New Forest Short Walks - Walks near Lyndhurst

This woodland walk starts beside Highland Water and passes through Holmhill Inclosure, Wooson’s Hill Inclosure and Holidays Hill Inclosure.

The Route

1. Leave the car park at Millyford Bridge along a gravel track leading directly away from the road. Cross a bridge over a narrow side-stream and then cross another bridge over the main river. Notice here on both sides of the path the often water-filled meander cut off from the main flow.

Pass on the left a number of magnificent, centuries old beech trees, and equally aged hollies; cross a small clearing and go through a gate into Holmhill Inclosure.
 
2. Continue along the gravel track; pass over a crossroads where a grassy ride intersects the gravel track, and cross a small bridge over a tiny stream - Bagshot Gutter.

Continue straight ahead at the next crossroads where a grassy ride intersects the main track. Notice immediately on the left an area of regenerating woodland fenced to keep out commoners’ stock, and deer, and other fenced areas further along.

Go straight ahead again where the next grassy ride intersects the track, and on reaching a ‘Y’ junction, take the left fork.

3. Follow the track downhill. Re-cross Highland Water at a sturdy concrete bridge, and continue along the track as it bears round to the left - ignore a grassy ride going uphill on the right.

After a short distance, where the main gravel track swings round to the right, turn left down a lesser used gravel track running parallel to the river. Continue straight ahead where another grassy ride intersects the main track.

4. Reach a crossroad of tracks. The track straight ahead leads back to the road close to the Portuguese Fireplace, but turn right here for a slightly longer walk.

Go through a gate, and continue along what by now is a grassy ride, and just ahead, beyond a vehicle barrier, is the road.

5. Cross over the road and go straight ahead into the wood. After a short distance, meet a well-defined path joining from the right. Continue virtually straight ahead along the path, down a gentle gradient into a wooded valley bottom.

Cross a bridge over a narrow stream, and after a short distance, go through a gate set in a gap in a prominent, moss-clad wood-bank, and enter the shade of Wooson’s Hill Inclosure. 

After a short distance, reach a crossroads and turn left along a little-used gravel track.

6. Follow this track into Holidays Hill Inclosure. Ignore a path on the right and continue downhill to again cross the narrow stream.

7. Reach another crossroads and turn left along a substantial gravel track. Almost immediately meet a ‘Y’ junction, take the left hand fork and then shortly after pass a track on the right. Go through a gate to reach the road.

8. Turn right and pass on the right the Portuguese Fireplace. Continue along the road for a short distance to reach the Millyford Bridge car park. (Notice on the left close to the car park entrance, a quite large, rectangular concrete block amongst a group of small trees; and across the road, the outline of building foundations - further evidence of war-time occupation?