Stride out over open heath and along forest tracks on this scenic circuit near Lyndhurst
Situated in the heart of the National Park, and known as the capital of the New Forest, Lyndhurst makes an excellent base for exploring the area on foot, with good walking to be had all around it. The award-winning New Forest Heritage Centre which houses a museum, exhibition gallery and reference centre, as well as a gift shop and café is well worth a visit (free entry), either before or after your walk. Also in the village is the Church of St Michael and All Angels where you’ll find the grave of former Lyndhurst resident, Alice Hargreaves, née Liddell, the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. West of the church there’s an imposing building, formerly known as the Queen’s House, now the King’s House, following the death of the Queen. The Forestry Commission’s headquarters are here and it is also home to the Court of Verderers, the body dating back to the 13th Century which oversees the rights of the New Forest's Commoners.
Just a short stroll east from Lyndhurst’s bustling High Street is some lovely open heathland and beautiful woodland. The walk starts from the car park here, Bolton’s Bench, which takes its name from a key landmark: the yew trees atop the knoll were planted as a memorial to the Duke of Bolton, who was the New Forest Master Keeper in the 18th century. They are now surrounded by benches. The stretch of elevated ground east of here is called The Ridge and provides some fine views.
Just after the trig point and bench atop it the walk leaves The Ridge and descends to cross the Beaulieu Road, continuing through the conservation area of Pondhead Inclosure. This area of woodland has not been grazed by animals for several centuries, resulting in a rich variety of flora (notably bluebells in spring), birds and butterflies. It is carefully sustained by coppicing, the work carried out by volunteers from the Pondhead Conservation Trust.
The walk continues along a wide forest track called Beechen Lane, thereafter heading back north to re-cross the road and join The Ridge again, for the final leg back to the start. This latter part of the walk follows the course of the Park Pale, an ancient earth embankment built to enclose Lyndhurst Old Park, a medieval deer park.
The walk
1 (SU303081) From the car park head left along the access road past the war memorial on the left. The route continues along the road, but do make the brief detour up to the top of Bolton’s Bench hillock on the right before doing so. Follow the road to where it forks left to the cemetery and keep ahead along the gravel track, the thatched cricket pavilion over to the right. Go past a barrier heading gently uphill and then on the level, soon bearing right across the grass to enjoy the view from the trig point and bench, parking area below beside Beaulieu Road. Continue along the top parallel to the road for another 180 yards.
2 (SU311080) Turn right down the gravel track to another barrier and the road. Cross and continue along the gravel track (Ridge House sign on left) to go through a gate between houses into Pondhead Inclosure. Cross a bridge and keep ahead at all of the junctions. Look out for the Williams Copse plaque on the right, which records the planting of 900 sessile oaks here in 1979 to commemorate the creation of the New Forest by William 1 900 years earlier. Further on the track runs along the western boundary of the Inclosure, reaching a gate and small parking area just beyond.
3 (SU304072) Turn left through another gate passing post number 268 and follow the gravel track, called Beechen’s Lane. This track is also a cycle route – these routes have numbered wooden marker posts at each junction. (You can buy maps locally which show the numbers of the marker posts, so you can locate where you are on the ground at every junction. Or you can download the cycle routes map from the National Park’s website, which also shows them.) Keep ahead along the track passing posts 269 and 270 (ignore the right turn here) and continue to post 281, an open grassy area ahead.
4 (SU321060) Turn left along the gravel track through a gate and keep ahead, going through another gate further on and then across a wooden bridge. Continue along the track which very gently ascends crossing a more open area, where trees have been removed for heathland restoration. Bear right and left at a fork up to the road. Cross and continue up a short grassy path to a crossing track.
5 (SU322075) Turn left and follow the track along The Ridge, retracing your initial steps further on back to the start.
Compass points
Start/finish: Bolton’s Bench car park, just east of Lyndhurst (SU303081)
Map: OS Explorer OL22
Distance: 5 miles (8km).
Terrain: Easy walking along fairly level heath and forest tracks with very gentle gradients
Time: 2½ hours
Refreshments: Plenty of choice in Lyndhurst
Public transport: Bluestar bus service 6 from Southampton to Lymington via Lyndhurst
