Dog Walks: New Forest from Smugglers Road via Burley

This walk is really lovely, a great opportunity to see ponies and wildlife in their natural habitat. We have always seen deer and ponies on this route, but on one occasion we were so lucky to spot a Deer Bachelor Group, this was absolutely fantastic to watch them completely undisturbed. There is also the added bonus that this route passes through Burley Village, great little shops including those with Witchcraft gifts and items, and not forgetting the Queens Head where we have had some lovely lunches and dinners, so a welcome stop off!

Start/finish: Smugglers Road Car Park found on right side of road driving from Burley/Burley Street to Crow.

Parking: In Smugglers Road Car Park, Free

Nearest Public Conveniences: In Burley Village

Approximate Total Mileage: 7.5 miles

Terrain: Mainly Gravel, sand and grassy paths, pavements, part along edge of minor road. Mainly on the level with some gentle and steady inclines

Description of suitability of and ability: although this route is mainly on the level, some of the tracks are bumpy and rutted so would not be suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Dog Walks: New Forest from Smugglers Road Via Burley Route:

Standing in Smugglers Road Car Park with your back towards the entrance and road, you can either take the path from the left corner of the car park in between the wooden posts, or the path from the right corner as they both merge in a short distance up on Smugglers Road, we have taken both.

But for this example, take the path between the wooden posts out of the left corner of the car park, walk ahead up the slope on the stony path, towards the top of the slope the track bears right and widens, and emerges into the open.

You are now walking along a wide track edged by gorse and heather, on a steapish incline with views left and right. The path will eventually level out, then walk along the level for approx 100 metres, passing big tree on the right of the track and soon after you will see a path coming in sharp from the left, and another path forking off to the right side of your track next to a gorse bush, here you need to turn right, and after a few steps there is a less well defined path continues ahead through the heather and a more defined gravel path off to the right, here you take the less defined grassy track ahead through the heather and follow it up to the main road.

Follow this path up to the main road, cross straight over the main road and continue along the level then down the slope through the gorse bushes, you will pass a few little paths feeding in from the left and right, and ahead in the distance you will see a wood, continue on the path ahead.

At the bottom of the slope you bear slightly left handed and pick up a sandy path and pass over a small concrete bridge crossing a stream to the left and a watering hole on the right. Follow the path on ahead on a gentle incline towards the wood area.

A few steps after entering the wood the path splits, the left sandy grassy track forks left into the wood but here you take the right fork which also heads into the trees around a gnarled tree, the path then sweeps to the left then straight ahead here you walk straight ahead in a bit of a open area, then straight ahead for a few more paces and you come to another track junction with a large snapped off dead tree standing immediately on your right, here you need to treat the junction of paths as a staggered junction, so turn right then after a couple of steps turn left, you are now in more shady area.

Follow this path on down the gentle slope through the wood, you will then emerge into an open area and on to a more defined gravel path. Follow this path through the open area, you will then enter a shady area, cross over a wooden footbridge, out into another open area and follow the path ahead up the slope.

At the top of the slope and where the path levels off you take the 1st left fork here, continue ahead and the path climbs a gentle incline, another path will feed in sharply from the right but here you bear left on your path.

Your path will soon come to an end where it meets another track on a path T-juntion, here you turn left take approximately 44 paces and then turn right off the track on to a grassy path down into the wood, then your path will again come to a pathT-junction, here you turn left.

You will then be walking in a more open area, walking along a bit of a straight, and on the left hand corner ahead you need to take the narrow path off to the right, this path passes under an arched bow of a tree over the path, the sandy path weaves ahead, to the right and left, just continue following the sandy path.

You will pass over a bit of a path running left to right, continue ahead on your path, soon you will come to a wooden pedestrian gate at the bottom of a gentle slope, here you pass through the gate, walk straight ahead for a short distance until you come an open spot in the trees and the first cross roads of tracks, here you turn right

Continue along this grassy track, you go down past by a piece of wooden fencing on your left, then after a very short distance you will then come to another cross roads of tracks, here you turn left and follow this track down into the trees and up the other side, your track then merges with a track feeding in from the left, here you follow the track around to the right then to the left, and immediately ahead there is a gravel road.

When your track meets the gravel road, you need to turn right, you then follow this track to its conclusion at a set of wooden gates. Pass through the gates and walk ahead to the main road, you will pass by the Woods Corner sign and at the edge of the main road you turn right at the road and follow safely along the edge into Burley Village, you will pass over a bridge and continue on eventually to until Burley Village.

You will pass a Churchyard on your left, and see Burley Manor off to the right beyond the parkland, and at the entrance into Burley Village you will pass the Queens Head on your right, we have had lunches and dinners here; all times have been very good so this is a really great stop off towards the end of this walk. There are some lovely little shops here too, especially focussing on Witchcraft which Burley is renowned for.

However you will then need to continue past the Queens Head, follow the road, it sweeps around a right hand corner, and on along the straight, towards the end of the straight, having passed the turning on the right to Burley Manor Hotel, you will need to cross the road and take the pavement walk signed Burley Street through a little metal gate, follow this path as it runs along the upper right side of the main road. It soon emerges through a little metal gate, and down to the road, here cross straight over and turn right.

Ater a few steps you will see a very grand entrance on your left signed Burley Hill House. Here there are large black metal gates, and tall brick gateposts, you will see the wooden footpath sign also. Standing in front of the gates, you take the right narrow pedestrian gate, the path on the other side runs parallel to a paddock on the right, and the drive on the left, in between two high fences. Follow this path as it goes straight, then bears right, then left, over alittle wooden footbridge following alongside another field and now with a wood on your left.

Following the path, and as it path levels out you will then pass a small wooden pedestrian gate on your right and the path now following immediately alongside a tall wooden fence on your left, after a short distance the tall wooden fence ends on your left, as does the path, so pass by or over the stile and turn right on to a wide gravel road.

Follow this gravel road ahead, you will pass by a couple of dwellings, continue on the gravel road, you can see your car park in the distance off to the left from this stretch of track. Soon another gravel road merges in from the right but you just keep following the gravel road ahead on the orangey track on the left hand bend, your track will then drop you down a slope.

Eventually your gravel track will meet the main road on a sharp corner, to the right is Burley, the main road to the left goes up around a corner, however you at this point need to take the more minor road immediately off to the left, signposted to Crow 2.5 miles, follow along the edge of this little road and after walking for a few minutes you will return back to your car, finding the Smugglers Road Car Park on your right hand side.