A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE OLD STATION TEA ROOMS, HOLMSLEY. INCLUDING A GUIDED WALK ALONG THE "OLD ROAD"

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For the longer walk turn right along a narrow earth path through trees and after 150 metres ignore a path off to the left. Dogs: Yes, you may meet ponies or cattle if you divert to the tearoom. We have heard there is an activity trail for dogs just through the gate onto Wilverley Plain. The walk is mostly graveled but subject to quite a bit of waterlogging especially at the Burbush car park end, so wellies are a must except in the driest possible conditions. There are water courses too all along the route so dogs that stray from the path will get dirty! With toilets and picnic tables, Wilverley Inclosure makes a good choice for families wanting to enjoy a day in the forest. There is a clear, way marked loop around the inclosure that is suitable for pushchairs and suits all abilities of walkers. We have added an optional extension to the loop, which will take you across moorland to The Old Station Tearooms at Holmsley. This diversion is more challenging in the terrain and does involve crossing a relatively busy road.

There is a large memorial, topped by a Dakota propeller, to commemorate the aircrew and local civilians who worked there. Hampshire County Council has said "special provision will be made" on March 27 to make it easier for customers. The road closures are due to come to an end on April 8. Go through the gate and turn left then sharp left again to keep the Inclosure and old embankment on the left. We all understand it is work that needs doing and it is for the greater good but we have not been able to plan or have an understanding of what is going ahead," said Mr Jensen. The old railway line passes through attractive areas of heathland and pine woodland, a unique landscape where you might come across a group of wild ponies.

Overview

After a further 450 metres, pass another small copse on the left, another set of level crossing gateposts partially concealed by vegetation, and the remains of the associated railway crossing keeper's cottage - number 13.

Distance: 4.3 km for the loop around the inlclosure (add another 2 km to walk to The Old Station Tearoom) The walk route leaves Burley car park in a south-easterly direction and initially crosses gently undulating, open heathland before passing over Holmsley Bog on a raised section of path. The remains of Greenberry Bridge are reached from where the course of Castleman's Corkscrew, a dismantled railway line, is followed westwards. The New Forest is a patchwork of different wildlife habitats, so keep an eye open for its less obvious inhabitants – birds and bees or even wild roe deer at certain times of the day. There are many appealing areas of heathland and pine woodland in the south west corner of the New Forest and running through them is the Castleman’s Corkscrew.

Along the way

Mr Jensen, 53, has made every effort to help customers plot a route to the venue, including moving the business's location on Google so the company's map software provides a useable route. I think we had two weeks' notice and that was by a piece of A4 paper through the door, where as in the past Hampshire County Council communicated with us directly.