Fanning the Flame Sponsored Walk – LONG WALK ROUTE (8 Miles)
Notes : There are some stiles on this route and the route may be muddy in places. There are a couple of busy road
crossings where care is needed. Dogs should be kept on a lead near grazing animals and in the nature reserve
St Dominic’s Priory, Shirley Holms (01590
681874)
1.
Leave The Priory through the gate and turn right onto the road. Take care to watch for cars as there is no
pavement for this short stretch. Pass several houses on the right and take a gravel path on the right onto the
forest. Follow this path as it climbs up hill and cross the bridge over the railway.
2.
Carry straight-on, taking the path that passes Pinecroft and continue for 100 yards (91m) on a grassy track.
Look out for a stile tucked away off on your right. Cross the stile and follow the narrow path between hedges
of holly, honeysuckle and young oak until you reach the A337 opposite The Hobler pub.
3.
4.
Cross the road with care and turn left along the roadside pavement; then, just beyond the pub, turn right
through a metal kissing gate onto a signposted footpath. The waymarked path leads you over two stiles and
through a couple of open fields.
Another stile and a wooden footbridge bring you to the start of a moderate slope. Tree-shaded at first, the
path crosses two minor roads on its way to a kissing gate at the entrance to Roydon Woods nature reserve.
5.
Keep straight on to a four-way signpost, and dive into the woods at a five-bar gate.
6.
The bridleway drops gently over a small plank bridge to a T-junction with a gravel track, marked by a wooden
signpost. Turn right here. The path eventually leaves the confines of the wood. Continue along a tree and
hedge flanked track with grasslands on either side.
7.
At the top of a short gradient, leave Roydon Woods Nature Reserve; join a narrow tarmac lane and continue
downhill past Blazemore Farm on the left and Woodland cottage on the right.
8.
Reach a crossroads and continue straight ahead along Royden Lane, following the sign for Boldre (0.5 mile).
Ignore a lane on the right, then a public footpath on the left and continue straight ahead. Notice on the right
down here Tidebrook Cottage with its initialled date stone of 1719.
9.
Reach a T-junction with the Red Lion pub directly opposite and turn left following the sign for Boldre Church
and Beaulieu. Pass a cluster of cottages and cross the Lymington River at Boldre Bridge.
10. Turn left immediately down Rodlease Lane, following a sign for Boldre Church (0.75 mile). Pass Rodlease
House, a large 3 storey Georgian residence, on the right; ignore a public footpath on the left; and then turn
right along a public footpath opposite the entrance to Rodlease Farm, and immediately before the wholesale
nursery business.
11. Pass a footpath on the right, and continue uphill beside broadleaved woodlands. Turn left upon reaching a
narrow lane and continue along the lane towards Boldre church. Before you reach the church take a path on
the right and head towards Haywards Farm. As you reach the farmhouse turn left along a hedged, gravel
farm track.
12. Follow the track over open farmland to Dilton Farm. Immediately before the farm buildings, turn left along a
bridleway and follow this as it goes first 90 degrees right and then 90 degrees left.
13. Go through a gate, continue straight ahead past a bridleway on the right and along a wide, well-hedged
track. Go through another gate into Roydon Woods nature reserve and follow the path through the edge of
the wood. Ignore a bridleway on the left.
14. Follow the way through the woods, downhill, past an often flooded pit amongst the tress on the left (Roydon
Brickworks was on the right down here). Cross the Lymington River at a narrow footbridge and continue
ahead, half left along a well hedged track. Roydon Manor can be seen on the right.
15. Pass through two gates in quick succession and immediately turn right at a T-junction. Follow the track as it
bears left at The Lodge and climbs gently to a sign-posted fork.
16. Keep left here, pass a small disused quarry on your right, and carry on out of the reserve. As you approach
the A337 you pass a number of driveways to properties so watch out for cars. Just beyond the cattle-grid at
Setley Farm you reach the main road. Take care as you cross the road and continue up the turning opposite
signposted Sway.
17. By pass the cattle grid and turn immediately left onto a path through the gorse bushes, roughly parallel with
the A337. After 200 yards (182m) it will lead you out onto a grazed area, studded with gorse and heather.
Bear right here, heading just to the left of Peterson’s tower on the skyline.
18. Continue across the heath, bearing gently to the left until you meet the road a few paces to the west of the
entrance to Setley Pond car park. Continue forward and take the path to the right of the pond.
19. Follow the gravel path and then turn right taking the path across the bridge over the railway. Follow the path
downhill until it meets the road. Turn left along the road and retrace your steps to The Priory.
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