Godshill and the Avon Valley

9th October 2008

Distance: 7.8 miles approx
Parking: Forestry Commission Ashley Walk
Map: Explorer OL22 New Forest
Map ref for car park: SU186157

• The view eastward from Ashley Walk car park are quite beautiful and promise good things for another day.

• However, this walk heads west across the busy Roger Penny Way (B3078) to follow a grassy track down between gorse bushes running alongside a fence. The grass gives way to stones and descends sharply, with lovely views over the valley. At the bottom of the steep descent is a gate left and a bridleway signpost. The bridleway passes first along the right edge of an enclosed area of New Forest land, then through another gate and up between horse pastures on either side. Pass a footpath going left across a field and continue to follow the bridleway until it emerges between new cottages to a lane.

• For those who prefer to avoid livestock, turn left here to meet Roger Penny Way again, and right towards Fordingbridge along this road. A pavement on the right hand side of the road runs a good stretch of the way. Where it peters out, cross the road (with care!) to a footpath on the other side which runs down almost to Fordingbridge, where you need to cross again to another pavement.

• For those who have no qualms about livestock, there is a traffic-free route which cuts out a sizeable chunk of the main road, although eventually this has to be encountered on this particular route.

• From the end of the bridleway above, turn right along the lane until a footpath sign on the left to a stile. The footpath runs along the left hand edge of fields. Pass through a windbreak of trees. Ignore the first footpath left and turn on to the second. Turn right and soon left again to walk down through the Sandy Balls Estate. Keep following the footpath down through trees and eventually through a small paddock to a signpost by a gate pointing back along the way and emerge to the B3078. Turn right on to the pavement and continue down into Fordingbridge as above.

• The pavement going into Fordingbridge passes under the A338. Bear right to cross the stone bridge over the River Avon. There are picturesque views to either side along the River. Pass the George Inn on the left. At the T-junction the main street which is worth a wander along is to the left. I was hoping that the Avon Valley Path would pass through the town centre; instead it bears round to the right at the T-junction and turns the next left after the Museum, into a residential area.

• Keep through here. It is much like any other residential area, being far more modern than the more central parts of the town. There are Avon Valley Path stickers intermittently on telegraph poles and street lights. When a school sign is seen ahead, turn along a road bearing right before this. At the far end of this road and before it bends right, there is a footpath signposted with Avon Valley Path labelling continuing straight ahead. The tarmac footpath soon gives way to gravel and grass. Gardens and school grounds become hidden from view by high hedges. At a T-junction turn right. The Path still runs intermittently between hedges with views over pastureland, and can be very puddly after rain. The Path comes to a farmstead and passes through the farm, past cottages to the A338. Turn right here. On the right is the Tudor Rose Pub. Cross over towards a gate on to a concrete path past cottages towards a farmyard.

• Go through the farmyard. Just before a metal field gate, there is a signpost to the left towards a suspension bridge. Cross over and walk across a water meadow to a wooden bridge. Cross here and bear right down to a V-gate. Once through this, the Path runs between fences and over tributaries of the River Avon. At one point a shallow stream runs beside the road.

• Look out for a wooden lock or weir to the left.

• Again, the way runs through farmland. Ignore all other paths and keep straight ahead on to a gravel drive between more cottages to a New Forest sign, a cattle grid and gate. This is a return to New Forest land. Ahead is a small green with fenced woodland rising beyond a narrow tarmac lane. Turn left along the lane. To the left a wooded hill rises up, the ring and bailey of a lost castle.

• After Castle Hill the land falls away steeply to the left. There is a pleasant path alongside the lane. Keep along this until a car park with benches in front. This is one of two viewpoints over the Avon Valley, with views of the River winding through. A little further on, where a Forestry Commission sign stands ("Castle Hill") is another parking area with benches and viewpoint.

• From this car park, cross the lane and through a gate into the woodland. Follow the path heading left and up through the trees for about 150 yards. Look for a clear grass path to the left again and follow this up to a gate and road. Cross the road and pass through another gate into continuing woodland.

• This is true Forest walking.

• There are two tracks heading away from the gate either side of a holly clump. Take the left hand way which seems to run parallel with the road for a little way but soon heads up through the trees. Ignore all paths to right and left; cross over a wide cycle track and continue along to a gate into a car park. If the path is muddy look for narrow paths which veer around the main track to miss the worst of the mud.

• Leave the car park heading right past two small oak trees. Keep along the path that descends into the valley and eventually runs beside a fence. At the bottom of the valley where a stream runs through, there is a choice of a wooden bridge or fording the stream. Whichever you choose, continue up along a choice of paths with the fence always to the right. Soon pass the gate and signpost to the bridleway walked earlier, and climb steeply up the last part of the path to the road. Cross the road to return to Ashley Walk car park.