| Date: Location: Walk Leader: Participants: Distance: Parking: Lunch: | 23rd July 2014 New Forest, Ornamental Drive Peter Peter, Clive, Ray, Rob 7 miles Blackwater Car Park Queens Head Burley ★ Let down by poor service. Food pretty good. |
The forecast was for a very hot day and so we decided to head for the New Forest and a well wooded area where there was a chance of some good shade - thoughtful leadership.
The Blackwater car park is usually fairly busy so is a reasonably safe place to park for the day. We set off to follow a fire break towards Ober Heath. That seems to have vanished but there is a reasonable path that follows the edge of the stream, well almost. Along the stream we saw several dragonflies and Beautiful Demoiselle. Coming out onto the cycle track it was obvious how hot it would be in the open. It did however lead to the road where there is a good view of Rhinefield House and we soon got off the road and back into the more wooded areas.
Walking along Ober Water we kept in the woods as much as possible avoiding the more open path and later cycle track. We managed to find a shady spot for our refreshment break and sat and watched some highland cattle who were enjoying the cool water in the stream until a stupid dog (or was it the owner?) decided to run around and bark at them all.
At Bolderford Bridge we took a small path that is posted but not shown on the map. It is NOT a cycle route and goes through a protected area. It is a very pleasant area to walk through and we saw deer, woodpecker and some interesting fungi. This path meets with a path that is shown on the map and leads to Great Huntley Bank. We then turned south west through Brinkley wood and back to the car park. This is another very pleasant area with very few other walkers.
Arriving back at the car park we were delighted to find an ice cream van - irresistible.
The entire team did very well to manage 7 miles in such hot conditions but being a hardy bunch they all had an excellent time and nothing but praise for the leader.
We went into Burley for lunch at the Queens Head where the food was fine but the service was slow and confused.
The Blackwater car park is usually fairly busy so is a reasonably safe place to park for the day. We set off to follow a fire break towards Ober Heath. That seems to have vanished but there is a reasonable path that follows the edge of the stream, well almost. Along the stream we saw several dragonflies and Beautiful Demoiselle. Coming out onto the cycle track it was obvious how hot it would be in the open. It did however lead to the road where there is a good view of Rhinefield House and we soon got off the road and back into the more wooded areas.
Walking along Ober Water we kept in the woods as much as possible avoiding the more open path and later cycle track. We managed to find a shady spot for our refreshment break and sat and watched some highland cattle who were enjoying the cool water in the stream until a stupid dog (or was it the owner?) decided to run around and bark at them all.
At Bolderford Bridge we took a small path that is posted but not shown on the map. It is NOT a cycle route and goes through a protected area. It is a very pleasant area to walk through and we saw deer, woodpecker and some interesting fungi. This path meets with a path that is shown on the map and leads to Great Huntley Bank. We then turned south west through Brinkley wood and back to the car park. This is another very pleasant area with very few other walkers.
Arriving back at the car park we were delighted to find an ice cream van - irresistible.
The entire team did very well to manage 7 miles in such hot conditions but being a hardy bunch they all had an excellent time and nothing but praise for the leader.
We went into Burley for lunch at the Queens Head where the food was fine but the service was slow and confused.
 Rhinefield House |  Highland Cattle |  A shady spot for coffee |  Fungi, possibly chicken of the woods |
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