SO42 7QD SU271028 The no. 6 bus passes here and the New Forest tour bus too. Easy paths with typical New Forest scenery – accessible and paths of varying routes. I once read that if
SO42 7QD SU271028
The no. 6 bus passes here and the New Forest tour bus too.
Easy paths with typical New Forest scenery – accessible and paths of varying routes.
I once read that if you have only time to spend a couple of hours in the New Forest, then come here – the woodland scenery is enchanting all year round. Of course, this does mean that this is a popular beauty spot and the car parks can fill quickly in summer! Even on one very wet autumn day, but we only just found a parking space! The river is popular for paddling in the summer and with dogs all year round.
Close by and an easy walk is Whitemoor car park, which has toilets and an ice-cream van at busy times.
Puttles Bridge can be accessed from Rhinefield Drive or from the Brockenhurst Road and a nearby car park at Whitemoor has more spaces. There are many tracks, some waymarked with coloured posts, along the river, which is known as Ober Water, through Aldridgehill Inclosure, Clumber Wood and along to Rhinefield House, which is now a luxurious hotel.
The marked paths are circular, of varying lengths and ideal for children or the less able-bodied as on gravelled paths. The yellow route is 1 mile in length and follows the river edges, over the larger bridge and back to the car park across the marsh, while the red route has an extra woodland loop and is 1.5 miles long. Both of these are level and accessible walks.
From the Ober Water car park paths lead you over numerous bridges, which are perfect for games of Pooh sticks. For those who walk further into the quieter reaches of the woods , there is a good chance to spot deer. The source of Ober Water rises in the bogland around Burley and joins with Highland Water to eventually become the Lymington River. The woodland has a rich variety of open mature oak and beech as well as sweet chestnut and mixed conifers. Silver stream is one of the few places to spot the rare white-legged damselfly.
To enjoy this at its best go early in the day or out of season!