In this episode of my series “ New Forest Walks” , I take a walk starting & finishing at the old disused railway station at Breamore in Hampshire, taking in the pretty village of Woodgreen and some stunning scenes along the way. Virtually all of the walk is inside the New Forest National Park. Once again I am accompanied by my Whippet, Logan.
I start my 6.5 mile circular route at the old railway station which is located to the East of Breamore village. Around 2 miles of the old Salisbury & Dorset Junction Railway line (closed in 1964) from South Charford to Upper Burgate is now designated a public footpath.
After exploring the old station building (it has an information board on one side), I head South towards Upper Burgate. I leave the old line at Burgate Cross & continue South along a footpath beside the A338 to Lower Burgate at which point I head East through Burgate Manor Farm.
I cross over the River Avon at the suspension bridge just East of the farm & head across water meadows to Folds Farm. Here I head North with Godshill Wood on my right & the Castle Hill earthworks (it has been a bronze age burial mound, iron age hill fort & a Ringwork & Bailey castle in the past) on my left.
At the top of Castle Hill there are some amazing views to be had across the Avon Valley below.
It is not long before I drop into the pretty village of Woodgreen with it's delightful pub, village hall & church. Continuing Northwards along the Avon Valley Path I reach St Mary's Church at Hale.
At this point I re-cross the River Avon & head West to South Charford. The footpath isn't that well marked across the water meadows - basically as soon as you cross the bridge, turn left (South) and after about 400 yards, follow the edge of a field Westwards. Eventually you will meet a stile and the public footpath waymarks start to appear again!
At South Charford - where there was once a chapel and was possibly the site of Cerdic's Ford (scene of a battle in 519AD) - I rejoin the old disused railway line and head South back to the old station.
After the walk, I took refreshments at the Bat & Ball pub in Breamore.
There is a Forestry Commission (free) car park at the top of Castle Hill - at the viewpoint - as an alternative starting & end point. There was limited parking in a layby overlooking the River Avon ,close to the bridge at Breamore Mill, which was not too far from the railway station (there is a public footpath across a field from close to the Mill to the old railway line).
NB: As part of the route involves paths across water meadows (close to the River Avon - which floods often after heavy rain), the walk is best done during the "warm & dry" months.
Map courtesy of Google Maps.
Music by Original Spruce (Copyright owner). Permission for me to use this track has been given to me by the copyright owner. 2022. Tracks (in order of appearance in the video): 1) Pembrokeshire, 2) Nicely Stone, 3) One For The G, 4) Martin Down ,5) Eko Eko, 6) Marching The Moors & 7) Nicely Stone. To download these tracks & other music by Original Spruce go to: spruce1.bandcamp.com
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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.