Bolderwood Deer Sanctury
Lyndhurst
Children will enjoy the deer viewing platform, woodland and stream to paddle in on this walk.
The paths on the Radnor Trail are well surfaced
The Basics
Time: 1 hour
Distance: 3.2 km / 2 miles
Terrain: Gravelled paths, a few gentle inclines.
Pushchair: A pushchair will make it around this walk.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk but must be on leads through the deer conservation areas.
Refreshments: Picnic area beside car park and usually a coffee/snack van parked up.
Toilets: There are toilets at the car park.
Public Transport: There is no public transport to this location.
Parking: Bolderwood car park at the top of Bolderwood Ornamental Drive, free but donations welcome (Postcode: SO43 7GE - W3W - ///perfected.forge.reapply)
A spot on Bratley Water that is good for a paddle - NOTE THAT IN AUGUST 2025, THE STREAM IS CURRENTLY DRY
Follow the Radnor Trail through varied woodland from ancient deciduous to Norway spruce, crossing Bratley Water where children can splash in the stream. The walk starts at a viewing platform, where if you are lucky, you could spot fallow deer. A great choice for the autumn, this walk is always full of golden colour. One of the joys of this walk for those less mobile is that there is a bench placed at nearly every junction!
The Route
The Radnor Trail is a marked trail beginning by the toilets/picnic area. It follows the red posts and can be done either clockwise or anti-clockwise. Our route takes you anti-clockwise and begins at the deer viewing platform.
From the viewing platform, the trail heads downwards, keeping the deer clearing to your right. Go right and keep heading down until you get to a fork, where a post signals for you to veer right.
The next junction will have a bench, where the blue trail goes off to your left and the red Radnor trail goes off to your right. Keep heading right and you will soon hit a much wider gravel track that is part of the cycle network.
At the next junction with bike post ‘route 107’, turn left. Almost immediately you will cross over a stream. The next red post will direct you left, away from the cycle path.
Straight after this turn, cross the bridge over Bratley Water where children can paddle in the stream (Note, in periods of hot dry, weather this can dry up). The trail continues up the hill after the bridge and at a bench on your way up, curve right.
At the next bench and junction, turn left. Then, at a large fallen tree, turn right away from the path you are on, noting a sign for deer conservation and dogs needing to be on leads.
At the next junction, the right-hand path goes slightly uphill, but you should take the left-hand path going downhill towards another bench. At that bench, turn right and head between some very tall trees. Pass by the Radnor Stone and continue making your way upwards.
After walking through a section of pine trees called Jubilee Grove, you will find yourself back at the car park.
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Did you know?
The trail is named after the late Earl of Radnor, forestry commissioner from 1942 -1963, and you can find a stone dedicated to him on this walk.
Pannage is the practice of releasing pigs into the forest in autumn, so that they can feed on fallen acorns, beechnuts and chestnuts.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try the Tall Trees Trail just down the road in The New Forest. It is also easy to follow and suitable for pushchairs.
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