NEW FOREST WALK ALONG THE BEAULIEU RIVER (NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK) (4K)

In this episode of my series “ New Forest Walks”, I try and walk the entire length of the “non tidal” section of the Beaulieu River - a journey of over 8 miles. Once again I am accompanied by my Whippet, Logan.
My adventure started at the source of the Beaulieu River which is located on the Northern edge of the village of Lyndhurst at a place called Pikes Hill. Initially I followed what looked like a ditch out of the village towards the A337. On the Eastern side of that busy A road, there was already signs of water in a small stream and the river meandered through woodland on the Northern edge of the New Forest Golf Course.
The river then headed South, on the Eastern side of the golf course, passing under the Lyndhurst to Ashurst road through Dunces Arch at which point it flowed Eastwards to Mallard Wood.
Coming out of Mallard Wood, the river heads South through Longwater Lawn and the Fulliford Bog towards the railway line at Fulliford Passage.
On the other side of Fulliford passage (east of the railway line), I continue to follow the river through Withycombe Shade before having to take a detour North around Decoy Pond Farm (which is private land). On the Eastern side of Decoy Pond Farm, I meet the river again and indeed manage to cross over to the South side so that I can take another detour around more private land (Farrant's Copse & Aldermoor Lodge).
In order to keep away from a bog, I had to follow a path South and then East towards Yew Tree Heath before rejoining the river at the edge of Aldermore Lodge. It is important to keep to paths in this section & indeed avoid it all together during the nesting season for ground - nesting birds (March to August).
My final leg of the walk takes me South, following the river through woods until I reach North Gate - at which point the river leaves the Forest and flows through the Beaulieu Estate (private land).
Although you can continue walking along the road to Beaulieu village (there are a couple of points along the way where the road crosses the river) - it is a busy road with no pavement.
I was picked up at the North Gate car park and finished off my outing with a quick look around Beaulieu village before reaching my final destination - The Montagu Arms at Beaulieu.
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 a GOPRO HERO 7, 8 or 10 Black Action Camera (sometimes with a Gimbal) & a Rode microphone (either a “Shotgun” or a Rode Wireless Go) together with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS.

[@cathpeterson1944]

beautiful walk along the river in Beaulieu 🤩

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Cath & indeed thanks for watching.

[@starfish370]

Well done, Dave, very entertaining and enjoyable video!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you & indeed thanks for watching.

[@jhnshearn51]

Another beauty thanks Dave, loved the sound effect for Logans jump.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. (I thought that I would have a bit of fun with the sound effects!).

[@roseybut]

Well done Dave. That was quite a trek with stunning scenery, perfectly rounded off with a well earned Pint.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Lance. We had a lot of fun on that one!

[@drewski363]

Nice one, Dave. Loved it.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you & indeed thanks for watching.

[@stephenbroadhead3172]

Great video dave

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Stephen.

[@richardallen7184]

Am going to do this walk this weekend should be a fun walk

[@DaveFord]

I hope that it is not too wet now for you Richard (I did my walk in the first few days of September). You may need to divert around some of the "bog" areas! Hope you have an enjoyable and safe walk.

[@newforestexplorer]

Lovely video and stunning picture quality once again 👍

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. It was great when the sun came out but at times, the cloud cover made for some "challenges" with the Gopro!

[@meshmore697]

You earned that pint, Dave. This one was a bit arduous. Great video-thank you Dave & Logan.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. Yes, it was a fair old journey but good fun!

[@eldred1809]

I have to admire your commitment Dave to bring us these videos, those looked like new shoes when you started, replacing the ones that were "flapping" a few weeks ago? I forgot to congratulate you and the lad last week, on your qualification for Cruft's, nailed on "Best in Show" if you ask me. Oh, and see what happens when you venture out of Dorset, muddy feet and cloud! Keep 'em coming.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. Those are my "trail shoes" that I use for doing Canicross Races with Fiver. Really comfortable and in fact are nearly 10 months old now. I would usually have worn normal walking boots but in view of the length of the walk (and I wasn't 100% sure what the terrain would be like!), I decided on the trail shoes. They are designed to dry out quickly as you walk along & indeed they seem to do the trick.

[@KeithHornby-g6d]

Nice one Dave,looking forward to watching more walks with you,

[@DaveFord]

Thank you.I hope that you get to enjoy the future videos in the series. Thanks for watching.

[@keithjoseph5671]

Amazing walking tour of the river with stunning views of the countryside

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Keith. :)

[@arriesone1]

Perhaps Logan would prefer loganberries!

[@DaveFord]

Oh yes indeed!

[@normanwilliamson5545]

Hi Dave, thanks again for another stunning scenic walk. Pity about the wet shoes, but we appreciate the time and effort you put in for our enjoyment. Kind regards, Norman and Pam.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you both. It wasn't too wet so my feet dried up fairly quickly! Thanks for watching.

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Lovely walk Dave. It's quite a difficult river to actually follow, as you found out. If I recall correctly, they had a serious fire in the old mill, some years ago now. I believe it's since been restored to its original condition, but I remember it being boarded up for quite a long time.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Lionel. Yes, a tricky river to follow and of course there are a few sections where it flows through private land which meant a few diversions.

[@mikewalker8655]

Well done Dave. I can't imagine many people have walked that route before, if ever! 10/10

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Mike. Certainly a "route" only for the "dry" months"!

[@geoffw8565]

I think your words Dave ' it really is quite stunning ' sums up the scenes and the beauty perfectly. On another point a regular tune you play ( on 8.11 ) sound very much like the ' Detectorists' theme tune by Johnny Flynn ? Certainly the beginning very similar ?

[@DaveFord]

Yes, it does sound very similar. The clip I use is called "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" by Zachariah Hickman which can be downloaded (for free) from the KZbin audio Library.

[@geoffw8565]

@@DaveFord Thanks Dave

[@JimNicholls]

Thanks for another lovely walk, Dave.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Jim.

[@stephenholden6926]

Fantastic Dave, we were down at Beaulieu in September in all that rain so we didn't get to enjoy too many walks. I'm always on the lookout for a comfortable pair of walking shoes, what are your new ones?👍

[@DaveFord]

Those shoes are COOJOY Trail Running shoes (Breathable Hiking, Treking, training & walking) with arch support. I bought them specifically for running Canicross races with my younger Whippet, Fiver, as they are sturdy & have good grip. I bought them off Amazon last year (I think they are temporarily unavailable at the moment!).

[@mattphillips9107]

Another cracking walk with our favourite two 👍

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Matt.

[@martincannon1078]

Hello Dave, Another good one which I thank you for. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't you take Richard Vobes to Fulliford Bog or thereabouts? It was a few years ago and now Richard seems to have taken another direction, if you get my meaning.

[@DaveFord]

Hi Martin. I did accompany him on a New Forest walk about 4 or 5 years ago at Ashley Walk. I lost contact with him about 3 years ago (maybe more). As you say, I believe he is doing something completely different these days.

[@highlandexplorer990]

Awesome video, Dave! 🌿 Loved the scenic walk along the Beaulieu River. 🚶‍♂ Nature at its best!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you & indeed thanks for watching.

[@ralphfeay8857]

Hi Dave that seemed a very long walk! I was trying to envisage exactly where the route was from lydhurst beulieu . Will have to research that one. Nice seeing our lovely new forest and foals and deers. Thank you once again for your lovely video. God bless Ralph and Sheila

[@DaveFord]

Thank you both. I think that was one of our longest walks - we certainly took plenty of rest stops because the views were quite special.

[@markshrimpton3138]

It’s rather ironic that a man with your surname should have spent so much energy trying to cross his namesake on this walk. I bet that broke in your new trail shoes. Your route map at the beginning was interesting; the Romans utilised a not dissimilar sort of approach for their road maps. I liked Logan’s ‘boing’ leap over the log.

[@DaveFord]

Normally I can print off my maps on one sheet but on this one, well ........ !

[@AnyoneForToast]

A fantastic walk there, Mr Logan, and a good idea to lead yer mate Dave under the train tracks on the gravel river bed. It can often be shin deep in sludge through those "proper" underpasses! Thank you both.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. Yes, I believe that at certain times of the year (after heavy rain), you can find all sorts of "interesting" things in the river!

[@soton5teve]

Get some army boots (£50) and gaiters (£15+?), at "image action" in new milton

[@DaveFord]

Thanks for the recommendation - I think I will!

[@catherineshipley5799]

Enjoyed your walk as usual

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Catherine.

[@jeanblemings5352]

I really enjoyed your river exploration with the beautiful heathland colours, water reflections and so much of interest along the way. I once caught the rather infrequent bus from Lymington to Beaulieu and walked the Solent Way back. Looking at origins of river at start of your walk the glimpses I got between Beaulieu and Bucklers Hard belie how wide the river becomes!!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Jean. It is fascinating sometimes to see how some of these rivers develop from such humble beginnings for sure!

[@olimander9484]

It's lovely to see where we live in your videos. I really enjoy the tidbits of history too. Thank you sharing 😊

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Oli & indeed thanks for watching.

[@davidsecker5161]

Lovely

[@DaveFord]

Thanks David. :)