NEW FOREST WALK ALONG THE ENTIRE COURSE OF THE RIVER THAT ENDS AS FLETCHERS WATER (4K)

In this episode of "New Forest Walks" I take a 7 mile walk along the entire length of a river that ends up being called Fletchers Water (having been known further upstream at Bratley Water, Blackensford Brook & Black Water!). Once again I am joined by my trusty companion, Logan (the Whippet).
My journey started at the source of the Bratley water, located North of the Slufters Inclosure on the Ocknell Plain in the New Forest (about 6 miles West of Cadnam & 7 miles North West of Lyndhurst).
The first section of the walk took me South through the Slufters Inclosure, under the A31 and on through the North Oakley Inclosure.
Shortly after Smoky Hole, a stream joined the river from the West and it's name changed to the Blackensford Brook.
I had to make a detour, away from the river, around private land at Burley Lodge, and rejoined it at Dogkennel Bridge.
At this point the river had changed it's name again, to the Black Water, and it now flowed Eastwards.
I followed the river through the Dames Slough Inclosure, over the A31, and on to the Vinney Ridge Inclosure.
After a stop for ice cream at the Blackwater Arboretum car park, I continued Eastwards through the Fletchers Thorns Inclosure.
The river had changed it's name again - this time to Fletchers Water.
My journey ended near the site of the Queen Bower Medieval Hunting Lodge where Fletchers water (from the West) joined up with the Highland Water (from the North). A couple of hundred yards to the South, at Bolderford Bridge, the combined rivers were joined (again from the West) by the Over Water and from that point on, it is known as the Lymington River. Indeed the river flows out to sea at Lymington a further 7 miles downstream.
It was a challenge to follow the entire course of the river as, even though I was walking in mid Summer, there were sections of mud & bog close to the river bank that had to be circumnavigated.
Map courtesy of Google Maps.
For further videos in the series, please go to: / @daveford or my website at daveford5966.w...
My Facebook page is: / davescountrysidewalks
I use an GOPERO 10 Action Camera , an INSTA360 ACE PRO Action Camera & a Rode microphone (either a “Shotgun” or a Rode Wireless Go II) together with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS.

[@Doobeedoo-xd1mw]

A stunning watery and most scenic meander Dave. Thank you.

[@cathpeterson1944]

lovely nature walk along the river pathways, beautiful scenery along the way

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Cath. Parts of the course of that river are quite idyllic.

[@melissaphillips3088]

Evening Dave ... lovely area and scenery. Walking with you both is wonderful. So pretty. Have a great weekend.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Melissa.

[@keithjoseph5671]

Amazing adventure in the English countryside with wonderful trails and beautiful views

[@DaveFord]

Many thanks Keith. :)

[@alanaitcheson9403]

I came across your channel by mistake and I'm so glad I did. You make the most wonderful relaxing videos. But your channel should be called Dave and Logan's walks!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you & indeed welcome to the channel! Yes, i see what you mean about the channel name ...... although Fiver (my younger dog) does sometimes join me on guest appearances!

[@StormchaserJockMcGinty]

Thanks Dave and Logan. Another lovely walk!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you & indeed thanks for watching. :)

[@bearhustler]

Lovely to see you both back in the New Forest.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. More "New Forest" walks in the pipeline!

[@mikewalker8655]

​@@DaveFordExcellent news! Come then coming Dave

[@craigmarsh3221]

Good afternoon Dave you do find the most stunning scenery and places to visit its beautiful to watch if you ever need any OS maps dash 4 it in Cornwall has the best deals on maps i been using them for years all the very best Craig.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Craig. I must bring myself into the 21st century now with regards to maps!

[@jeanblemings5352]

Dash4it are a very good value outlet for OS maps I agree

[@jennyoshea1958]

Such a beautiful forest 👌✨👏 Thanks for sharing 🙏😊

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Jenny. There are some very pretty sections along the course of that river.

[@bosse641]

Beautiful nature. Lovely walk. 🙂

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. The route was quite picturesque in places!

[@newforestexplorer]

I think the lady thought you were filming for the BBC 😂
That fallen tree was a favourite of mine to photograph before it sadly went over. Great video

[@DaveFord]

Ah yes, you could be correct there! :)

[@markshrimpton3138]

You’d never get anything as good as this on the BBC these days.

[@newforestexplorer]

@@markshrimpton3138 That’s true

[@eldred1809]

Did Logan make a sloshing noise when he walked by the time you reached the end Dave? I've never seen him make so many drink visits, he must've known there were no pubs en route 🙂🍺. I thought we were going to get a first "Dave's Countryside Walk in the rain" at the beginning!

[@DaveFord]

It turned out to be much warmer than forecast so the regular "dog dips" were very welcome! There is a video walk coming out next month on the channel where, for a few minutes, we did get caught in a shower and ..... for the first time in nearly 300 videos ... we experienced a "soaking"!.

[@eldred1809]

Blimey Dave, nearly 300? Does the production of these videos act like a drug addiction, you have to keep producing them to feed the habit, or has the initial "thrill" waned. I often wonder about this on the channels I watch how does one keep the enthusiasm going? I know, or at least think, that I'd lack the discipline to produce them week-in, week-out.

[@DaveFord]

@@eldred1809 I shall have to start slowing down soon!

[@jeanblemings5352]

Indeed a very interesting expedition and also to see how 'fashions' in waterways change! Are the enclosures you mention usually wooded areas? - I am guessing a lot of the New Forest is open access so you can wander at will?

[@DaveFord]

Yes Jean, most of the "New Forest inclosures" are wooded - some are fenced but most just have the original boundary bank & ditch.