Lyndhurst New Forest walks

MP said:

Will be staying in Lyndhurst in the New Forest for a few days in a week
or so and we are looking for suggestions for a few walks.

The tall trees at Rhinefield and Boulderwood are worth a visit. While
you're in Lyndhurst, checkout Alice Liddel's ('Alice in Wonderland'😉
grave in the church.

Jim Ford

MP said:

Will be staying in Lyndhurst in the New Forest for a few days in a week or
so and we are looking for suggestions for a few walks.

It's our first visit to the New Forest so would like to explore the
Lyndhurst area in particular but don't mind using the car bit to get to a
must do walks, only reason for exploring Lyndhurst area in particular is
might stay somewhere else in the future

Three main things we would like to try and get from a few walks would be,

Autumn colours,

Early morning walk to try and see deer, red if possible,

A walk that includes both forest and open heathland.

Thanks,

MP

You might find a few ideas on my blog which includes the New Forest
walks around the Burley area for specific items try here:
http://walkaboutuk.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20Forest

MP said:

Will be staying in Lyndhurst in the New Forest for a few days in a week or
so and we are looking for suggestions for a few walks.

Try the Bolderwood area. There is a deer viewing platform
that is best avoided (too busy) but they put out food to
attract the deer so the entire area for a couple of miles
around there is good for deer viewing. Pick one of the
smaller car parks off either of the minor roads that
connect Bolderwood to the A35.

Deer are really easy to see if you know how. Pick a
wooded area and get away from the roads. Avoid making
any noise (don't walk on gravel tracks, don't talk except
in a whisper). Deer are grazing animals which slowly walk
through the woods while feeding so it's often easier to
stay in one spot and wait for a deer to pass nearby.

The area around Fritham is also fairly nice but often
too many people around for looking at wildlife.

Quoted message said:

A walk that includes both forest and open heathland.

Ha ha ha. Isn't that what The New Forest is all about?

For somewhere that's a bit exposed try the nearby Beaulieu
Road Railway Station (park at the Yew Tree Heath car park).
Alternatively try around Burley in the west.

If you want somewhere open but sheltered take your
waterproof boots to Deadman Gully off the B3078 in
the north.

Nick.

"Nick Austin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

MP said:

Will be staying in Lyndhurst in the New Forest for a few days in a week or
so and we are looking for suggestions for a few walks.

Try the Bolderwood area. There is a deer viewing platform
that is best avoided (too busy) but they put out food to
attract the deer so the entire area for a couple of miles
around there is good for deer viewing. Pick one of the
smaller car parks off either of the minor roads that
connect Bolderwood to the A35.

Deer are really easy to see if you know how. Pick a
wooded area and get away from the roads. Avoid making
any noise (don't walk on gravel tracks, don't talk except
in a whisper). Deer are grazing animals which slowly walk
through the woods while feeding so it's often easier to
stay in one spot and wait for a deer to pass nearby.

The area around Fritham is also fairly nice but often
too many people around for looking at wildlife.

Quoted message said:

A walk that includes both forest and open heathland.

Ha ha ha. Isn't that what The New Forest is all about?

For somewhere that's a bit exposed try the nearby Beaulieu
Road Railway Station (park at the Yew Tree Heath car park).
Alternatively try around Burley in the west.

If you want somewhere open but sheltered take your
waterproof boots to Deadman Gully off the B3078 in
the north.

Nick.

Thanks Nick,
Will get the maps out and check out the places you have mentioned, my
wildlife watching skills aren't too bad it's something I have always done so
with the location pointers you have given and a bit of luck we should do ok.
Also thanks for the walking area tips looking at the map it's not easy
deciding where exactly the best walks would be.
Cheers,
MP

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Early morning walk to try and see deer, red if possible,

A walk that includes both forest and open heathland.

The thing about the New Forest is that you can find great walks just about
anywhere. Also, if you walk for more than 10 mins away from a carpark, it's
surprisingly quiet. Get the 1:25,000 OS sheet.

Some of these places have already been mentioned, but since they're so good:

Bolderwood. Deer sanctuary can be busy, but not usually midweek. Fallow deer
predominate. Holmhill Inclosure is quiet, or Mark Ash Wood is nice. In thge
summer it's worth walking down to the Reptillary at Holidays Hill Inclosure,
but it's not much fun in the Autumn/Winter! If you drive out thisway from
Lyndhurst you'll pass the New Forest Inn at Emery Down. Used to be really
good food, and probably still is (haven't been there for a few years).

South of Lyndhurst is the tiny hamlet of Gritnam. One of my favourite walks
was South from here through Gritnam Wood, Hursthill Inclosure, past the big
field marked on the N side of Highland Water (good for deer - usually
Fallow, but including a couple of white fallow, and sometimes red), and then
along Highland Water to Brockenhurst.

Beaulieu Road Station, and through the Denny Inclosures is delightful. the
Heath around the Station is particularly good for birdwatching. has the
variety of habitats you were after. I seem to recall that Frame Heath (just
S of BR) was good for Sika deer.

Another favourite walk was out of Brockenhurst to the Church on in Church
lane - very interesting grave yard. The grave of Brusher Mills -
snakecatcher. Also First World war cemetary, mainly NZ troops, but also a
couple of Indian Soldiers (there was, I think) a military hospital in
Brockenhurst in WWI. Then South to pretty Roydon Manor, over the Lymington
River to the edge of Beaulieu Heath, north through Ladycross Lodge, through
Stubby Copse Inclosure, and back to Brockenhurst. I think this is my pick.

The area around Fritham is good. Lovely little Lake (which was the water
supply for a gunpowder factory at the turn of the last century. Good pub
here too.

If you are really after red deer, there are usually some in the area east of
Rhinefield House (Ober Heath, Fletchers Thorns, Fletchers Green etc).

But it's all good. If you want a good read about the area, then get a copy
of Rutherfurd's "The Forest". Rutherfurd uses the same formula he did with
Sarum - fictionalised history through the centuries. Personally, I think
that it's [censored] literature, but it's light reading, and very well researched.
As a *history* it's very worthwhile.

I can be (tediously :-) specific about any of these walks if you want.

HTH.
M.

Quoted message said:

I can be (tediously :-) specific about any of these walks if you want.

HTH.
M.

Another favourite walk was out of Brockenhurst to the Church on in Church
lane - very interesting grave yard. The grave of Brusher Mills -
snakecatcher. Also First World war cemetary, mainly NZ troops, but also a
couple of Indian Soldiers (there was, I think) a military hospital in
Brockenhurst in WWI. Then South to pretty Roydon Manor, over the Lymington
River to the edge of Beaulieu Heath, north through Ladycross Lodge,
through Stubby Copse Inclosure, and back to Brockenhurst. I think this is
my pick.

If you are really after red deer, there are usually some in the area east of

Quoted message said:

Rhinefield House (Ober Heath, Fletchers Thorns, Fletchers Green etc).

Not "(tediously :-)" at all great stuff .
Many thanks,
MP

MP said:

Quoted message said:

I can be (tediously :-) specific about any of these walks if you want.

Quoted message said:

HTH.
M.

Quoted message said:

Another favourite walk was out of Brockenhurst to the Church on in Church
lane - very interesting grave yard. The grave of Brusher Mills -
snakecatcher. Also First World war cemetary, mainly NZ troops, but also a
couple of Indian Soldiers (there was, I think) a military hospital in
Brockenhurst in WWI. Then South to pretty Roydon Manor, over the Lymington
River to the edge of Beaulieu Heath, north through Ladycross Lodge,
through Stubby Copse Inclosure, and back to Brockenhurst. I think this is
my pick.

If you are really after red deer, there are usually some in the area east of

Quoted message said:

Rhinefield House (Ober Heath, Fletchers Thorns, Fletchers Green etc).

Not "(tediously :-)" at all great stuff .
Many thanks,
MP

Aldrige Hill campsite ( walk over the plain away from the rangers
house ) is a place I often see red deer. And I agree, the New Forest
out of August is suprisingly quiet if you can get away from the
multitude of dog walkers who generally stay near the car parks on
the gravel tracks.

Si

Simon

Quoted message said:

Aldrige Hill campsite ( walk over the plain away from the rangers
house ) is a place I often see red deer. And I agree, the New Forest
out of August is suprisingly quiet if you can get away from the
multitude of dog walkers who generally stay near the car parks on
the gravel tracks.

Si

Simon

Simon,
With it been my first visit to the New Forest my only knowledge of the area
is from the short period I have had the OS Explorer OL22 map, so I Googled
(Aldrige Hill campsite) and am I right in thinking the area you referred to
often seeing red deer is the Ober Heath, Fletchers Green area?
MP

Quoted message said:

Simon,
With it been my first visit to the New Forest my only knowledge of the
area is from the short period I have had the OS Explorer OL22 map, so I
Googled (Aldrige Hill campsite) and am I right in thinking the area you
referred to often seeing red deer is the Ober Heath, Fletchers Green area?
MP

That's the place. The campsite closes in September, I think, so the area is
worth a visit after that. If you park near the site which is marked on the
map, and walk as Simon said, away from the rangers house, Ober Heath is on
your left. There are often red deer on the heath, or in the small are to the
left on the other side of the stream which you reach shortly after that.

M.

"Mark Houghton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Simon,
With it been my first visit to the New Forest my only knowledge of the
area is from the short period I have had the OS Explorer OL22 map, so I
Googled (Aldrige Hill campsite) and am I right in thinking the area you
referred to often seeing red deer is the Ober Heath, Fletchers Green
area?
MP

That's the place. The campsite closes in September, I think, so the area
is worth a visit after that. If you park near the site which is marked on
the map, and walk as Simon said, away from the rangers house, Ober Heath
is on your left. There are often red deer on the heath, or in the small
are to the left on the other side of the stream which you reach shortly
after that.

M.

Thanks will take a look out there maybe early morning on a weekday.
MP

Early morning walk to try and see deer, red if possible,

A walk that includes both forest and open heathland.
Some of these places have already been mentioned, but since they're so good:

Bolderwood. Deer sanctuary can be busy, but not usually midweek.

One of my favourite walks was South from here through Gritnam Wood,
Hursthill Inclosure.

Another favourite walk was out of Brockenhurst to the Church on in Church
lane.

The area around Fritham is good.

If you are really after red deer, there are usually some in the area east of
Rhinefield House (Ober Heath, Fletchers Thorns, Fletchers Green etc).

Just returned from Lyndhurst in the New Forest after having a great time and
would like to thank all who gave suggestions on walks and where to look for
deer.
Managed to get a quite a lot of really good sightings of both red and
fallow, and even had a very close encounter with one magnificent fallow buck
in particular (Sloden Inclosure Fritham area) in full rut and being very
vocal in the company of several doe's.

Also got in some excellent walks in throughout the week, so once again many
thanks to all for the advice.
MP