Bolderwood – Acres Down Loop

Starting Point

Bolderwood car park
///cluttered.november.pipes

Canadian Memorial car park
///duration.nitrate.branched

&

Distance

7 MILES (11KM) – Circular

Categories

This circular walk in the heart of the New Forest takes in woodland inclosures near the popular destination of Bolderwood.

The route follows the gently meandering Highland Water and climbs Acres Down for magnificent views over the forest and beyond.

Route

  From the Bolderwood car park, walk along the roadside towards the Canadian War Memorial – the simple wooden cross commemorates the Canadian forces stationed in the New Forest before the D-Day invasion of 6 June 1944. Before the invasion, Canadians would gather here for church services.

  Stay on the main gravel path to the left when it forks after about 150m. Continue for almost 1km – going straight ahead at cycle route marker post 102 – until the path eventually sweeps round to the right.

  After another 500m, turn left to cross the bridge over the Highland Water.


Advertisement


  The path splits about 150m after the bridge – take the path on the left and make another left turn after 250m. Continue to walk uphill towards Puckpits Inclosure, going straight ahead at a couple of crossroads.

  Follow the gravel path through the inclosure. The Victorian plantation has some spectacular tall larch trees. It is reputedly known for appearances of New Forest pixies – hence the name inspired by Shakespeare’s character Puck. Stick to the main gravel path as it curves through the inclosure. There is a steep down-and-uphill stretch just after the inclosure boundary before the path gently sweeps downhill for another 1km and meets a gravel cycle path.

  Turn left and head through Wick Wood towards the Acres Down car park.

  Beyond the car park is the Acres Down Farm Shop and tearooms so is a great place for a half-way stop. Or climb the track from the car park up on to Acres Down.

  The top of Acres Down is one of the highest points in the New Forest. If you look to the south east on a clear day you can see the ships on Southampton Water as well as the rolling downs of the Isle of Wight.

  After the open space at the top, head downhill through the trees between The Knowles and Wood Crates. The path can be boggy following wet weather and there is a stream to cross, but you will meet the main gravel cycle path at Millyford Bridge after a walk of about 1km from the top of Acres Down.

Turn right at a small patch of lawn onto the cycle path and go through the gate in to Holmhill Inclosure.

After about 1.2km, the path forks – take the path on the left.

The path splits again after about 250m – this time take the right hand path and continue to follow it as it winds through the inclosure.

You’ll come to a cycle marker post after another 1.3km. Turn left uphill and a 400m walk brings you out at a gate opposite Bolderwood car park.


Advertisement


View Map

To view a map of this route - with GPS locator to follow the route on your smartphone - please login or sign up to become a New Forest Walks Member.

Download GPX

To download a GPX track of this route - for use on your Smartphone apps and GPS devices - please login or sign up to become a New Forest Walks Member.

Download PDF Guide

To download a printable PDF guide for this route, please login or sign up to become a New Forest Walks Member.

Essential Information

To view this information please login or sign up to become a New Forest Walks Member.

Weather

loader-image
Lyndhurst
1:01 am, Jul 2, 2025
weather icon 18°C
L: 17° H: 18°
broken clouds
7 mph NW
Precipitation: 0 inch
Visibility: 10 km
Sunrise: 4:57 am
Sunset: 9:22 pm
DailyHourly
Daily Forecast Hourly Forecast
Today 10:00 pm
weather icon
17° / 18°°C 0 inch 0% 16 mph 85 % 1024 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 10:00 pm
weather icon
9° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 16 mph 79 % 1029 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 04 10:00 pm
weather icon
10° / 22°°C 0 inch 0% 14 mph 91 % 1029 mb 0 mm/h
Sat Jul 05 10:00 pm
weather icon
11° / 21°°C 0.04 inch 100% 19 mph 96 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Sun Jul 06 10:00 pm
weather icon
11° / 19°°C 0.04 inch 99% 17 mph 95 % 1014 mb 0 mm/h
Today 4:00 am
weather icon
17° / 18°°C 0 inch 0% 6 mph 84 % 1015 mb 0 mm/h
Today 7:00 am
weather icon
17° / 17°°C 0 inch 0% 6 mph 85 % 1016 mb 0 mm/h
Today 10:00 am
weather icon
20° / 20°°C 0 inch 0% 10 mph 68 % 1018 mb 0 mm/h
Today 1:00 pm
weather icon
22° / 22°°C 0 inch 0% 10 mph 53 % 1019 mb 0 mm/h
Today 4:00 pm
weather icon
23° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 15 mph 42 % 1020 mb 0 mm/h
Today 7:00 pm
weather icon
21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 16 mph 37 % 1021 mb 0 mm/h
Today 10:00 pm
weather icon
16° / 16°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 53 % 1024 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 1:00 am
weather icon
11° / 11°°C 0 inch 0% 8 mph 68 % 1026 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 4:00 am
weather icon
9° / 9°°C 0 inch 0% 6 mph 79 % 1027 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 7:00 am
weather icon
13° / 13°°C 0 inch 0% 4 mph 66 % 1028 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 10:00 am
weather icon
19° / 19°°C 0 inch 0% 3 mph 46 % 1029 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 1:00 pm
weather icon
21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 9 mph 44 % 1028 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 4:00 pm
weather icon
21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 14 mph 47 % 1028 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 7:00 pm
weather icon
20° / 20°°C 0 inch 0% 16 mph 40 % 1028 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 10:00 pm
weather icon
13° / 13°°C 0 inch 0% 9 mph 63 % 1029 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 04 1:00 am
weather icon
11° / 11°°C 0 inch 0% 8 mph 85 % 1029 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 04 4:00 am
weather icon
10° / 10°°C 0 inch 0% 5 mph 91 % 1028 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 04 7:00 am
weather icon
13° / 13°°C 0 inch 0% 4 mph 75 % 1029 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 04 10:00 am
weather icon
19° / 19°°C 0 inch 0% 6 mph 55 % 1029 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 04 1:00 pm
weather icon
20° / 20°°C 0 inch 0% 10 mph 54 % 1028 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 04 4:00 pm
weather icon
22° / 22°°C 0 inch 0% 14 mph 47 % 1025 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 04 7:00 pm
weather icon
21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 52 % 1024 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 04 10:00 pm
weather icon
15° / 15°°C 0 inch 0% 6 mph 80 % 1024 mb 0 mm/h
Sat Jul 05 1:00 am
weather icon
12° / 12°°C 0 inch 0% 8 mph 85 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Sat Jul 05 4:00 am
weather icon
11° / 11°°C 0 inch 0% 7 mph 87 % 1021 mb 0 mm/h
Sat Jul 05 7:00 am
weather icon
15° / 15°°C 0 inch 0% 9 mph 75 % 1020 mb 0 mm/h
Sat Jul 05 10:00 am
weather icon
20° / 20°°C 0 inch 0% 16 mph 55 % 1018 mb 0 mm/h
Sat Jul 05 1:00 pm
weather icon
21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 19 mph 53 % 1016 mb 0 mm/h
Sat Jul 05 4:00 pm
weather icon
18° / 18°°C 0 inch 10% 18 mph 69 % 1013 mb 0 mm/h
Sat Jul 05 7:00 pm
weather icon
16° / 16°°C 0.04 inch 100% 17 mph 96 % 1011 mb 0 mm/h
Sat Jul 05 10:00 pm
weather icon
17° / 17°°C 0 inch 0% 15 mph 95 % 1010 mb 0 mm/h
Sun Jul 06 1:00 am
weather icon
13° / 13°°C 0.01 inch 20% 10 mph 90 % 1010 mb 0 mm/h
Sun Jul 06 4:00 am
weather icon
11° / 11°°C 0 inch 0% 11 mph 95 % 1010 mb 0 mm/h
Sun Jul 06 7:00 am
weather icon
13° / 13°°C 0.01 inch 20% 12 mph 93 % 1009 mb 0 mm/h
Sun Jul 06 10:00 am
weather icon
16° / 16°°C 0.03 inch 64% 14 mph 83 % 1009 mb 0 mm/h
Sun Jul 06 1:00 pm
weather icon
19° / 19°°C 0.04 inch 99% 15 mph 58 % 1010 mb 0 mm/h
Sun Jul 06 4:00 pm
weather icon
18° / 18°°C 0.02 inch 56% 16 mph 58 % 1011 mb 0 mm/h
Sun Jul 06 7:00 pm
weather icon
18° / 18°°C 0.01 inch 23% 17 mph 60 % 1012 mb 0 mm/h
Sun Jul 06 10:00 pm
weather icon
14° / 14°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 78 % 1014 mb 0 mm/h
Mon Jul 07 1:00 am
weather icon
11° / 11°°C 0 inch 0% 9 mph 92 % 1015 mb 0 mm/h