near Burley, approach from BH23 4EF or 8EE SU 2041 0124 125 bus (Ringwood) goes past as does the New Foerst tour bus in season. There are many ways to approach this New Forest watering
near Burley, approach from BH23 4EF or 8EE SU 2041 0124
125 bus (Ringwood) goes past as does the New Foerst tour bus in season.
There are many ways to approach this New Forest watering hole, which is usually surrounded by commoners’ livestock taking a drink or resting.
We first found it one Spring day walking south across the heathland from Holmesley Woods, winding down the narrow tracks, which become rushing streams in winter. The pond was tranquil and deserted apart from ponies and cattle, humming with dragonflies and damselflies . The abundant water lilies were just opening up – an enchanting place. Brown Hawker dragonflies are here in abundance in season.
Unfortunately this pond is also much more easily accessed from the car park at Burbush Hill between Burley Street and Bransgore, and is very very popular in the summer. After the Covid-19 lockdown the pond was surrounded by hordes of noisy people with radios, barbecues and even little boats – more like a hot day at Blackpool. The car park was full and the road alomst impassable due to illegal parking on both sides – all the New Forest rangers could do was put warning stickers on the vehicles and hope damage to this habitat was not too longlasting.
One of the New Forest tour bus routes goes right past and it is no wonder it is a target for picnickers and those who don’t want to walk far!. Burbush car park is the start or end point for walkers, riders and cyclists enjoying the disused Castlemaine track. This railway was constructed by the Dorchester company in 1864 to link Southampton and Wimborne. A boggy track leads to the pond edges.
There is a great circular walk , which also takes in the Naked Man post – once the place where smugglers and convicts were hung. The path is sometimes muddy and often hilly, but the views are fabulous and the environment varied. The steep valleys on the heath are called “bottoms”.
