Beaulieu Road in the New Forest - Circular

Richard Clayton

You need to log in as a member of Walkingworld to access the details for this walk and have an active subscription. Please join, or log in above if you are already a member.

This is an enjoyable circular walk on the eastern edge of the New Forest from Beaulieu Road Railway Station. It crosses Shatterford Bottom, with its rich potential for birdspotting - hen harriers are seen here and we saw redstarts, tree-pipits and stonechats to name but a few - and continues through typical New Forest ancient deciduous woodland and along quiet and forgotten forest rides. There is a stretch through Parkhill Inclosure, famous for its butterflies.

To follow some of the quieter forest paths and tracks, a compass and 1:25000 OS map will be essential.

Adding to the appeal of this easy, three-hour walk, it can be combined on given Thursdays during the year with a visit to the famous New Forest pony sales at Beaulieu Road, where the Forest commoners traditionally sell their stock. The 2014 dates are 8th May, 18th Sep, 22nd Oct and 27th Nov; see Additional Info.

The Sunday train service to Beaulieu Road is hourly and that works well with this walk. However, during the week or on Saturdays, it has to be the car.

England - South England - Hampshire - New Forest

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Good for Kids, Great Views, Mostly Flat, Pub, Public Transport, Wildlife, Woodland

4/17/2019 - Patricia Lynch

We thoroughly enjoyed this walk on a glorious spring day (17th April 2019). We saw fallow deer in winter coats and eight sorts of butterfly. The noticeboard at point 8 has been replaced - picture available if you want it. Several of the gates were locked (points 11, 12, 17).

10/27/2011 - Jill Larby

Thankyou, Richard, for sharing this lovely walk with the Walkingworld community. We did it at the end of October 2011 when the autumn colours are at their best. We were also treated to the wonderful sight of a large herd of forest ponies galloping through the heather after being spooked by some riders trotting along the road and the sound of the stags rutting in the woods. Unfortunatley the Forestry Commission information board at waymark 8 has vanished, a sign of the times!

10/17/2010 - Walkingworld Admin