Alice’s Winter Adventures in the New Forest, 10 miles, moderate

When:
December 3, 2022 @ 10:00 am
2022-12-03T10:00:00+00:00
2022-12-03T10:15:00+00:00
Where:
Brockenhurst railway station
Brockenhurst
Brockenhurst SO42 7TW
UK
Contact:
Tom H

This 10-mile circuit from Brockenhurst will take in the New Forest in winter.

Advance booking is not required, but if you plan on attending this walk, please indicate this on Meetup if you can, so others can see that there will be plenty of people going.

Pace: medium. Ascent: 114m.

Walk details

This walk is unlikely to see much of the New Forest in autumn colours, owing to the rail engineering works forcing postponement from the original planned date, but should still be a lovely walk!

The first stage of the walk takes us through Brockenhurst village centre and across Black Knowl, where we can expect to see some of the famous New Forest ponies, before entering the Forest proper at Bolderford Bridge.

From there, we continue heading north until reaching the “capital” of the New Forest, Lyndhurst. The church of St Michael and All Angels in Lyndhurst is famous for being the burial place of Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Alice in “Alice in Wonderland” (although her gravestone bears her married name, Mrs Reginald Hargreaves). Depending on time, numbers and preferences we can stop in Lyndhurst at either a cafe or pub. It is also possible at this point (approximately 5 miles into the walk) to drop out and return to Brockenhurst by bus.

The walk then continues by returning to Brockenhurst through a different part of the Forest. Heading through Park Ground Inclosure, Parkhill Inclosure, and Ramnor Inclosure, the final stretch of the walk leads across Balmer Lawn. If there is a long wait for the train from Brockenhurst to Reading, we can wait at the Foresters’ Arms pub, very close to the station.

Travel details

By public transport

Please catch the 08.52 train from Reading if coming by train. The walk leader intends to travel on this train – if it is delayed the start of the walk may be as well.

By car

Parking with charges is available at the station, or nearby in Brockenhurst at Brookley Road – or park considerately in the surrounding streets.

Notes

  • Please bring a packed lunch and a drink.
  • It might be muddy – please wear suitable footwear.
  • Please feel free to contact the leader with queries about the walk, or if you are delayed on the day.