Dog Walks: New Forest from Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard, Return

Dog Walks: New Forest from Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard, Return. What a lovely easy walk this is that really can be enjoyed by all. A great day can be spent enjoying Beaulieu and Bucklers Hard. There are places to eat, drink, rest and enjoy in both places. This is a poular route and for very good reason.

Start/finish: Beaulieu village centre

Directions: From Brockenhurst to Beaulieu take the B3056, take the right turn into Beaulieu on to Palace Lane, and the car park is found at the start of the village, entrance on right immediately after Beaulieu Garage on right.

Parking: Pay and Display Car Park in Beaulieu village centre, entrance is located on the right just after Beaulieu Garage on Palace Road.

Nearest Public Conveniences: In the car park at Beaulieu, and also in Bucklers Hard

ApproximateTotal Mileage: 4.6 miles

Terrain: Gravel tracks, earth paths, footbridge, duck boards (optional), pavement

Description of suitability of and ability: This is a nice easy walk, and the majority of this route can be on gravel paths if desired so you take the forest track rather than the waterside path and therefore avoiding the duckboards. Almost the entire route is on the level, but there is well worn path down the edge of a field that is a bit bumpy in places.

Dog Walks: New Forest from Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard Return Route:

Standing in the Car Park in Beaulieu with the toilets immediately on your left, walk up the gravel footpath towards the village centre, passing by The Old Bakehouse Tearoom on your left. When you reach the main street turn left and follow down to the T-junction. Here you turn right, pass by the Montagu Arms Hotel, and then turn right into the lane immediately after Montagu Arms Hotel, there is a footpath sign here on the left of this lane.

Follow this lane along the level, it changes from a hard road to a gravel road, it then bears right up a slope and you are now walking up a wide gravel road. At the end of this road are wooden gates, here you pass through the wooden gates and follow the gravel track. The track bears around a right and then left bend, then along a straight. Half way along the straight you will pass a cattle grid, with adjacent gate, continue ahead.

At the end of the straight the path narrows down into a shady area, here you can see the water’s edge through the reeds on your left, follow along this earth and gravel path, you then cross over go over a stone and wooden footbridge, up a small incline and then your path emerges into a field.

Here you follow the earth path down the left side of the field. The path in the field ends next to a cottage on your left, here you follow then follow the gravel path left then straight ahead, passing signs for Solent Way, having walked along the short straight the track bears right, and after a few steps you turn left down a track into the wooded area, this is signed footpath to Bucklers Hard..

After a very short distance on this forest path there is a path off to the left which is the riverside route to Bucklers Hard, just be aware this is a narrower earth path with duck boards in places. Alternatively you could simply continue straight ahead on the forest track, they both merge eventually ahead.

But for this walk we are describing the riverside route, so turn left off the forest road, and follow the path down towards the water’s edge, just continue on the riverside path as it crosses duck boards, weaves its way through the trees and along near the water, it continues for quite some time before swinging right handed and then the riverside path and the forest track merge. At this point you walk straight ahead/left and pick up the gravel track into the open area, you follow this track for a short distance passing fields on your right, then the boat yard and marina on the left.

At the end of the track it meets a hard country lane opposite a large gravel parking area, here you cross straight over and take the footpath that follows down the left side of the car park. You follow this path all the way along the water’s edge until it very soon brings you into the centre of Bucklers Hard, you will pass the Master Builders Pub on the right, the museum and cafe are located up the green then turn left.

To return, take the same path along the waters edge in Bucklers Hard, follow back up side of parking area, and cross straight over the road and continue on the track along behind the boat yard, and ahead into a more open area. Just as you enter the wood area, you will see across to the right is the path you emerged from earlier, here you can either walk back along the riverside path, or continue ahead on the forest track signed ‘Direct Route to Beaulieu’.

So continue ahead along the forest track, it is a straight run all the way. At the end you come to a T – junction, here you turn right and follow the track around to the left, walk ahead towards the cottage and follow on the footpath around the left side of the cottage into the field.

Here you follow the path back along the right edge of the field, at the end of the field your path narrows down a short steady slope, pass over the stone and wooden footbridge and continue along the short straight, now with reeds and water on your right.

At the end of the short straight the path bears slightly left and you emerge back on to the wider gravel track, pass over/next to the cattle grid, and continue on the gravel track until you reach the wooden gates at the end.

Pass through the gates, and after only a very short distance turn left through a wooden kissing gate, there is a fingerpost here stating ‘Footpath to Beaulieu Village’, follow this path ahead alongside the school playing field, the path bears left, then right, and then runs alongside the school, you will then pass through another kissing gate, walk straight ahead to the edge of the main street, here you cross straight over, and follow the gravel path back down to the car park.