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

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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. 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. For the longer walk turn right along a narrow earth path through trees and after 150 metres ignore a path off to the left.

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.

'Soul destroying': Tea rooms suffering 'on another level' due to A35 closure

Refreshments: Pincic area with tables at the car park (fenced, so no ponies will bother you!) or add on a diversion to The Old Station Tea Rooms, Holmsley. There is often an ice-cream van here in summer. Panoramic views at first glance present vistas over relatively flat ground, overlooked by often huge skies, although hidden dips in the landscape conceal shallow valleys, narrow streams and wildlife-rich wetlands. Along the way Start point = Burbush Car Park, Pound Lane, Burley BH24 4EFDistance = 4.6miles (return)Duration = ~90+ minutes (@3mph)Elevation = 122-177ft (var 55ft)Footwear = wellies!Dog mud factor = muddy paws at best, full on dirt fest possible!Weather = suitable for all weather conditionsViews = the walk is mostly in the valley Shappen Hill & Holmsley Ridge so views are of the walk & hills either sideParking = free but there are no facilities at Burbush. You can also park at the Holmsley end, but there are only a few roadside space on the slip road between A35 & Station Road. Parking in the tea rooms is only for visitors to the tea rooms whilst they are there.Facilities = there are several pubs & tea rooms in Burley (e.g. Cider Pantry tea room on Pound Lane) & the tea room at Holmsley. They all have hot/cold food, drinks & loos.

Go through the gate and turn left then sharp left again to keep the Inclosure and old embankment on the left. As well as Wilverley Inclosure, you can also enjoy Wilverley Plain from the same car park. Find it at the far end of the car park near the picnic area. It is a huge open space and you will be very likely to find lots of ponies grazing here. Follow the level path going straight ahead and ignore the path to the left. Keep straight at a junction with a bench and then look out for a little cast iron sign on the floor to your left detailing some dates in the inclosure’s history. Keep going and you will come to a downhill section, where the path crosses a stream, before it rises again to a bench. Keep going on the same path.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.