View from Soarley Beeches

 

View from Soarley Beeches toward Mouse's Cupboard.

Wintery Walk

It was another frosty morning for our walk in the forest. This morning we began from Wood's Corner on the outskirts of Burley. Getting out early doors meant we beat the hordes, the empty parking spot felt old skool, since the Covid the forest footfall has exploded. Luckily most don't walk far from their cars or remain on the the main tracks, making it easy still to escape and find peace. There was no one about as we skirted the edge of Berry Woods taking in the view over White Moor Bottom; crossing Ridley Green the Mill Lawn Brook tributary running through there was frozen, not seen that in forever; Ridley wood's a lovely old wood set within an ancient earthwork, it's home to some fantastic old beeches, sadly many have been slighted by age and the elements in recent years; we passed Little Wood a clump crowning Ridley Plain before descending into Harvest Slade Bottom, a spookily quiet spot this morning, then up onto Backley Plain; past Soarley Beeches along the edge of Backley Enclosure and across Blackensford Bottom, from where the clump of Soarley Beeches looked like an hillfort in the distance...it's not; then it was the return stretch through the irregular mosaic woodlands of Beech Bed and South Oakley enclosures. 7 miles of New Forest winter loveliness. You can't beat it.

Soarley Beeches

Soarley Beeches

Wooden circle

There's a well defined circle created out of fallen branches in Soarley Beeches, the loose leaves, twigs and nut casings in enclosed area have been cleared and what appears to be an arrow, or possibly an 'Awen' symbol created at the centre. It would have taken a while to construct and clear. It's temping to think a ritual of some sort, possibly Druid (it would work for the location, a prominent tree capped knoll), may have taken place right out here in the forest. Or, of course, someone may just have had time on their hands. I suppose your perspective would be defined by colourfully you view the world.

Soarley Beeches

Soarley Beeches viewed from Backley Enclosure.