Bolton's Bench – Bolton's Bench Main Path loop from New Forest
Bolton's Bench – Bolton's Bench Main Path loop from New Forest
4.5
(34)
189
hikers
Bolton's Bench – Bolton's Bench Main Path loop from New Forest
02:26
9.38km
60m
Hiking
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: April 29, 2026
Tips
Your route passes through a protected area
Please check local regulations for:
Waypoints
Start point
Bus stop
Get Directions
386 m
The Woods Cyclery Café & Bike Shop, Lyndhurst
Highlight • Cafe
Woods stock loads of great walking and cycling maps and regularly lead Sunday group rides which start and end with great coffee and locally baked cinnamon buns – not to be missed if you're visiting the area!
Tip by
663 m
Bolton's Bench
Highlight • Viewpoint
Translated by Google •
Tip by
871 m
Bolton's Bench
Highlight • Viewpoint
Tip by
1.32 km
Bolton's Bench Main Path
Highlight • Natural Monument
Tip by
3.39 km
Wooden Bridge Over Brook, New Forest National Park
Highlight • River
Tip by
4.10 km
Denny Inclosure
Forest
5.74 km
Pondhead Inclosure Dragon Sculpture
Highlight • Natural Monument
There is a New Forest tradition that a dragon once had his den at Burley. There are several versions of the tale, one being that the creature "flew" every morning to Bisterne, where it would be supplied with milk.
In order to kill the dragon, a valiant knight (usually named Berkeley) built a hide, and with two dogs lay in wait. The creature came, as usual, one morning for its milk, and when the hut door was opened the dogs attacked it, and while thus engaged the knight took the dragon by surprise, the dogs dying in the affray.
The dragon slayer himself, says another version of the tale, only succeeded by covering his armour with glass, and a popular telling of the story has it that the fight raged throughout the forest, with the dragon finally died at Bolton’s Bench.
Though the knight had defeated the dragon he had been mentally broken by the battle, and after thirty days and thirty nights he went back to Bolton's Bench to die alone atop it, his yew-wood bow falling on the ground beside his body and eventually sprouting into the yew tree which can still be seen today.
Tip by
6.92 km
Bluebell Forest in New Forest National Park
Highlight • Natural
7.94 km
White Moor Trig Point
Highlight • Viewpoint
Tip by
9.38 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
4.03 km
3.19 km
1.48 km
603 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
6.20 km
1.54 km
571 m
567 m
385 m
< 100 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Wednesday 8 July
30°C
16°C
0 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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