Buckland Rings Trail

This is a 6.8-mile point-to-point walk from the south-side exit of Brockenhurst Railway Station to Lymington Town Railway Station. It passes through Roydon Woods, open grazed New Forest land and country lanes before reaching Buckland Rings, an Iron Age hillfort. Allow about 2.5–3 hours without a long stop. The Brockenhurst–Lymington branch train connects the two ends if you want to return to your start.

Leave the station on its south side, cross the road and follow the verge to Church Lane by St Nicholas Church. A public bridleway enters Roydon Woods; exposed roots make the wooded tracks uneven. At the later forks, the right-hand path opens into fields at Sandy Down. Kissing gates, four stiles and a footbridge break up the field crossings. Near the busy A337, follow the verge past Rosie Lea Tea House, then cross to an enclosed path that opens onto grazed common. Jealous Lane is a broad track over the railway; after the houses, take the sharp right. At Shirley Holms Lane, bear slightly right rather than crossing the cattle grid into a private driveway.

Public paths lead past Mount Pleasant Farm and join The Serpentine, then pass Yaldhurst Copse and the old Buckland Manor Farmyard before crossing Sway Road to the hillfort. The route continues from the fort to Lymington Town station. Banks and ditches enclose about 4.5 hectares; three sides retain tree-covered ramparts, and farming has worn away the original eastern entrance. Views open across the surrounding area from the ramparts. To show the scale in a photo, include the path between the earth banks.

Rosie Lea Tea House is beside the route near the A337; public toilets are in Lymington near St Barbe Museum. There is no designated car park at the hillfort, so the two stations make the one-way walk easier to plan. The route crosses the busy A337 and Sway Road; wooded roots and winter bogginess can slow you down. Dogs may come on the public route: keep them under effective control, on a lead beside roads, and away from grazing animals.