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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ธ.ค. 2020
- This is another video in my series “New Forest Walks” accompanied by my Whippet (Logan). In this episode I am at Acres Down - located 2.5 miles North West of Lyndhurst - and I take a 4.5 mile circular route across stunning heathland & woodland with the highlight being my search for the Knowles Beech (possibly the largest beech tree in the New Forest).
The film is slightly different to other videos in the series in that it is presented in a “guided walk” format (I had been asked by a viewer to make a video walk around the area with good directions as they always managed to get lost when they tried it!).
I chose the walk as an ideal one for the Christmas / New Year / Festive/Winter period as the bulk of it is on hard gravel tracks (although a small part of it might include a bit of mud but it will not be too bad!) and there are no roads to cross. Indeed you will see no cars or buildings - just nature at it's best.
The route takes us through a number of wooded inclosures (some of which are many centuries old) as well as some beautiful open heathland with stunning views. There is an opportunity to sit on the bench at the top of Hart Hill and enjoy the panorama looking South.
ROUTE DETAILS (ideally to be used along with a map - which can be found in two pictures on my post dated 23rd December 2020 on the facebook page "Dave's Countryside Walks")
Start from Forestry Commission car park at Acres Down (Grid Ref SU267097). Follow gravel cycle track heading South West. At cycle post Number 97, turn right and follow separate gravel track heading North.
At a fork in the track, ignore main gravel track on left and follow the "non gravel" track on the right. Head uphill to the top pf Hart Hill (where there is a seat to enjoy the view!). Carry straight on, passing through between two wooden posts - look for the trig point on your left (slightly hidden under trees). At this point, bear left (West) and follow a grassy path keeping Stonard Wood on your right.
Follow this path, ignoring a wooden gate on your left, until you meet open ground on the ridge where there is a Pony Pound on your left and views of heathland on your right.
Keep heading straight downhill with woods on your left until you come to a very large beech tree on your right. Shortly after, bear left through a gate that takes you on a firm gravel track heading South. Puckpits Inclosure woods will be on your left & open land on your right.
Follow this gravel track for some distance (it turns slightly to the left and then right again), ignoring two right hand tracks as you do so. This gravel track will take you downhill until , at a T junction, it joins a main gravel cycle track (Cycle track post 100). FOR A SHORTER WALK, TURN LEFT HERE AND FOLLOW THE GRAVEL CYCLE TRACK WHICH TAKES YOU BACK TO THE CAR PARK. Otherwuse, turn right and follow track for about 200 yards until you reach cycle point 101. Do not go straight on but turn left (East) where you will see two tracks at a fork. Ignore the left fork and go right through a wooden gate into an inclosure on to another gravel cycle track.
Follow this track for some distance (ignore the right hand track at point cycle post 148). Eventually the track crosses a stream (over a bridge) - Bagshot Gutter. NOW LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT GRASSY TRACK THAT GOES UPHILL ON THE LEFT about 50 yards after the bridge. Head up that track & pass through a wooden gate in to The Knowles Inclosure. Keep going ahead along a small grass track (it is more of a clearing than a track - don't worry - just keep on ahead). You will then come across a much more obvious track that heads North.
Follow this track (it can get a bit muddy in parts during the Winter but it is passable!) as it goes uphill through a narrow wood.
At the top of the hill you will emerge on to an open area (Acres Down) with magnificent 360 degree views. Keep on ahead BUT LOOK OUT FOR A SLIGHTLY LESS OBVIOUS TRACK that goes to the left, just as you are near the brow of the hill. Follow that track (that goes to the left) downhill as it gently curves with a valley on your left and hill on your right. Follow this undulating track for some distance until it comes to a steep incline. There are two ways up this incline - easy to the left , harder one to the right. At the top of the incline, head slightly left and you will see the car park at the bottom.
Map courtesy of Google Maps.
For further videos in the series, please go to: / @daveford or my website at daveford5966.wixsite.com/website
My Facebook page is: / davescountrysidewalks
I use a GOPRO HERO 7 Black Action Camera (sometimes with a Gimbal) & a Rode microphone together with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS.
Thank you for adding this walk Dave. We look forward to doing this one and hopefully finding the old Beech tree without becoming lost. Condolences about losing your dad recently. Hope you and Logan have a good Christmas. Great directions!
Thank you. All the best for 2021!
Fabulous winter walk. What a magnificent old Beech. Thanks you both.
It certainly was Lance!
Lovely walk and a chance to dream of taking it in 2021 or beyond! Sympathies about your dad. Thanks for sharing your walks and Merry Christmas to your family even as you miss and honor your dad!
Thank you for your kind comments Allen. All the best to you for 2021 :)
Dave, great to see both you and Logan in Xmas attire at the beginning of the video ... beautiful scenery throughout your walk ... loved the bit with the
New Forest ponies grazing in the winter sunshine .... and that enormous, very old Knowles Beech tree ... beautiful walk ... Merry Xmas and Happy New year ...
Thank you. Best wishes for 2021 to you too.
Great walk! A very festive Yuletide greetings from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Thank you. All the best for you too :)
Thanks Dave - that was like an early Christmas present. A favourite part of the forest - we usually walk to Acres Down from Millyford Bridge, stopping off for one of the famous cream teas at Acres Down Farm, albeit in the summer time - and yes we have got lost!
Oh yes .... I forgot to mention Acres Down Farm Tea Room!
Very festive, lovely walk, one the wife and I will do ever Christmas
Thanks Jeff. I would avoid the "peak" times.... I expect folk will be quite keen to get out for a walk to get away from it all at the moment! All the best. Dave.
This was lovely, Dave. I'm amazed at how much color there is left in December. The long beams of morning sun certainly pop up the various shades of the bracken, and even some of the leaves left on the trees. The beech is magnificent. I'm an unofficial "tree hugger" anyway. lol Maybe next time, have Logan sit next to it so we can get an idea of the true scale of these beauties. Although this one looks as if several of us would have to join hands to hug it!! Thanks for the trip - we are currently in a September heat wave here in Pennsylvania (2023), and I cannot wait for the first frost!
Thanks Diane. Good idea about including Logan in shots wit the trees - I will get him on to it in future!
My first walk in the New Forest was from Acres Down Car Park - up to the Canadian War Memorial to the Deer Sanctuary and back round to Acres Down. From then on I’ve been hooked on the New Forest. Thank you for your videos and hope you have a good Christmas.
Thank you Jade. Hope you have a good festive period as well.
Miss living there superb film you know how to me homesick for the forest!!
Thanks Lee. It is certainly looking splendid in the current good weather, for sure.
The beech and woodlands could share some amazing stories for sure...nice to get off the beaten path at times and make such a brilliant find...thanks so much for sharing and have yourself a wonderful holiday season...and Otis sends a big tail wag to Logan! Sorry to hear about your father...may you gather peace from all your great memories together...
Thank you for your kind comments. Best wishes to you & Otis.
Lovely walk Dave and Logan thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks Kevin. All the best for 2021
Lovely walk Dave Wishing you and Logan a festive Christmas and best wishes for the new year
Thank you very much. I hope you have a peaceful time and safe 2021 as well.
I love how festive Logan is looking! Lovely to watch this walk Dave, as always. Looking forward to more videos next year
Thank you Emma. I am not sure that Logan was impressed with his "Santa Hat"! :)
Great video Dave. Your knowledge of the New Forest is amazing. I walk there most weeks so for 2021 I plan to educate myself more about the NF. And part of that will be to go back on all your videos and binge watch. Hope you have had a good Christmas.
Thank you for your kind comments Anne. All the best for 2021.
Thank you Dave. Enjoying your videos. Wishing you a very happy 2021. (And Logan of course!)
Thank you Elaine. Best wishes to you as well!
Lovely walk Dave Merry Christmas to you and Logan
Thank you Catherine. Hope you have a peaceful festive time as well.
Lovely video ! I’ll have to find that beech in the future ! And you walked straight past one of my favourite trees in the New Forest right by the pit stop lol ! Have a great Christmas Dave
Thank you. Hopefully you can follow the route to the Knowles Beech from the "map" in the video - although off the beaten track, she does stand out. All the best.
Great Walk Dave, nice views lovely countryside,keep it up. Merry Christmas to you & Logan. Ron from Bristol.
Thank you Ron, and best wishes to you as well.
I really enjoy watching your videos Dave. I’m a student and love the outdoors, and was thinking of visiting the new Forest because of its scenery. I watched a number of your videos and ended up decided to go ahead with the trip - I ended up recording my trip and uploading it and I was inspired by your style of commentary and recording of the hampshire countryside. Keep up the good stuff these videos are such nice insights into that part of the world!!
Thank you. Glad you are enjoying the videos. (Sorry for the delay in responding....for some reason your comment went into held for review"!). Thanks for watching. :)
Perfect Dave. Merry Christmas mate.
Thank you Spencer. All the best for 2021 to you as well.
Well it’s New Year’s Eve and we just had a lovely walk around Hayling Island With Dave And Logan. One to do when we come down to Hampshire.
Nice to see your a Cannon man
Bye the bye my wife would like to know why you don’t wear shorts on hot days?
All the best for2021 and take care of your self’s.
Thank you Leslie. I never wear shorts on the New Forest because of the constant danger of ticks (!) & I guess the habit carries over on to the Hampshire walks as well! Best wishes to you both for 2021.
Logan's hat... :-)
I don't think he was impressed at having to wear it!
Fabulous walk
Thank you Nick :)
Im heading to new forest next week
A very nice walk Dave. That ridge was pleasant. Did you decide not to publish the Autumn films you had made ? I remember you telling me you had been out.
Thanks David. There will be a "virtual walk" coming out on 28th December. No commentary or music, just the sights and sounds of a walk through the Forest with the Autumn colours. All the best. Dave.
@@DaveFord That will be nice to watch. Thanks David