SO41 6EN A great inclosure which joins up with other walks and skirts around the secluded campsite in the woods. We started our walk by joining the disused Castlemain railway track from the closed off
SO41 6EN
A great inclosure which joins up with other walks and skirts around the secluded campsite in the woods.
We started our walk by joining the disused Castlemain railway track from the closed off tunnel nearest to Longslade Bottom car park. The track is ideal for walking or cycling and we followed a circular route along the track, under the road bridge and then turning onto tracks on the heath facing Yew Tree Bottom. This takes you up and down and eventually you can join the woods alongside the campsite. From here there are many tracks to explore. When you come to a crossroads with cycle route number 200, turn left to get back to the car park, which is now across the road from the gate!
There are several miles of tracks and most are not too muddy even after autumn rains. The woods were laid down during the Napoleonic era with the wood planned for warships. Mainly broadleaved, it is still managed to control the invasive Turkey oak, rhododendrons, sycamore and Scots pine. Originally it was planted with oak and beech , but now also incudes sweet chestnut, ash, rowan, blackthorn and conifers. The colours in autumn are spectacular. Clearings are maintained to support wildlife – flowers birds and butterflies in particular. Setthorns is good to spy deer, woodpeckers, nuthatchs and many squirrels.
Just before the railway track comes alongside a more open section we have seen large herds of deer on the wooded banks – surprisingly near the campsite.