Misty Sway and the Railway

30 December 2008

For route details click here

There have been few chances to get out over the Yuletide what with family and work. Today was my day off and earmarked for a good tramp around the countryside to walk off some of the effects of the Greedy Guts Season.

The morning didn't look all that promising - just grey and cold, no fog, no frost, not a glimmer of sunlight. I went anyway, determined on a walk gleaned from the December issue of Country Walking although I deviated a little from the text, choosing to park at Longslade Bottom Car Park (which is not where it says on the map!) rather than at Sway train station and following the route from there.

The route follows part of a disused railway which begins between Burley and Bransgore in the west and ends at Brockenhurst in the east and cuts through some of the loveliest area of the New Forest.

The sun did manage a gleam or two and occasionally the high mist cleared to show blue sky. The air was very cold but I was wrapped in thermals, two layers of socks, sweatshirt, fleece and all-weather overtop, beanie and baseball cap, and neck gaiter to cover my nose when necessary. After about 10 minutes walking along the disused railway my circulation was pumping and my poor fingers had finally warmed up.

The path across the higher moor coming down into Sway looked muddy in places but the overnight frost had hardened much of the ground and there was always a way around. Sway itself is a pleasant village. The Hare and Hounds pub is pretty especially with the Christmas lights twinkling around the windows. The village is one that has been visibly expanded over the years with pretty little character cottages side-by-side with modern brick houses of large and rather square proportions.

I met lots of nice people again. Several horseriders and among the many dogs out and about was one crazy lurcher-cross which apparently was incapable of moving around at less than top speed unless it was dancing around a person. It was never still and must be one of the happiest dogs I've ever come across. Yet for all its liveliness it was incredibly obedient; in complete contrast to the border collie that was not ready to go home yet and was chasing about the lawns near the car park, deaf to all entreaties to "come on" from the various members of its rather frustrated family.

Ahhh, it's good to be out again. Now, where to next time ... ?

Winter Days Diary - Clean Boots & Christmas Daffodils

19 December 2008

I need some fresh air before a busy shift at work so I thought I'd take a quick walk "round the block". It's all rather chilly and grey, but pretty where the Christmas lights are twinkling. What I did not expect was to see daffodil shoots poking through the soil as I walked under the trees along a rather nice street near the local park.

As for the clean boots - mine had got rather muddy (!) on Wednesday after the bog-hopping and I haven't got around to cleaning them yet. I knew the efficacy of beach shingle for removing caked-in mud from the deep treads of boots. It seems that some long, wet grass and a good, rough gravel path will also do the worst part of the job for you. All I need now is to wipe off the remainder and rub in some waterproofing. Excellent!

Deerleap and Fulliford Bog-hopping

17 December 2008

For route details click here

Clouds, fog, rawness and rain all fled and winter-brilliant sunlight poured down from the sky. What more encouragement could any walker want to get those boots on and get out?

I chose this location because it's just beyond the city and I had other places to be later in the day, and I've been meaning to try it out for ages. Incessant roadworks and traffic tailbacks stopped me before; but the roadworks like the gloomy weather had desisted for a day.

Once at the Deerleap Car Park it was evident that the beautiful weather had enticed everyone else and their dog or pony out as well. And the lawns and heathlands were dotted with the commoners' ponies and cattle.

The terrain varies from close-cropped lawns to inclosures of pine and more ancient woodland, heathland and bog. The walk from the car park to the railway crossing was pleasant on the lawn, and there is also a cycle path along it. There was a girl on a grey pony having a fabulous time cantering around, until the young rider had to rein the pony in to pass people and dogs, at which the pony protested vociferously and shrilly. It was a small pony but it had a very loud opinion!

Over the railway bridge and the river beyond to Fulliford Bog. There is a clear footpath which runs through the heathland and the surrounding squelchy bits and where I wanted to go off to the right, well, I could see the line of the path ahead. Some way ahead. Beyond an obstacle course. I have now been bog-hopping and it's actually quite fun. Somewhere under all the water and mud was part of the path ... I made it and now know that I can actually jump quite far when I need to.

The drier bit of the path formed a sort of gully for a short distance and then branched off to a small earthwork of what I presume to have been an ancient and very small settlement. There is a tumulus not far away. The earthwork itself is now marked by a line of bracken.

Ahead is a wooden bridge over a Forest stream. To the right, land belonging to Ashurst Lodge and to the right were deer grazing in the distance.

Beyond the bridge the terrain is more lawn-like for a while but wet, although firm, underfoot and a winding way needs to be taken around the deeper muddy bits to regain the path, which again disappears into mud and water. So another diversion needs to be found. This is not in the nature of complaining. It's lots of fun! For me.

Around the tall, pale wooden fencing that surrounds Ashurst Lodge so no one can see it and then to the drive and the trees begin to close in. Over the drive and down to the next railway bridge which has a pretty feature of pale blue iron work. Beyond the bridge is the gate into the Inclosure. I chose the cycle track up to the gate that leads out on to the lawn avenue between Deerleap and Longdown Inclosures as before, as I'd had enough of mud and heavy going. The cycle lane through Deerleap Inclosure runs quite close to the railway and it was fun to see a train racing through the trees.

By the time I was coming back to the car park, someone had been out with the hay truck and ponies and cattle had appeared in herds in the shadow of Longdown Inclosure to eat at and argue over the hay piles.

It was a beautiful, clear day, chilly but not raw and the light was perfect for taking photographs. And I was glad to get back to two hours tramping around the New Forest to really get the legs and lungs working. This will be my last long-ish walk before Christmas. I'm looking forward to new horizons in the New Year.

Winter Days Diary - Local Park

13 December 2008

Not a terribly adventurous walk but it got me "out of the house" and into some fresh air. It was grey, damp, a little bit boringly milder than it has been recently and all the fun of sheeting rain and howling gales had blown itself out sometime during the morning.

The River Itchen was in spate full to overflowing and was in a tearing hurry to get somewhere; probably away from the slightly sewerish scent that wafted across the footpath now and then. I'm quite sure that wasn't coming from the River though. The land about gets waterlogged and some of the more permanent pools of standing water have an oily look about them sometimes.

A couple of moorhens stood looking rather glumly at the water until a human got a bit close and then the water obviously seemed a better option than the footpath. Of ducks and swans I saw not a one. They had more sense than did I and the plethora of dog walkers who'd been waiting for the weather to clear before doing their duty.

From the park, I came back round a steep crescent which every year puts on a fabulous Christmas light show. This year, the show is a bit later but from the unlit evidence it looks like they could light up our post-Christmas dinner stroll again this year.

Oh well, not a very bright or inspired walk but it cleared the airways and stretched my legs for half an hour. I even took some photos. I'll be glad when the afternoons start stretching out again...

Winter Days Diary - Frosty Day

7th December 2008

At last, whiteness! There was but one place I could go to catch the last of the sun. I went back to Telegraph Woods. Had lots of fun playing in the mud again. This time I was on a mission to get photographs of the views from the edges of the woods and of the main features - the beacon, the earthwork, the lake and the clearings. Fortunately, the frost was still lying on the sheltered open ground around the lake and in the foresty clearing a little further on, and also on the golf course and the open spaces around the Rose Bowl.

I met a mad boxer dog that seemed intent on getting this one branch detached from its tree; apparently this was no youngster. This hooligan is 10 years old. The chap and his daughter with the boxer also had a dear little wiry terrier which came and sat at my feet, gazing up at me with one paw lifted. What could I do? She was very happy to be fussed.

Later on, I met a young black labrador. As I said "Hello dog" to it (as you do), around a clump of shrub and trees I came upon the owner in jeans and white shoes staring rather forlornly at the thick, black mud. I advised him that the way improves uphill. That didn't help his present predicament but he thanked me anyway and began to rather gingerly pick his way around the goo. I had thick boots on (no gaiters - hurry up, Santa!) so I just waded through.

It was a lovely, cold walk with a dusting of frost to make a pleasant change to the usual drabness of the damp and the sun golden and heatless sinking into the west.