December Walk

December at Denny Wood

What a glorious day for our December walk – the weather was perfect for the twenty-five of us and one dog who met up at Denny Wood car park. Surprisingly Dave walked back towards the Lyndhurst/Beaulieu road before turning into the forest which after all the rain we’ve had was at times very wet and extremely muddy. Most of us were in wellingtons so it was quite amusing to slip and slide along the tracks. During the walk the front runners were rewarded with a glimpse of deer and further on we came across a family of pigs who showed no fear of us and a little curiosity.

A shared Joke

November's walk at Wilverly

November's walk at Wilverly was well attended. 18 of us made the circular route over the plain of well cropped grass into the plantation of trees, although many had only recently been harvested going by the many stumps left in the ground. The ground was still icy in parts which made the tracks less muddy for us to walk on. The weather was perfect for a November day blue skies and a warm sun.

October's walk

Another excellent walk, 21 members altogether. Notable on this walk was the many varied fungi in particular a very large one over a foot wide. Quite a few deer were seen by the leading group as we were stretched some distance along the at times muddy path.

September's Walk

Twenty members arrived for Dave's walk plus one grandson. Excellent walk from Beaulieu railway station car park. Not too hot and the rain kept off. Mainly on a firm but rutted track with wide sweeping views of heather covered heathland. Unusually we saw no deer but a few ponies looking well fed and some cows with a young one taking a drink. A small flower growing near the path attracted some interest. I'm told this was an orchid, Spiranthes - Autumn Ladies' Tresses.










Bridge photo shoot.

Group discussion.

Striding along

Thirsty calf

Well fed ponies.

Brave deer

Dried up stream

Stragglers

August walk

Eighteen of us including a U3A visitor turned up on this warm and pleasant summer’s morning at Brock Hill Car Park just off Ornamental Drive from the Lyndhurst to Christchurch cross roads. Ornamental drive is renowned for the many rhododendron bushes (A lot have recently been cleared) and giant redwood trees the tallest trees in the Forest and probably in the UK. The mainly earth paths were dry from the lack of rain and we completed the walk in one of our fastest times. During the walk we came across two young deer who took little notice of us giving a good photo opportunity. The photo of the stream show the dryness of the forest as just before the ford there was a notice warning of the danger of flooding

Click title to go to Ornamental drive

July Walk

After the heat wave we were back with rain and the threat of thunder but resolute to a man or woman fifteen of us arrived at the Knightwood Oak car park ready for one of Dave’s guided tours. This time we trekked a bit further than usual, first we stopped at the Oak to pay our respects then we trekked along quite good paths only slightly slippery from the rain across to the Portuguese fireplace. We then headed back stopping at the reptile centre to admire the adders and toads on display. From there we again passed the oak before returning to the car park. Very good walk and by the time we arrived the weather had vastly improved.

Enchanted woods

Snakes alive

What's it all about.

Possible DIY project?

Cheerful start

June walk

Excellent weather, has summer arrived? The walking group, fifteen in all led by Dave had a good morning. The walk was very enjoyable, it varied from following relatively dry tracks through the woods to striking out into the undergrowth with its threatening low branched hawthorn. We then travelled along beside a brown coloured stream with deep banks until we came to a made up path bordering a large clearing where in the distance a whole herd of deer were nervously feeding including a white hart.

Glad of a rest.

Negotiating a boggy patch.

Happy hikers

How they baled bracken now it is all burnt.

Proud mum and dad

Going past the white cottage in the Forest watched by curious ponies

April Walk

Twenty-one members and one small dog gathered at Lyndhurst Cricket Club car park before setting out on a pleasant scenic route of open forest and more wooded areas. Only one slight shower during the two hour walk with fleeting glimpses of sunshine in between cloudy skies. Several sightings of deer who hastily raced off as we approached. We came across a small plaque erected in Williams Copse where 900 sessile oaks were planted in 1979 to commemorate the creation of the New Forest in 1079 by William 1.

Cheeerful walkers

The long winding road

Looking the part

Open Forest

Plaque

Enjoying the sunshine.

April's walk from Bolton Bench

TOTTON U3A WALKING GROUP
A WALK IN THE NEW FOREST ON FRIDAY 7TH APRIL AT 2.00PM.
PLEASE MEET AT THE LYNDHURST CRICKET CLUB CAR PARK UP THE SLOPE FROM THE BOLTONS BENCH CAR PARK. DIRECTIONS: TAKE THE LYNDHURST ROAD FROM TOTTON, THROUGH ASHURST ON TOWARDS LYNDHURST. AS YOU ENTER THE 30MPH LIMIT TURN LEFT (ON THE BEAULIEU ROAD) AND IMMEDIATELY LEFT ONTO THE BOLTONS BENCH TARMAC TRACK. MAP AVAILABLE IF REQUIRED.
LENGTH OF THE WALK: 3.5 MILES APPROXIMATE TIME 2 HRS. VERY EASY WALKING ON FIRM TRACKS IN DECIDUOUS AND CONIFEROUS WOODS.
DAVID BUTCHER
WALKING GROUP LEADER.

Horse Talk

Happy Walkers

March Walk

Starting at Telegraph Hill on the Fordingbride Road 15 of us followed Dave with complete confidence despite a remark from a dog walking group that they had got lost for three hours in the same area we were heading for. It was cold but we’ve braved colder condition. Our route a circular tour led to Eyeworth Pond, created in 1871 to provide water for the Schultz Gunpowder Factory, which operated for 50 years from 1869. This is now home to many ducks, including the brightly coloured mandarin ducks which breed in the Forest using holes in trees. Running north from Eyeworth Pond car park is the unmade Powder Mill Road. This was once used to transport gunpowder up to the main road, thus avoiding Fritham village. We saw many birds around the pond including an Egret, Mallard, Mandarin, Goosander, Teal, Geese and small birds. Blue tits and Coal tits as well as Great Tits, Finches including the Chaffinch and the ubiquitous Robin. After a welcome break in the warm sunshine we continued our walk over the rising heath land back to the car park.
http://www.strollingguides.co.uk/books/newForest/places/2314-Fritham.php

A close scrutiny of a badger's home.

Interesting fungi

Through the wooded part.

Fritham Walk

Nineteen amazingly turned out for Dave’s New Forest walk - cold it certainly was although not the biting wind we experienced in Lymington Marshes. The walk was from Fritham and it was interesting in getting there to drive down the narrow lanes that seemed to be deep in the country. The walk mainly on a gravel track led us into mainly deciduous woods with a rolling gradient that added interest. The usual deer were spotted by somebody with sharp eyesight far in the distance between the boles of the trees. We all enjoyed the walk especially when we got back though I had to use the key to open my car door as I could not press the button on the key as my fingers were too cold. Fun.

Travellers return to Lyndhurst golf club car park.

A cheerful rally after successfully crossing a stream.

January Walk at Lyndhurst race course.

Another walk in the forest in good weather for January. The sun came out at times and all 18 of us enjoyed the expedition into mainly decidious woods after leaving the Lyndhurst golf course. Dave pointed out the visual evidence of the old Lyndhurst race course now very overgrown from 150 years of neglect. The popular Lyndhurst fair was also held here.