Lover - Hale - Woodfalls - Lover

Peter Harper

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The walk starts in the village of Lover, in the north east corner of the New Forest National Park. Not so long ago, Lover had its own post office (now renamed Lover Cottage, which you pass just after the start of the walk) which did a roaring trade leading up to Valentine's Day, with people coming from miles around to post their cards and get the distinctive 'Lover' postmark on the envelope. Alas, the post office, pub and village school have all now closed, but this remains a pleasant village. The first part of the walk takes you up Loosehanger and then across a track passing tucked away houses before emerging on the edge of the Forest at Tethering Drove. This quiet lane leads to the hamlet of Hale, which does still have its school, oveerlooking the village green and cricket pitch. The route from here takes you through woodland and open fields before eventually emerging in the village of Woodfalls, which straddles The Ridge, with valleys on either side. In Woodfalls you will find two pubs - the New Inn and the Woodfalls Inn - as well as a well stocked village shop and post office. From here you cross further fields and then walk alongside woodland ("Tinney's Firs") to a road leading back to the start point. This last section beside the woods can get muddy, but can easily avoided if you don't mind an extra bit of road walking, as described in the detailed route instructions.

England - South England - Wiltshire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Food Shop, Good for Kids, Great Views, Pub, Public Transport, Wildlife, Woodland

2/8/2016 - Rosalind Johnson

Update on Woodfalls. The village shop is still flourishing. The New Inn has now closed. The Woodfalls Inn is still open, but it's not directly on the walk route. To get to the Woodfalls Inn, stand facing the village shop. Turn right. The Woodfalls Inn is a couple of minutes stroll away, on the same side of the road as the village shop, and just before the sports ground.

10/23/2012 - Jill Larby

18/09/12 Thank you Peter for posting this pleasant country walk. Easy going with lots of opportunity for wildlife spotting, even though it had been raining hard the day before it was still passable with the usual good walking boots or wellies. Wiltshire countryside at its best.