SZ3545 On main bus route for no. 6 and seasonal tour buses. Located along the Beaulieu to Lymington road, Crockford has a spacious car park and is rarely busy. This area leads across the heath
SZ3545 On main bus route for no. 6 and seasonal tour buses.
Located along the Beaulieu to Lymington road, Crockford has a spacious car park and is rarely busy.
This area leads across the heath down to Two Bridges Bottom and eventually links up with the paths around the disused airfield of RAF Beaulieu. The lower reaches are called Deep Moor and there are four permanent ponds, added to by many more in winter. There is a lot of water and many streams so wellies or very stout footwear is needed. Although not exactly a beauty spot, there are far-reaching views across the heathland to the downs of the Isle of Wight and the skies are open and ever changeable.
The main feature is the meandering Crockford stream, which can be passed over a precarious plank to reach the heathland beyond. The stream is a vitally important wildlife habitat, full of fish, waterboatmen and pond skaters. It is a tranquil gravel-bottomed stream fed by many boggy springs and slows in places due to sandy sills. Near the car park there are larger flooded holes, which were once clay pits where commoners could dig clay for their land – beware of the many sink holes and black peaty patches as you can quickly lose your footing and maybe your wellie too.
Crockford stream is renowned for its profusion of rare wildlife – blue southern damselflies, demoiselles, Keeled Skimmer and Common Darter dragonflies thrive here. The heathland around supports butterflies as diverse as the cabbage white, peacock, brimstone, meadow brown and red admiral.
The surrounding heathland with its peculiar mix of grassy areas interspersed with gorse and heather comes alove in summer with wildflowers such as the scabious, saw wort, marsh thistle, water mint and purple loosestrife. The dark red Hampshire purslane can also be spotted. it is also a premier site for heath insects and for rare ground-nesting birds – for this reason the car park is closed from March to July each year while the birds nest.
Across the heathland in this part of the New Forest are over 30 Bronze Age barrows or earthworks, named as tumuli on the OS map. Dating back 3500 years these form strange mounds on the heath – our favourite hides a beautiful pond at its foot, surrrounded by gorse bushes.
The paths here are somewhat indistinct and many are under water in winter, but just keep the distant view of Crockford Clump in sight to remember the direction of the car park and make a circular track acorss the heath – clearer tracks appear once you go as far as the edge of the old airfield. Towards Two Bridges Bottom is a strange little woodland full of ancient hollies and twisted gnarled deciduous trees bent by the winds – well worth a little diversion from the tracks….Although it can be a little bleak and the winds cutting in winter, this is a fascinating place and certainly one of Cwtch Collie’s absolute favourites – rushing down to play at the stream no matter what the weather is like!
Please be aware the wobbly plank bridge over Crockford stream has disappeared!