Pig Bush

19th June 2009

New Forest Car Park - Pig Bush

There is a path from the car park running west down through the trees to the Nature Reserve, an open area of moorland; at the head of the path is an information panel giving the layout of the Reserve and outlining the path around it.

However, I was going further afield.

I followed the path down through the trees and turned left along the edge of the Reserve, soon to turn north-west over a footbridge. Flowering shrubs were growing over the river.

I followed the path to a gate into an Inclosure but turned right here and followed the line of the fence towards the railway bridge. This is a long climbing slope over boggy ground and then the bridge itself. There is a notice here for riders to dismount, presumably in case the sound of the train or a sudden claxon causes the animal to bolt. There are high shields put up so that the trains are hidden from view.

After the bridge, I went through the gate across from it into Denny Inclosure and up a lovely grass slope with foxgloves lining the path. I had an idea of fairies sleeping in the foxgloves and when they leave for the day, the bees come and clean out the flowers.

At the top of the slope, part of the path was closed off for reinstatement of a bridleway churned up by forest logging. I wanted the path left anyway.

I was supposed to keep going until the cycle track down to LadyCross. Well, it looked like a cycle track, being gravelled and wide, and I suppose I should have marked the absence of cycle trail posts, but I didn't. The way ahead I realised later I should have continued along looked really overgrown so I turned down what I thought was the cycle track. (I'm not too hot on distances and could really use a pedometer to help me).

I came back to the railway, as I should have done, only a little short of where I should have been. More fun than merely going over another railway bridge, though. You have to actually cross the railway here at Railway Cottages (with barking dogs). I haven't done this since the Mottisfont Walk.

Across the railway, then, and through another gate into another Inclosure. Following this cycle track round, there were a couple of grass paths leading off it but barred and signed "Deer Research - No Entry. Good thing I hadn't planned to go that way!

I passed two joggers with a cheery good morning on each side and soon out of the Inclosure on to the cycle track down to LadyCross that I should have struck earlier.

LadyCross is a sprawling pile with impressive black entrance gates flanked by trees and bushes and a black mailbox.

On towards the road that winds to left towards Brockenhurst. A path cuts alongside the road then bends back on to a drive that goes to two hidden cottages (How DO people get to live in these places?) and also forks off on to a path over a low barrier into the loveliest of woodlands.

The path winds gently through old oak trees with heavy-laden branches coming down low over the path. Then further on opens out into a glade. The sun had come out by now and it looked very inviting, so I stopped here and sat on the lawn to eat my energy bar and drink water.

I took several photos of the woodland on the way through, and then I saw the Two Trees - well, that was my first thought as they were literally side by side and intertwining their branches. Then as I looked again, it struck me that they appeared to be dancing and I imagine in a strong wind the illusion would be even stronger. And so I called the photograph the Last Dance of the Ent and Entwife, which will mean little to anyone who has not read The Lord of the Rings.

And so I left the dancing trees and wandered on through the woodland to another cycle path, turned right through a gate into the next Inclosure heading for what on the map looks like a river or stream.

It's called Worts Gutter. It's rusty brown and it smells of rot or something. I walked along the track next to it for a way until I came to a green path going left and having re-plotted my route turned up this and then first right on to a similar path. These paths are of the type that look overgrown and as if they might be dreadfully boggy, but these particular paths although clumped with long grasses have clear narrow paths through. The latter came up to a clearing called Moon Hill and did become a bit hoof-pocked, which being thoroughly dried needed attention to avoid turning an ankle.

At the T-junction my way went right and down through a gate on to more open heathland. There is a track to Beaulieu straight ahead, but my way lay to the left through a ford and on along a pleasant grass path to a crossroads of five paths. I had planned to take the way ahead. However, this was evidently a well-used ride and rather churned up so I changed tack again and chose the path going north and a little west. This winds up through woodland and although likely to be very muddy in winter was a delight today.

I have to say by this time I had been hemmed in by trees for a good while and was beginning to hanker for some open space. It didn't help that the sun had vanished and everything was beginning to look rather morose under increasingly leaden skies.

Soon I came out to Tantany Wood. I wonder if the labelling on the map is a bit misleading here because Tantany Wood turns out to be a clear, wide lawn dotted with trees and must look lovely on a late summer evening when the deer come out to graze.

There isn't a path exactly across the lawn but the layout of the trees makes a veritable avenue towards the woods on the far side.

There is a good track through the woodland which comes to the edge of the Nature Reserve and also bends around through more trees towards Beaulieu Road. These trees are the interior of the beautiful line of woodland you drive past along the Road, and as I had long wanted to see what the interior was like I turned right towards the Road.

It had begun to rain, and I got some atmospheric shots of the trees.

At length to the road and I was by now happy to see it. I'd had a slight headache all day on and off. However, I'm still glad that I got out and walked around for 3 1/2 hours.

Turn alongside the road here and follow the track down to the stream which is crossed by stepping stones - made of concrete. And then along an easy track through trees, across Culverley Car Park, down through trees again to emerge at the edge of the Nature Reserve once more. From here, along the path, turn right up through the trees and return to the car park.

It would have been nice, of course, if the sun had shone all the way but I was going on this walk today whether it shone or not.

Later that evening, standing looking out of my kitchen window, the clouds had fled and the sun was glowing in a clear summer sky. Maybe I should have waited ...