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.


Advertisement


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.


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
Burley
10:33 pm, Jul 6, 2025
weather icon 17°C
L: 16° H: 17°
clear sky
8 mph NW
Precipitation: 0.02 inch
Sunrise: 5:01 am
Sunset: 9:21 pm
DailyHourly
Daily Forecast Hourly Forecast
Tomorrow 10:00 pm
weather icon
16° / 17°°C 0.02 inch 39% 16 mph 83 % 1017 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 08 10:00 pm
weather icon
12° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 14 mph 87 % 1021 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 09 10:00 pm
weather icon
12° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 81 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Thu Jul 10 10:00 pm
weather icon
15° / 24°°C 0 inch 0% 13 mph 89 % 1024 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 11 10:00 pm
weather icon
16° / 24°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 73 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 1:00 am
weather icon
17° / 17°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 71 % 1008 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 4:00 am
weather icon
15° / 15°°C 0.01 inch 32% 12 mph 81 % 1009 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 7:00 am
weather icon
14° / 14°°C 0.02 inch 39% 16 mph 83 % 1010 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 10:00 am
weather icon
16° / 16°°C 0.01 inch 20% 16 mph 67 % 1012 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 1:00 pm
weather icon
23° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 13 mph 40 % 1014 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 4:00 pm
weather icon
21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 13 mph 40 % 1014 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 7:00 pm
weather icon
19° / 19°°C 0 inch 0% 16 mph 52 % 1015 mb 0 mm/h
Tomorrow 10:00 pm
weather icon
16° / 16°°C 0 inch 0% 16 mph 62 % 1017 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 08 1:00 am
weather icon
14° / 14°°C 0 inch 0% 14 mph 79 % 1017 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 08 4:00 am
weather icon
12° / 12°°C 0 inch 0% 13 mph 87 % 1017 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 08 7:00 am
weather icon
13° / 13°°C 0 inch 0% 14 mph 72 % 1019 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 08 10:00 am
weather icon
18° / 18°°C 0 inch 0% 10 mph 47 % 1019 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 08 1:00 pm
weather icon
21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 5 mph 36 % 1019 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 08 4:00 pm
weather icon
22° / 22°°C 0 inch 0% 11 mph 39 % 1019 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 08 7:00 pm
weather icon
23° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 9 mph 34 % 1019 mb 0 mm/h
Tue Jul 08 10:00 pm
weather icon
15° / 15°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 72 % 1021 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 09 1:00 am
weather icon
13° / 13°°C 0 inch 0% 9 mph 81 % 1022 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 09 4:00 am
weather icon
12° / 12°°C 0 inch 0% 8 mph 57 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 09 7:00 am
weather icon
14° / 14°°C 0 inch 0% 7 mph 54 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 09 10:00 am
weather icon
21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 5 mph 50 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 09 1:00 pm
weather icon
23° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 7 mph 47 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 09 4:00 pm
weather icon
21° / 21°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 46 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 09 7:00 pm
weather icon
22° / 22°°C 0 inch 0% 11 mph 47 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Wed Jul 09 10:00 pm
weather icon
18° / 18°°C 0 inch 0% 8 mph 73 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Thu Jul 10 1:00 am
weather icon
16° / 16°°C 0 inch 0% 7 mph 86 % 1024 mb 0 mm/h
Thu Jul 10 4:00 am
weather icon
15° / 15°°C 0 inch 0% 5 mph 89 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Thu Jul 10 7:00 am
weather icon
18° / 18°°C 0 inch 0% 4 mph 74 % 1024 mb 0 mm/h
Thu Jul 10 10:00 am
weather icon
22° / 22°°C 0 inch 0% 5 mph 51 % 1024 mb 0 mm/h
Thu Jul 10 1:00 pm
weather icon
24° / 24°°C 0 inch 0% 8 mph 50 % 1024 mb 0 mm/h
Thu Jul 10 4:00 pm
weather icon
23° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 13 mph 55 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Thu Jul 10 7:00 pm
weather icon
22° / 22°°C 0 inch 0% 8 mph 59 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Thu Jul 10 10:00 pm
weather icon
18° / 18°°C 0 inch 0% 4 mph 74 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 11 1:00 am
weather icon
17° / 17°°C 0 inch 0% 2 mph 73 % 1023 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 11 4:00 am
weather icon
16° / 16°°C 0 inch 0% 3 mph 72 % 1022 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 11 7:00 am
weather icon
19° / 19°°C 0 inch 0% 3 mph 59 % 1022 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 11 10:00 am
weather icon
23° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 8 mph 51 % 1022 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 11 1:00 pm
weather icon
24° / 24°°C 0 inch 0% 10 mph 53 % 1021 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 11 4:00 pm
weather icon
23° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 12 mph 56 % 1020 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 11 7:00 pm
weather icon
23° / 23°°C 0 inch 0% 9 mph 56 % 1019 mb 0 mm/h
Fri Jul 11 10:00 pm
weather icon
18° / 18°°C 0 inch 0% 5 mph 68 % 1020 mb 0 mm/h

In Pictures