Wade to Spider Island at Magpie Bottom, New Forest












Magpie Bottom is a small area of woodland in the New Forest with a magical story trail called The Mystical Tale of Nevi-Wesh, the remains of a WW2 airfield, and lots of wildlife. The River Avon Water flows through the area and makes a peaceful spot for a paddle.
Spider Island
Spider Island is a small island in the River Avon Water, which was shallow and slow flowing when we visited. The river banks can be muddy so bring wellies. The island is on the right in this photo. And no, we didn’t see any spiders there!

Finding Spider Island
To find Spider Island, follow the circular walking route marked on the Nevi-Wesh Story Trail map. About halfway along the walk (roughly 45 minutes at a child’s pace) you come to a wooden bridge. It is marked FB on the map. Spider island is to the right of the bridge.

The Story Trail
The Mystical Tale of Nevi-Wesh is a story trail that takes you on a journey around Magpie Bottom to meet magical creatures – including bogarts, fairies, a goblin and a woodland troll – learn to cast a spell, discover Spider Island, and defeat a witch.

The Paths
The paths are easy to walk along and range from surfaced to muddy and bumpy. There are a couple of small hills.

Visit the Magpie Bottom website
Further Information
Nearest Town: Ringwood, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: BH23 7EQ
Opens: Daily
Cost: Free
Where to Eat: Bring a blanket and a picnic.
Facilities: None
How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: The paths are surfaced in places and muddy in others.
Parking: Holmsley Walk car park.
Cost of Parking: Free.
Wildlife You Might See: Ponies, wood ants, mini-beasts, butterflies, rabbits and birds.
Information Written: April 2021
Ratings
Our visit to Magpie Island, near Ringwood in the New Forest, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.
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