This is another video in my series “New Forest Walks” accompanied by my Whippet (Logan). In this episode I am at Acres Down - located 2.5 miles North West of Lyndhurst - and I take a 4.5 mile circular route across stunning heathland & woodland with the highlight being my search for the Knowles Beech (possibly the largest beech tree in the New Forest).
The film is slightly different to other videos in the series in that it is presented in a “guided walk” format (I had been asked by a viewer to make a video walk around the area with good directions as they always managed to get lost when they tried it!).
I chose the walk as an ideal one for the Christmas / New Year / Festive/Winter period as the bulk of it is on hard gravel tracks (although a small part of it might include a bit of mud but it will not be too bad!) and there are no roads to cross. Indeed you will see no cars or buildings - just nature at it's best.
The route takes us through a number of wooded inclosures (some of which are many centuries old) as well as some beautiful open heathland with stunning views. There is an opportunity to sit on the bench at the top of Hart Hill and enjoy the panorama looking South.
ROUTE DETAILS (ideally to be used along with a map - which can be found in two pictures on my post dated 23rd December 2020 on the facebook page "Dave's Countryside Walks")
Start from Forestry Commission car park at Acres Down (Grid Ref SU267097). Follow gravel cycle track heading South West. At cycle post Number 97, turn right and follow separate gravel track heading North.
At a fork in the track, ignore main gravel track on left and follow the "non gravel" track on the right. Head uphill to the top pf Hart Hill (where there is a seat to enjoy the view!). Carry straight on, passing through between two wooden posts - look for the trig point on your left (slightly hidden under trees). At this point, bear left (West) and follow a grassy path keeping Stonard Wood on your right.
Follow this path, ignoring a wooden gate on your left, until you meet open ground on the ridge where there is a Pony Pound on your left and views of heathland on your right.
Keep heading straight downhill with woods on your left until you come to a very large beech tree on your right. Shortly after, bear left through a gate that takes you on a firm gravel track heading South. Puckpits Inclosure woods will be on your left & open land on your right.
Follow this gravel track for some distance (it turns slightly to the left and then right again), ignoring two right hand tracks as you do so. This gravel track will take you downhill until , at a T junction, it joins a main gravel cycle track (Cycle track post 100). FOR A SHORTER WALK, TURN LEFT HERE AND FOLLOW THE GRAVEL CYCLE TRACK WHICH TAKES YOU BACK TO THE CAR PARK. Otherwuse, turn right and follow track for about 200 yards until you reach cycle point 101. Do not go straight on but turn left (East) where you will see two tracks at a fork. Ignore the left fork and go right through a wooden gate into an inclosure on to another gravel cycle track.
Follow this track for some distance (ignore the right hand track at point cycle post 148). Eventually the track crosses a stream (over a bridge) - Bagshot Gutter. NOW LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT GRASSY TRACK THAT GOES UPHILL ON THE LEFT about 50 yards after the bridge. Head up that track & pass through a wooden gate in to The Knowles Inclosure. Keep going ahead along a small grass track (it is more of a clearing than a track - don't worry - just keep on ahead). You will then come across a much more obvious track that heads North.
Follow this track (it can get a bit muddy in parts during the Winter but it is passable!) as it goes uphill through a narrow wood.
At the top of the hill you will emerge on to an open area (Acres Down) with magnificent 360 degree views. Keep on ahead BUT LOOK OUT FOR A SLIGHTLY LESS OBVIOUS TRACK that goes to the left, just as you are near the brow of the hill. Follow that track (that goes to the left) downhill as it gently curves with a valley on your left and hill on your right. Follow this undulating track for some distance until it comes to a steep incline. There are two ways up this incline - easy to the left , harder one to the right. At the top of the incline, head slightly left and you will see the car park at the bottom.
Map courtesy of Google Maps.
For further videos in the series, please go to: / @daveford or my website at daveford5966.w...
My Facebook page is: / davescountrysidewalks
I use a GOPRO HERO 7 Black Action Camera (sometimes with a Gimbal) & a Rode microphone together with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS.
Негізгі бет NEW FOREST WALK at ACRES DOWN (NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK)
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