In this episode of my series “ New Forest Walks”, I try and walk the entire length of the “non tidal” section of the Beaulieu River - a journey of over 8 miles. Once again I am accompanied by my Whippet, Logan.
My adventure started at the source of the Beaulieu River which is located on the Northern edge of the village of Lyndhurst at a place called Pikes Hill. Initially I followed what looked like a ditch out of the village towards the A337. On the Eastern side of that busy A road, there was already signs of water in a small stream and the river meandered through woodland on the Northern edge of the New Forest Golf Course.
The river then headed South, on the Eastern side of the golf course, passing under the Lyndhurst to Ashurst road through Dunces Arch at which point it flowed Eastwards to Mallard Wood.
Coming out of Mallard Wood, the river heads South through Longwater Lawn and the Fulliford Bog towards the railway line at Fulliford Passage.
On the other side of Fulliford passage (east of the railway line), I continue to follow the river through Withycombe Shade before having to take a detour North around Decoy Pond Farm (which is private land). On the Eastern side of Decoy Pond Farm, I meet the river again and indeed manage to cross over to the South side so that I can take another detour around more private land (Farrant's Copse & Aldermoor Lodge).
In order to keep away from a bog, I had to follow a path South and then East towards Yew Tree Heath before rejoining the river at the edge of Aldermore Lodge. It is important to keep to paths in this section & indeed avoid it all together during the nesting season for ground - nesting birds (March to August).
My final leg of the walk takes me South, following the river through woods until I reach North Gate - at which point the river leaves the Forest and flows through the Beaulieu Estate (private land).
Although you can continue walking along the road to Beaulieu village (there are a couple of points along the way where the road crosses the river) - it is a busy road with no pavement.
I was picked up at the North Gate car park and finished off my outing with a quick look around Beaulieu village before reaching my final destination - The Montagu Arms at Beaulieu.
Map courtesy of Google Maps.
For further videos in the series, please go to: / @daveford or my website at daveford5966.wixsite.com/website
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I use a GOPRO HERO 7, 8 or 10 Black Action Camera (sometimes with a Gimbal) & a Rode microphone (either a “Shotgun” or a Rode Wireless Go) together with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS.