Holmsley Ridge and Inclosure

Starting Point

&

Distance

4 MILES (7KM) – Circular

Categories

A circular walk which takes you across Holmsley Ridge – with stunning views over the heath land south of the village of Burley – before sweeping down to explore the woodland of Holmsley Inclosure. This route is particularly stunning in late summer when the purple and pink heather is in full bloom.

1

Route

Map & GPX

Information

In Pictures

Route

From the car park, walk the short distance up Holmsley Passage and head out on the path across the heath beyond the vehicle barrier. Once on the path, you’ll have views over towards Burley and Turf Hill to your right. To the left is Holmsley Inclosure.

After about 600m you’ll come to some ponds which can be accessed down an incline to your left. Take the path on the right of a fence as it continues across the ridge.


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Walk for another 700m until the path splits. Take the left fork which heads downhill for 1.2km towards Thorney Hill Holms. Continue on the grassy track until it meets a path heading towards Holmsley Incloure. Turn left onto the path and walk alongside the inclosure for 200m until you come to a gate into the woods.

After 100m, turn right on to the cycle path at marker post number 170. Follow the path through the inclosure as it gradually curves to the right past marker post 171 and crosses the Avon Water stream. It then curves to the left past cycle post marker 172 and continues to the edge of the inclosure at marker post 173.

Exit the inclosure gate, cross the Holmsley Passage road and go through the gate on the opposite side. Continue on the straight path through the woodland for 400m, passsing through a small open area of grass, until you reach the back of a working sawmill.

A narrow track leads through the fir trees alongside the edge of the mill. Go through the pedestrian gate and turn left, joining the path that runs in front of the mill. The A35 can be seen to your right. Continue past a barrier and on to a gravel path. The path goes gradually downhill past a pasture field with a horse shelter.

Follow the path as it crosses three footbridges over the Avon Water in quick succession.

After another 450m, turn right on to another path which takes you the short distance to a bridge under the disused Castleman’s Corkscrew railway line. Climb up the bank on to the line. The Old Station Tea Rooms are a short distance to the right. The old station also serves as a stop for the New Forest Tour buses during the summer.

After another 450m, turn right on to another path which takes you the short distance to a bridge under the disused Castleman’s Corkscrew railway line. Climb up the bank on to the line. The Old Station Tea Rooms are a short distance to the right. The old station also serves as a stop for the New Forest Tour buses during the summer.

Turn left and walk for 700m along the line until it reaches a barrier when it meets Holmsley Passage. Turn left and, taking care along the roadside, walk the short distance uphill back to Holmsley car park.


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Essential Information

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Weather

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Burley
12:01 am, Jul 19, 2025
weather icon 18°C
L: 17° H: 19°
clear sky
3 mph
Precipitation: 0.02 inch
Sunrise: 5:15 am
Sunset: 9:10 pm
DailyHourly
Daily Forecast Hourly Forecast
Today 10:00 pm
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17° / 19°°C 0.02 inch 50% 18 mph 86 % 1009 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 10:00 pm
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16° / 19°°C 0.04 inch 100% 22 mph 90 % 1002 mb 0 mm/h
Mon Jul 21 10:00 pm
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15° / 23°°C 0.04 inch 100% 18 mph 96 % 1008 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 22 10:00 pm
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14° / 22°°C 0.02 inch 56% 17 mph 92 % 1015 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 23 10:00 pm
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13° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 16 mph 93 % 1017 mb 0 mm/h
Today 1:00 am
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18° / 18°°C 0 inch 0% 5 mph 83 % 1009 mb 0 mm/h
Today 4:00 am
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17° / 18°°C 0 inch 0% 3 mph 85 % 1009 mb 0 mm/h
Today 7:00 am
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16° / 17°°C 0.02 inch 50% 5 mph 86 % 1007 mb 0 mm/h
Today 10:00 am
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22° / 22°°C 0 inch 2% 4 mph 75 % 1006 mb 0 mm/h
Today 1:00 pm
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22° / 22°°C 0 inch 0% 11 mph 62 % 1005 mb 0 mm/h
Today 4:00 pm
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21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 18 mph 54 % 1005 mb 0 mm/h
Today 7:00 pm
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18° / 18°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 68 % 1004 mb 0 mm/h
Today 10:00 pm
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17° / 17°°C 0 inch 0% 7 mph 82 % 1004 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 1:00 am
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17° / 17°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 83 % 1002 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 4:00 am
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17° / 17°°C 0.03 inch 72% 17 mph 87 % 1000 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 7:00 am
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16° / 16°°C 0.04 inch 100% 15 mph 90 % 999 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 10:00 am
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18° / 18°°C 0.01 inch 20% 22 mph 73 % 1000 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 1:00 pm
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18° / 18°°C 0.04 inch 100% 22 mph 71 % 1000 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 4:00 pm
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19° / 19°°C 0.02 inch 58% 16 mph 60 % 1001 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 7:00 pm
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18° / 18°°C 0 inch 6% 8 mph 62 % 1000 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 10:00 pm
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16° / 16°°C 0.01 inch 20% 10 mph 77 % 999 mb 0 mm/h
Mon Jul 21 1:00 am
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15° / 15°°C 0.04 inch 100% 12 mph 96 % 998 mb 0 mm/h
Mon Jul 21 4:00 am
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15° / 15°°C 0.04 inch 100% 8 mph 91 % 997 mb 0 mm/h
Mon Jul 21 7:00 am
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15° / 15°°C 0.03 inch 80% 3 mph 92 % 998 mb 0 mm/h
Mon Jul 21 10:00 am
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17° / 17°°C 0.04 inch 89% 14 mph 82 % 1000 mb 0 mm/h
Mon Jul 21 1:00 pm
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23° / 23°°C 0.03 inch 80% 11 mph 47 % 1001 mb 0 mm/h
Mon Jul 21 4:00 pm
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23° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 15 mph 43 % 1003 mb 0 mm/h
Mon Jul 21 7:00 pm
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21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 18 mph 54 % 1005 mb 0 mm/h
Mon Jul 21 10:00 pm
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16° / 16°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 76 % 1008 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 22 1:00 am
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14° / 14°°C 0 inch 0% 10 mph 92 % 1009 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 22 4:00 am
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15° / 15°°C 0 inch 0% 11 mph 92 % 1010 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 22 7:00 am
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15° / 15°°C 0 inch 0% 11 mph 83 % 1012 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 22 10:00 am
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19° / 19°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 61 % 1013 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 22 1:00 pm
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22° / 22°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 49 % 1013 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 22 4:00 pm
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21° / 21°°C 0.02 inch 56% 17 mph 51 % 1013 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 22 7:00 pm
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17° / 17°°C 0.01 inch 38% 9 mph 70 % 1014 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 22 10:00 pm
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16° / 16°°C 0 inch 0% 7 mph 76 % 1015 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 23 1:00 am
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14° / 14°°C 0 inch 0% 8 mph 85 % 1015 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 23 4:00 am
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13° / 13°°C 0 inch 0% 6 mph 93 % 1015 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 23 7:00 am
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14° / 14°°C 0 inch 0% 7 mph 86 % 1016 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 23 10:00 am
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20° / 20°°C 0 inch 0% 8 mph 59 % 1016 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 23 1:00 pm
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22° / 22°°C 0 inch 0% 8 mph 47 % 1015 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 23 4:00 pm
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23° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 14 mph 43 % 1015 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 23 7:00 pm
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21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 16 mph 49 % 1015 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 23 10:00 pm
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15° / 15°°C 0 inch 0% 15 mph 74 % 1017 mb 0 mm/h

In Pictures