NEW FOREST WALK : CASTLEMAN'S CORKSCREW DISUSED RAILWAY LINE (NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK)

This is another video in my series “New Forest Walks” accompanied by my Whippet (Logan). In this episode I undertake a linear route following a section of the line of a disused railway track (part of the “Castleman's Corkscrew line” ) that runs from just South of Brockenhurst to the edge of the New Forest boundary in the West.

The Southampton & Dorchester Railway Company was formed in 1845 with the objective to build an extension of the existing London to Southampton railway line (which had been built in 1840 by the London & South Western Railway Company) all the way across the New Forest & on to Dorchester.

It was promoted by Charles Castleman – a solicitor in Wimborne – and it got it's “corkscrew” nickname due to the winding nature of the route. The entire line ran for 60 miles and opened in 1847 & whilst it passed through places such as Brockenhurst & Ringwood, it missed out on Christchurch & Bournemouth (which was little more than a fishing village at the time).

In 1888, a new line was opened from Brockenhurst that went South through the New Forest taking in Sway, Christchurch, Bournemouth & going on to Dorchester. The line from Brockenhurst to Ringwood was thus relegated to just a branch line & was closed in the 1960's.

My task was to see how much of the disused track I could still walk on the section from Lymington Junction (where the old track diverted away West from Brockenhurst) to the New Forest boundary.

Along the way (6 miles or so), I came across plenty of evidence relating to the old railway, a few surprises and some stunning scenery.

There are plenty of opportunities to walk sections of the track (ie walk along the track one way & come back over heathland, parallel to the track, the other way) as well us numerous car parks along the route (which I point out in the walk).

Even if you are not interested in old railway lines, this is a lovely walk to do (you will not get lost & the track is firm with no mud) and you have the flexibility of deciding how much of the route to do.

Logan & I certainly had a lot of fun doing the walk & making the video ….. we hope you enjoy watching it.

Map courtesy of Google Maps.

For further videos in the series, please go to:    / @daveford   or my website at https://daveford5966.wixsite.com/website

My Facebook page is:   / davescountrysidewalks  

I use a GOPRO HERO 7 Black Action Camera (sometimes with a Gimbal) & a Rode microphone (either a “Shotgun” or a Rode Wireless Go) together with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS.