Malcolm Smith's Walking Pages

Malcolm Smith's
Walks Pages

... HAMPSHIRE ...

VERWOOD - FORDINGBRIDGE

Distance	-	About 6 miles
Start point	-	Verwood car park (OS Ref. SU162059)
Date walked	-	Thursday 12 June 2003
Weather	-	Hot and sunny with a light breeze
Conditions	-	Generally good surfaces but some paths which can be muddy when wet.

From Verwood car park, cross Ringwood Road and turn right to follow the fence line of the recreation ground. At the end, turn left into a gravel road which is Vicarage Road and continue until a short way from the end and opposite house number 46, take the footpath which leaves to the left through a barrier then continues up to the corner of the recreation ground.

On meeting a tarmac footpath, turn right and follow it as it zig-zags to reach the back of Hillside first school. Continue on the dirt path along the fence line of the school playing field with the nature reserve of Stevens Castle to the left. On reaching the corner, turn right and continue following the fenceline at the end of which the path meanders away bearing generally to the left. As the back gardens of a housing estate come into view, bear left and skirt the houses before finally crossing a small wooden footbridge and passing through kissing gates onto a lane which is Stephens Lane.

Turn right into the lane then just as the surface becomes tarmac, turn left at the footpath sign and pass through a barrier into the forestry plantation along a gravel track which follows the line of the back of a housing estate. After 100 yds or so, the track divides at which point bear away to the left and start to gently ascend through an area called Wild Church Bottom.

The ascent becomes gradually steeper before levelling out. It crosses another track, continue straight ahead and electricity pylons will come into view. The track then starts to descend. Pass a track leaving to the left, then continue on a straight line with a gentle upgrade touching on an area called Boveridge Heath.

The track creasts then comes to a multiple junction below the overhead electricity cables. Pass underneath these cables, ignoring a track that leaves to the right that follows the line of pylons, bear right ignoring two track leading away to the left and pass through a small belt of trees in which runs a small stream. Turn left immediately beyond the belt of trees onto a track that gently rises and follows the line of the pylons.

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