Radnor Trail

Radnor Trail is a 1.9-mile (3.1 km) loop from Bolderwood car park through ornamental woodland, past Bratley Water and back by the deer viewing platform. Allow about 50 minutes; the walk is waymarked and graded moderate. If you want a shorter outing, the same start has the 0.3-mile Deer Watch Trail and 1-mile Jubilee Grove Trail.

Go to the information point and picnic tables at the top end of the car park, pass through the small gate, and follow the red markers. After the Radnor Stone, the route threads through sweet chestnut, oak and beech, including trees dating from around 1860, then skirts the fenced edge of Mark Ash Wood and its pollarded beeches. The oak planting here has a naval story: acorns were planted in the 1700s to supply timber for the Royal Navy. The path drops into the damp valley of Bratley Water, which flows south to join Blackwater and the Lymington River system. Norway spruce planted in the 20th century grows in the valley bottom. There are places to pause by the stream for a picnic, then the loop climbs back toward the deer viewing platform.

Most of the track is moderately smooth gravel, but two short, fairly steep slopes make this more than a flat stroll. Resting places are frequent. Road crossings have gates on both sides, so take care and close them behind you. Toilets and picnic tables are at the start; the information unit opens during school holidays. Dogs may come, but keep them under effective control and use a short lead near animals. The deer viewing platform is a good place to watch or photograph fallow deer when they are in the field, though sightings are not guaranteed. Keep your distance and do not feed or touch the wildlife.