Paul's 8 miles circular walk fron Isfield

After the thaw of a foot or so of snow by rain, the paths were just a little muddy
as you can see. This walk was from the Mid Sussex Ramblers' programme on this day in East Sussex.

This bridle path was so churned up by horses that even this brave group sought firmer ground at the track edges.
Click on any picture to expand it.

We had a lunch break at Barcombe Mill and returned to Isfield along the river Ouse, passing Alder trees on the banks and splashing through flooded fields.

A lovely walk -- not too hot and not too dry.

Snowy views around Cuckfield

Views towards the Black Forest.

Broad Street.

Even the trees are not used to this amount of snow.
Many trees and shrubs have broken branches.

Meanderings around Calshot

On Tuesday 5th January 2009, we meandered around Calshot.

Calshot marshes were a great place for bird watching on this freezing cold day.
We didn't venture far or stay long though due to the cold and the forecast blizzards
that did bring the country to a standstill the next day.
We wanted to get home before the snows came.

Curlew

There were quite a lot of Teal, whose numbers boost to 197,000 in winter in the UK according to the RSPB.

This looks like a Twite; a winter visitor to the south coast whose numbers are declining in the UK by more that 50% due to loss of flower and herb rich meadows.

Fawley power station is next door to the oil refinery and the nature reserve.

It is not often that one gets to walk on frozen sea water in the UK.

Redshank.

Yet more Teal

Common gulls or immature black-headed gulls, I cannot tell.

Henry VIII's castle, built in part from stones from Beaulieu Abbey after its dissolution.
The coastguard tower is behind it.

Fawley oil refinery pier with the tugs that slowly spin the super-tankers around in Southampton estuary when they arrive.

A "little" tanker coming in through the narrow channel at low tide.

6 miles circular walk east of Brockenhurst

The above sketch is for illustration only. You'll need an OS map for this walk.
You can get a discount on maps at www.dash4it.co.uk/

Click on any picture to expand it.

This walk was on Monday 4th January 2009 starting from our base, the very fine Whitley Ridge Hotel. Click the link in red for details. Please mention my blog if you are inspired to book!

Along Mill Lane, we skirted Brockenhurst Park and 50m past its ornate gatehouse took the rough track to Church Lane and on to Roydon Woods.

The fabulous Lime avenue in the park.

Roydon Manor

A ford and bridge over the river Lymington.

Fox prints in the frost on the bridge.

Sussexrambler

A solitary Lapwing was near Dilton Farm.

And on Dilton common was a flock of winter visitors - Redwings, which were a lovely sight.

We turned east along a track to Moor Corner and then took to the forest and eventually back to the road and our hotel. It is a great walk and one that I highly recommend. It took us a little over 3 hours, what with taking a hundred plus pictures and meandering a bit in the forest. Not lost exactly. You only need to walk north to find the road. It is just that in the New Forest it is easy to not know exactly where you are. Be sure to take a compass with you.

Look at the pretty New Forest pony above with its highlights in its mane and tail!

The frost that night was -7C and you can see the effect the next day on Beaulieu Heath