New Milton walk 2
A short history of the New Milton area
The New Milton area is alive with wildlife. There is a wide range of habitats, from heathland to farmland and from cliff-top to sandy beaches. These all support a variety of plants and animals.
In the farm hedgerows and heathland you may see linnets and yellowhammers. These seed-eating birds rely on ‘weeds’ once common in arable fields, are now seen in fewer numbers due to modern farming methods.
Peregrine falcons nest on cliffs and may be seen swooping and soaring in coastal areas. The cliffs themselves are a significant feature. They have been designated as ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’.
Thrift, or sea pink, grows in tufts on the cliff top, its tall, slender stalks supporting lots of small, light pink flowers. Its narrow leaves reduce the loss of fresh water in these tough conditions.
Key
-
- Route
-
- Temporarily closed
-
- Restricted use
Directions
Start just past the junction of B3058 and Barton Common Road. From this patch of spare ground look for the footpath signpost at the end of the belt of trees. Follow the path through the trees keeping the golf club fence on your left.
Ignore any of the tracks going off to the right. The trees give way to open common but the path continues on the same line until you reach the corner of the common.
Here the golf club fence turns right but on the left is a large metal kissing gate. Go through this on a well marked track which soon goes downhill between fences to reach the path along the cliff.
With Becton Bunny on your right and the golf course fence on the left go along the fence until reaching a short rise to the top of the cliff. At the top take the well marked footpath on the left, this goes right across the golf course and is well defined and a very pleasant walk.
On reaching the end of this path look for the little wooden bridge between the ponds which leads through a wooden kissing gate to the B3058 road. As you enter this road look left for a footpath sign and take the crossfield path (usually well defined) which goes to the right hand side of Angel Cottage seen in the distance.
Then through a metal kissing gate to reach Angel Lane. Turn left along this usually quiet lane until reaching the B3058 Milford Road. Here turn right and walk along the road for approx. 100 yards to reach the starting point of the walk.
