Wood before crossing the main road again and into Park Ground Inclosure.
There are some quite contrasting areas in the forest. Many Oak trees and Sweet Chestnut but then areas of heath covered in heather and groups of Silver Birch.
Our path lead us back to our original entrance into the forest. We had set off just before 11.00 and returned just short of 16.00 having covered 21.73 km. at times this walk was very warm but extremely enjoyable, having evoked some very happy memories. Our lift was waiting patiently in the car park before we had to face the very busy exit from Lyndhurst.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 