Puttles Bridge
On this walk, children will enjoy paddling in the stream, finding New Forest ponies and the ice-cream van that is often in the car park.
There are lots of places you can enjoy a paddle on this walk at Puttles Bridge
The Basics
Time: 40 mins
Distance: 2.4 km (a shorter route is available)
Terrain: Well maintained, gravelled paths and a section on smooth, grassy moorland
Pushchair: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Refreshments: Picnic on the moor and an ice-cream van is usually in the car park
Toilets: Yes, in the car park
Public Transport: There is no public transport to this location
Parking: Whitefield Moor car park, free (Postcode: SO42 7QD - W3W - ideas/dinner/ascendant)
The banks of the Ober Water in winter, but even better in the summer for picnics
This has to be one of the very best family walks in The New Forest. It is flat, short, signposted and has two paddling locations, picnicking spots, an ice-cream van, ponies and toilets. It can be busy in the summer, but pop on your wellies and have it to yourself in winter.
The Route
This walk is really easy to follow as there are coloured posts to guide you. The yellow and red routes begin at the car park and follow the same route initially, with the yellow route bringing you back to the car park sooner.
Follow the path labelled ‘Ober Water Trail’ out of the car park to the west. The trail will very soon head into trees and bring you to Puttles Bridge. Children will want to play here in the water and you can have a picnic on the banks.
Cross the bridge and turn right, following the markers along the trail parallel to the water. You will walk through some tall pines.
The stream will widen at another wooden bridge with a bench. Children will also enjoy paddling here. For a shorter finish, follow the yellow markers straight back to the car park.
For the red route, don’t cross the bridge, but continue straight. You will walk through some beautiful woodland before coming to a third bridge marked with a red post. Turn right over the bridge and walk along an avenue of trees heading away from the water.
Look out for the red marker post which will direct you right to cross Whitefield Moor before returning to the car park.
We recommend viewing the map as a Trails Map:
Did you know?
The wooden footbridge you will use to cross Ober Water is not actually Puttles Bridge. The bridge after which this walk is named is actually the road bridge.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try the Tall Trees Trail where there is also a stretch of river that children can paddle in.
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