SU211030 BH24 4HN various car parks in Burley and at Burbush Burley is an archytypal New Forest village and a popular stopping off point for tourists with its quirky shops, pubs , tea rooms and
SU211030 BH24 4HN
various car parks in Burley and at Burbush
Burley is an archytypal New Forest village and a popular stopping off point for tourists with its quirky shops, pubs , tea rooms and Burley Manor Hotel. The village is also a great starting point for walkers and cyclists with tracks of varying lengths in all directions and several car parks to start from.
From the cricket ground or main Burley New Forest park car park I would recommend setting off across towards Holmsley Bog, to the disused railway track – the Castlemain line – and over Castle Hill. The name ‘Burley’ dreives from the saxon “bury” meaning iron age castle.This Iron Age fort can also be accessed from Burbush car park across the heathland. Close to Burley itself are ancient woodlands also accessible from the village centre. Parts of the Knight Great Common Nature Reserve also form part of walks in this area.
The old railway line is a great route for walkers, riders and cyclists, follwoing a circuitous route from Burbush all the way to Holmsley Tea rooms. Directly from the Burley tracks you can join the path at the derelict Greenbridge railway bridge – this railway was renowned as the Castlemain Corkscrew.
From the higher paths the views are tremendous and the lower reaches have numerous streams and wetland areas. Vital habitat for a variety of wildlife, this whole area is a delight all year round – ponies are always to be seen. Burley is a good area to see pigs eating up the acorns during the autumn pannage season. Fallow and roe deer may be spotted if you are lucky as well as many wildflowers, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. Reptiles enjoy the sunny dry spots and birdlife is teeming – the rare Dartford warblers, stonechats and linnets thrive on the heath.
The woodland and heath is varied with heather, gorse, birch and ancient once-coppiced hollies. Whatever the time of year or weather, Burley is a good place to start walks of any length.