Malcolm Smith's Walking Pages

Malcolm Smith's
Walks Pages

... HAMPSHIRE ...

RINGWOOD - VERWOOD

Distance	-	About 6 miles
Start point	-	The Furlong car park (OS Ref. SU162059)
Date walked	-	June 2003
Weather	-	Bright and warm
Conditions	-	Good surfaces, mostly on gravel tracks.

From the Furlong car park, cross The Furlong by the Tourist Information Centre and take the path between the Furlong public house and the Meeting House chapel. This is Pedlar's Lane which continues through the Meeting House shopping centre to reach the High Street opposite LloydsTSB bank

Cross straight over and walk the full length of Kings Arms Lane to reach The Bickerley.

Cross directly over Bickerley Road and take the gravel track, following the signs for the Avon Valley Path, on the way passing below some overhead electric cables. Bear right at the junction and pass between houses on the left and a high hedge on the right. At the end of the houses the track crosses the Avon mill stream then immediately meets a former railway line.

Turn right onto the line which is now a properly surfaced path forming part of the Castleman Trailway. Remain on the trailway, crossing the main channels of the river Avon, before reaching a small car park at Hurn Lane.

Cross Hurn Lane and go through the underpass below the A31 road. Follow the road, passing a telephone box and crossing a slip road then turn left at the access point for the continuation of the Castleman Trailway and follow the dirt path.

The path leads between the slip road and a field before rejoining the former railway track. Turn right onto the track and follow it as it passes behind Folly Farm school. On reaching a crossing where a tarmac lane crosses, exit to the right and immediately ascend the steep bank that passes below overhead electricity lines, keeping just to the right of a pair of supporting poles. Continue straight ahead, crossing another dirt path, to crest the hill after which the ground more or less levels out.

On coming to a multiple junction of gravel tracks, bear left along the main track signposted as 'Pine Avenue'. This track is dead straight to the end three kilometers distant. The surface changes to dirt at about half distance then finally is grassed. The track meets a gravel track at which point turn right and continue until reaching the Ringwood to Verwood road.

Cross the road and turn left along the firebreak and continue until reaching a post and rail fence. Turn right along a dirt path that bears away from the road and follows a small stream with houses on the other side. The path continues in a straight line for about a kilometer as the gardens give way to enclosed woodland. The path eventually makes a left turn and runs through a belt of pine trees at which point the track starts to ascend.

On joining a gravel track, turn left and cross the stream, then immediately take the right hand branch where the track divides. The track quickly straightens out and gently ascends towards overhead electricity cables.

Having passed underneath the cables, cross over the track that runs parallel to the cables and continue in a straight line ahead. The track crests then gently descends, eventually picking up with the line of a fence behind houses to the left. On crossing a small stream, fork right where the path divides.

Pass round a barrier to reach St. Stephens Lane. Turn right into the lane and pass round another barrier by house number 37 then turn immediately left into Stephens Castle local nature reserve at the sign indicating Verwood ½ mile.

Follow the path that skirts the back of the houses. Having passed through a holly thicket, follow the fence line where it turns left then after a few paces stay with the path as it bears away to the right and weaves through a thicket of furze and birch trees.

The path runs up alomgside a chain-link fence around the playing field of Hillside First School. Follow this fence line along the end of the field then turn left with it along the back. On reaching the gate into the school, the path becomes tarmac and zig-zags around a garden.

Continue ahead past the brick building which is the Verwood Concert Brass Band Hall and come into Moorlands Road which is unmade. Opposite the Verwood British Legion building, go through the barrier into the recreation ground. Continue straight ahead to pass close to the Memorial Hall then exit onto Ringwood Road. Cross directly over to reach the central car park.

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