We are the Winchester Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Paul C.
Join us for an easy walk without any significant undulation, 5 miles in the morning and 4 miles after lunch. There is neither stile nor gate on the walk - with one exception in the latter case and that is to gain access to the pub!
The Figure of 8 format allows walkers to opt either for the morning session (5 miles) or afternoon (4 miles) or of course, the full 9 miles.
It is mostly open countryside with pleasant views but there are some wooded areas helping to remind one that we are in the New Forest.
There are no toilets at the start point and the open ground and lack of shrubbery offers little cover until about 20 minutes into the walk.
We will have a refreshment stop approx half way round.
The walk (and pub) are dog friendly but do be aware there are ponies and cattle almost anywhere (except in the pub!) and we cross 3 roads in the morning and 2 after lunch, so depending upon how your canine partner may react in those circumstances you may wish to have a lead readily available.
We are meeting at the Shatterford car park for a 1015hrs start; the car park is situated on the south side of the B3056 (Lyndhurst-Beaulieu road) adjacent to Beaulieu Road Station at grid SU348063 - from Lyndhurst it is on the right hand side just before the hump-back bridge over the railway line.
The car park is a reasonable size (though not large) and in common with just about every car park within the Forest it is popular with dog walkers, so if you have the opportunity to car share it would be helpful.
Our route from Shatterford takes us in a 5 miles loop (south and east) and we finish for lunch at the Drift Inn (adjacent to the hotel) on the other side of the railway line from the car park. The pub needs our orders by 1800hrs Tuesday 2nd, so if you plan to eat-in do let me have your choice(s) by then - menus attached. I anticipate arriving at the pub between 1230-1300hrs and if the weather is kind to us the large garden is pleasant.
A menu option which some may wish to consider is a piza; they do not appear on the menu, they cannot be pre-ordered and although usually available cannot be 100% guaranteed! Anybody wishing to opt for piza, pse let me know (just for numbers) and then order when we arrive; if we are unfortunate enough to happen upon a "non-piza" day, you will be able to order from the menu - the pub is quite capable of dealing quickly with a small number of orders, it is larger groups which need to pre-order.
There is a small copse on the opposite side of the road from the pub (we walk through it) where picnickers will find some shade from the sun - should it still be present - but little protection from wind (trees too widely spaced) and no seating I'm afraid so do bring your "sit-upon".
I expect the afternoon session to begin at about 1400hrs for anybody wishing to take the shorter option but not wishing to join us for lunch. We then loop north and west for 4 miles ending in the car park.
Meet at the Shatterford car park for a 1015hrs start; the car park is situated on the south side of the B3056 (Lyndhurst-Beaulieu road) adjacent to Beaulieu Road Station at grid SU348063 - from Lyndhurst it is on the right hand side just before the hump-back bridge over the railway line. Although most will travel by car, several years ago one individual did arrive by rail in time for lunch and the afternoon walk.
