Emery Down Circular Walk

From your parking spot, follow the Minstead forest road on a northwest bearing. Approximately 1640ft past the village, you’ll spot a bridle way on your left leading into the forest. Turn onto this path, taking your first right then another left to join a longer path. Follow this as it ascends with a meadow on your left. As the path curves to the left, ignore the first opportunity to turn right, but take the second one roughly 656ft later. The bridle way turns into a footpath, but only briefly; you’ll soon see another bridleway on your left. Turn and take this as it intersects with a number of paths before curving all the way around to the left and heading on a southwest bearing. It briefly meets up with a track, but you should stay on the bridleway and continue walking south.

Cross a bridge over the Bagshot Gutter river, then aim left at the fork. Stay on a southern bearing as you stroll through the forest. Your path will intersect with a track, then a stream. Just under 656ft later, another intersection awaits – turn right here. This path bends to the right and approaches a road, on the other side of which is a gate. Pass through this (perhaps stopping at the adjacent Portuguese Fireplace war memorial) and continue along a track. Stay left at the triangle and follow the track all the way to the New Forest Reptile Centre.

If you’re keen on reptiles, stop for a visit – otherwise, the track continues on a southeast bearing towards the A35. To avoid the road, take a left at the intersection of paths, a footpath leading over a bridge and opening onto a bridleway. This section (known as the “Cut Walk”) will lead you roughly parallel with the A35 all the way back to Emery Down. If you’ve parked closer to the church, you can take a left at the final intersection for a more direct approach to your starting point.