Burley walks - New Forest
Check out these great Burley walks.
All can be started from Burley village centre and they are therefore convenient for users of local bus services including, in season, New Forest Tour buses. They also pass close to, or through, Forestry Commission or other car parks situated on, or near, the main walk routes, which provide convenient alternative start points.
The walks are of broadly similar length - 3 to 3½ miles (around 4.8 to 5.5 kilometres), excluding the distance from the village centre to the main start points. There are no really steep gradients, and few stiles over which to climb.
Please note: Charges apply for use of the car park near the Queens Head in Burley village centre. Free parking is, however, available in Forestry Commission car parks.
The walks
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Bluebells and other wild flowers brighten the woods, usually in relatively small numbers.
Bird song can be heard throughout the day but is at its loudest at dawn and, to a lesser extent, dusk.
Foals are born in increasing numbers and can be seen beside ever-attentive mares.
Dragonflies are more frequently observed on the wing as spring progresses.
June
Badgers can now often be watched above ground well before darkness falls.
Deer - fallow, red, roe, sika and muntjac deer are all present - give birth, although the youngsters are unlikely to be noticed until July.
Heath spotted-orchids add delicate pink colour to many of the heaths.
Hobbies, dashing birds of prey, can often be seen aloft, hawking for insects.
Sadly, 58 animals were killed - 35 ponies, 13 cows, 8 donkeys and 2 sheep, whilst a further 32 were injured - 3 pigs, 9 donkeys, 11 cows and 9 ponies.
(Forty-three accidents occurred in daylight, 15 at twilight and 101 in the dark. Twenty-seven accidents were not reported by the driver involved).
Here's just one horrific example - Three donkeys killed in collision with van at notorious New Forest blackspot (Advertiser and Times)