A 20s and 30s Ramblers group.
Tom H & Shannon
This 8-mile linear walk from Sway to Brockenhurst will take in some of the variety of the New Forest, and offers the chance to see some New Forest ponies!
Advance booking is not required, but if you plan on attending this walk, please indicate this on Meetup if you can (see Website link), so others can see that there will be plenty of people going.
Pace: medium.
Walk details
We’ll start the walk by heading northwest out of Sway and through Set Thorns Inclosure. After that there is a sharp change to the landscape as we cross some of the open heathland which is as important a part of the New Forest’s unique landscape and ecosystem as the woodland. We will almost certainly see many of the famous New Forest ponies during this walk!
For a time, we will return to the woods and follow the Ober Water, one of the headwaters of the Lymington River, before turning south across Black Knowl to finish the walk in Brockenhurst, which has a choice of pubs and cafes to enjoy while waiting for the train home!
Travel details
By public transport
If travelling from Reading, take the 09:12 South Western Railway train towards Salisbury, and get off at Basingstoke around 09:32. Then take the 09:48 South Western Railway train towards Poole & Portsmouth Harbour, which arrives into Sway at 11:01.
At the end of the walk, return trains to Reading leave Brockenhurst at :09 (change at Basingstoke) and :33 (change at Southampton Central) minutes past the hour, and take about 90 minutes to get back to Reading.
By car
We suggest parking at Brockenhurst Station and catching the 10:57 South Western Railway train towards Poole & Portsmouth Harbour, which arrives into Sway at 11:01. This car park has 236 spaces, and you pay via RingGo code 2016. Postcode: SO42 7TW. What3words: ///fulfilled.gladiator.corkscrew.
Notes
Sway railway station
Brockenhurst railway station
