Shatterford
Beaulieu Road
Children will enjoy the series of little bridges over the bogs, New Forest ponies and a pub with a play area.
The path passes through the bogs and heathland of Shatterford Bottom
The Basics
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Distance: 4.6 km / 2.9 miles
Terrain: Mostly flat compacted gravel or sandy heathland paths. A very short section on a busy road if Shatterford car park is closed. The road can be very wet in winter, but is dry in spring and summer.
Pushchair: Although the terrain is flat and on mostly good paths, the sandy soil may prove hard going.
Dogs: Dogs are allowed but they should be strictly on leads through spring and early summer due to ground nesting birds.
Refreshments: The Drift Inn which has a garden with play area and ice-cream stand in summer.
Toilets: There are no public toilets.
Public Transport: Beaulieu Road train station.
Parking: Shatterford car park, west of Beaulieu Road Station, £1.50 for one hour, £3 for 2 hours, £5 for 4 hours and £8 for over 4 hours (Postcode: SO42 7YQ - W3W: /// means.trendy.stickler). This car park is usually closed from March to early summer to minimise impact on nesting birds. In this case, use Beaulieu Road car park opposite the pub.
The are lots of little bridges over the bogs with wildlife to look out for
This walk starts from the little hub on Beaulieu Road where you will find the train station, pub, hotel and a couple of forestry car parks. Our walk can be started from any of these points and will take you through the heathland of Shatterford Bottom, over causeways and bridges on the boggier ground. The return will bring you through the woodland of Denny Wood, providing a contrast of the two typical New Forest landscapes.
The Route
If Shatterford car park is closed, you will need to park at Beaulieu Road car park opposite the pub and walk up the road for about fifty metres. Pass the train station on your left and the pony sale yard to your right. The entrance to Shatterford car park is on the left just after the bridge.
Shatterford Bottom is an important habitat for ground nesting birds and it is vital that DOGS ARE ON LEADS and that you stay on the paths at all times during this walk.
Begin under the clump of trees around Shatterford car park and with your back to the road, turn left and walk along the wide track that runs parallel to the road and trainline (although these won’t be visible). Follow the track in a straight line and after about ten minutes of walking, you will reach the first flat wooden bridge over a bog, where there is a track leading off to to the left that goes over the trainline. Ignore this turn and continue on the path you are on. As you approach your first trees, the path will take you over a series of two flat bridges over another bog. Continue towards the larger trees ahead and keep straight when you reach them, with most of the trees to your left and more or less the open heath to your right.
When you see the gated entrance to the Denny Lodge woodland inclosure ahead of you, veer right and follow the path, passing an old pit to your left. You will now be walking with the conifer trees and the fence of the inclosure off to your left and much of the open heathland with some scattered trees to your right. Cross over another wooden flat bridge and then another.
When you see a compacted gravel causeway heading towards the trees, take this and cross another bridge before entering the woodland. Walk up through the trees and ignore a very skinny path forking off to the left. Away to your left, you will soon see the properties of Denny Cottage and Denny Lodge. After the houses disappear from sight, keep right and upwards with the grassy path until you hit a more established path at a T-junction. Turn right and follow the path until you reach the edge of the woodland.
When you emerge from the trees, you will see the vast open plain. Continue straight forward with your target being the road, the clump of trees of Shatterford car park and the rooftops of the pub and the station. When you arrive back, The Drift Inn beside the station is a traditional country pub with a garden overlooking a children’s play area.
Did you know?
Running from Denny Wood and across the middle of the plain is a raised earthwork called Bishop’s Dyke. According to local legend, the dyke was built by John de Pontoise, Bishop of Winchester. He was given permission to take as much land as he could crawl around in a day. He spent twenty-four hours on his hands and knees and created the earthwork to mark out his prize.
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