Keep your distance from the animals and don't feed or pet them - you may be fined.

Explore

Blashford Lakes Accessible Walk

Summary

AI generated summary
A 1.6-mile (1 mile/1.6 km) accessible lakeside walking route at Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve in the New Forest, designed to be followed on gravel paths and taking about one hour. The trail starts and finishes at Blashford Lakes Car Park by the Education Centre and passes key points including the Welcome Hut, woodland bird hides, wetland boardwalk sections, and crossings over Dockens Water before returning via Ellingham Lake. The reserve is highlighted as a wildlife and birdwatching destination with six bird hides and chances to see species such as common terns, lapwings, oystercatchers, and starling murmurations. Accessibility information includes two accessible parking bays, easy-access toilets, and a cafe; the route is suitable for a self-propelled wheelchair, with wheelchairs and all-terrain mobility scooters available to hire. Only assistance dogs are permitted.
Download PDF Download PDF Contact us for other formats Contact us for other formats

Document Viewer

New Forest Walking Guides

Blashford Lakes Accessible Trail

This 1.6 mile lakeside walk uses gravel paths.

Navigate using our FREE walking app

Scan the code to download the app and please follow the New Forest Code

Directions

  1. 1

    Arrival

    Starting out from the car park, head up to the Education Centre and take a left, picking up the trail past the Welcome Hut. If open, the Welcome Hut is a fantastic starting point to pick up information about the Lakes

  2. 2

    Woodland hide

    Continue straight past the first left until you reach a signpost for a woodland hide. This short path takes you up to the first bird hide. Keep going to find the second, larger bird hide on the opposite side of the path

  3. 3

    Dockens Water

    Cross over a small, railed bridge to reach the boardwalk, passing over a long stretch of wetland. Back on solid ground the path splits. To the left, past a carved wooden owl, the path stops at wooden bench. To the right the path continues to a second bridge passing over a forest stream known as Dockens Water

  4. 4

    Ellingham lake

    Turn right following signs for the shorter walk with Ellingham lake on your left. Leaving the lake, the track curves to the right comes to a wide bridge. Cross over Dockens Water one last time and you’ll find yourself at the road just before the entrance to the car park. Turn right and follow the car park back towards the Education Centre to finish the walk.

Blashford Lakes Accessible Trail

This walk explores the Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve which is a wonderful series of lakes that are full of wildlife and a great place for bird watching.

There are six bird hides around the reserve, linked by gravel paths, so there’s plenty of opportunity to spot Common terns, lapwings, oyster catchers and, if you are lucky, a murmuration of starlings.

This is a nature reserve so only assistance dogs are allowed onsite. Two all-terrain mobility scooters are available to hire.

Trail Overview

Start/finish:
Blashford Lakes Car Park.
Grid reference SU 151 079
whats3words.com/exposing.venue.outfitter
Ordnance Survey map:
Explorer OL 22 New Forest.
Distance:
1 mile (1.6 km) – 1 hour.
Local facilities:
The car park has two accessible bays, easy access toilets and a cafe.