This stunning circular walk serves up the best of the New Forest. After winding through forest inclosures, spend some time viewing the deer in a special sanctuary. The route then takes you deep into the forest, following the Highland Water. The walk eventually emerges at the village of Bank where you can enjoy a well earned stop at the fabulous Oak Inn.
Route
Enter Brick Kiln Inclosure from the gate at Pinkney Lane and continue on the downhill path straight through the inclosure with beech, oak and sweet chestnut trees all around. The inclosure was the site of a brick kiln which supplied the local area with bricks until the late 19th Century.
Go through the gate at the end of the inclosure and continue on the path across the small open area of Butts Lawn.
Follow the path until it splits. Take the right hand path in to Hursthill Inclosure. Continue through the inclosure until you reach another gate and an open area to your right which is a deer sanctuary. Keeping the sanctuary to your right, cross the stream and take the gravel path ahead. At a conservation sign, turn right off the gravel path and follow the forest track alongside the stream.
After a short distance, cross a small footbridge and continue to follow the forest track. Be aware the track can be muddy with fallen trees or tree roots to navigate past. It will take your through Brinken Wood until you can turn right crossing another footbridge and join the forest track heading towards a small sewage works.
Take the gravel road way leading to the works for a short distance and turn off it to follow the track to the village of Bank. Follow the single lane past the houses until you reach the Oak Inn. Take Pinkney Lane and walk up the hill to the entrance to Brick Kiln Lane.
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Walk Information
Starting Points
- Pinkney Lane
Food and Drink
- The Oak Inn, Bank
Terrain
Initially gravel tracks which are generally passable, but the second half of the walk past the deer sanctuary to Bank is forest track which can be muddy following wet weather and has obstacles such as fall trees or roots along the path. The walk is best attempted during the summer months.
