New Forest Heather...

Disappointed to find that the heather is almost over, with only isolated patches left with strong colour.

I did say that I'd be out again in the strong, hot sunshine today and so it was bus time once again. However, regular buses only run to within a couple of miles of the outer perimeters of the New Forest and so it was a mile walk from the bus stop there - and three on the way back. So, that's four mile's walk just getting there and back.

Whilst in the Forest, I started on the heathlands on the western border, here we have Whitefield Plantation and I am standing partly in a bog (albeit dried up) to get this. I chose this image as the sky helps enormously, partly to make up for the less than bounteous heather. Lens is Nikkor 10-24mm + polariser. To look in LARGE

From then, I spotted fallow deer, helped a lost elderly gent get back to his wife at their caravan park (you definitely need the large scale Ordnance Survey map, as nothing is signposted!) and then I popped into the delightful Red Shoot Inn for copious liquid refreshment - it was 3pm and scorching.

My route then followed natural ancient woodland, through delightful woods, dappled sunlight on winding paths, interspersed with the odd pony. Then followed the Linbrook, as it wound (mostly dried up though), with delightful wooden canopies above. Then, a switch to Forestry Commission planted pine woodland (a couple more fallow deer) then back up onto more open heathland. By this time, got a bit tired, the heat not conducive to eliminating chafing (ermm!).

So, all in all, probably 10-12 miles, total, like anywhere worth walking, there are no straight lines, nor any level gradients. One also has to keep an eye out for adders (vipers) especially up on the heaths, so concentration is required - as it is so not to get lost as much looks very similar after a while.

Finally getting to the bus-stop 20 mins early, I had to wait a further half an hour beyond that, which was not entirely welcome. However, it transpired from overheard conversation that there had been a big car-smash en route, so that shut me up! Half a bottle of bubblebath to soak in and a good strong tea when I got in soon made me feel half-human again.

More comprehensive Blip commenting etc tomorrow, as the weather is supposed to be rubbish, so will have time to do such.