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.

 

Nearest Town: Ringwood
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

 

Bransgore and Thorney Hill

The Nevi-Wesh Story Trail is 1.6 miles long and starts from the Holmsley Walk car park, which is near the Bransgore and Thorney Hill areas of the New Forest.

The trail leads you through the wooded area known as Magpie Bottom,

 

and across a little river called the Avon Water. 

 

 

 

 

Along the way there are ponies, wood ants, and a paddling spot. The paddling spot can be muddy so bring wellies.    

 

 

 

 

The Paths

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

We spent about an hour and a half walking and another hour paddling and eating. 

 

 

Missing Markers

We couldn’t find any of the Story Snail markers (see below) but it was easy to work out where we needed to stop to read the next part of the story.  

 

 

 

 

* Hampshire CC’s Story Trails

This is one of Hampshire County Council’s Story Trails.

These are walks with interactive stories to read along the way, which are told by a cute character called the Story Snail.

 

Each Story Trail is about one mile long and divided into numbered sections. Numbered markers prompt you to read the sections of the story along the trail – although we could not find any markers on the Nevi-Wesh Trail.

 

Find a Story Pack

To follow the Story Trail you need a free pack that you can either borrow from a specified place (with a Hampshire Library card and a £20 returnable deposit) or download a copy of a story trail from the internet in written or audio form.

Each pack has a map to follow and the trail itself is marked with arrows and/or pictures of the Story Snail.

Nearest Town: Ringwood
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

 

The Paths through the Copse

The footpath was a little muddy at first but quickly dried out and widened into more of a tree-lined avenue.

 

 

 

 

When we reached a fork in the footpath we went through the trees…

 

 

 

 

…and came straight out into a meadow full of butterflies 

 

 

 

 

and an intricate flower we later identified as an orchid!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onwards to the Source!

We explored the meadow and then followed a narrow, bramble-lined path back into the woods.

 

 

 

 

 

The River Mole

And it was there that we first saw the Mole, although it was more of a stagnant puddle than a flowing river.

 

 

 

 

A Troll’s Swamp?

“This is definitely a troll’s swamp,” someone said as we walked through the trees.

I was inclined to agree but wasn’t sure why we both sensed that – maybe the boggy mud or maybe the putrid stench.

 

 

The Source of the Mole

We followed the fledgling river upstream.

It narrowed quickly, became a tiny trickle and then disappeared into a hole – the source of the River Mole!

The children were thrilled.

 

 

 

A Second Source…

Next to the source of the Mole was the source of the stench – a stinkhorn, something we’d never seen before.

Two sources for the price of one – a lucky but smelly find!

 

 

Baldhorns Copse

Baldhorns Copse itself is small but fun. We made a den, went bug hunting and played hide and seek.

 

 

 

 

How to Find It

The footpath starts on Horsham Road near to the junction with Steeres Hill (RH12 4PT).

From the top of Steeres Hill, turn left onto Horsham Road and the footpath is a very short walk away, on the opposite side of the road.

Further down the footpath you come to a fork. Straight on leads to the meadow but via a narrow path. Turning right leads to the source of the Mole and is also an easier way into the meadow.

Nearest Town: Rusper
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: RH12 4PT

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket. 
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: About three hours.
Buggies: I used an all-terrain buggy without any problems.

Parking: There is no car park but we parked on a nearby residential road called Steeres Hill (RH12 4PT). 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Insects and birds.

Information Written: May 2017

 

A Tragic Story

We struggled with this story, which is about some princesses whose mother has died.

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the story one princess nearly drowns in Fleet Pond and the others are imprisoned under the railway arches by a troll.

I had to give up on the story as written and make up my own…

 

 

Fleet Pond

Fleet Pond itself is a beautiful nature reserve with woods, heath and marshes surrounding the largest freshwater lake in Hampshire.

 

 

 

It took us about an hour and a half to walk around the lake at a leisurely pace.

 

 

 

 

The Paths

The paths are surfaced and easy to push a buggy along but were very muddy in places.

Great fun for the little ones but make sure you bring wellies if it’s been raining!

 

 

Hampshire CC’s Story Trails

This is one of Hampshire County Council’s Story Trails.

These are walks with interactive stories to read along the way, which are told by a cute character called the Story Snail.

Each Story Trail is about one mile long and divided into numbered sections. Numbered markers prompt you to read the sections of the story along the trail.

 

 

Find a Story Pack

To follow the Story Trail you need a free pack that you can either borrow from a specified place (with a Hampshire Library card and a £20 returnable deposit) or download a copy of a story trail from the internet in written or audio form.

Each pack has a map to follow and the trail itself is marked with arrows and/or pictures of the Story Snail

 

Nearest Town: Fleet
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU51 2RR

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic area.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese and other birds.

Information Written: January 2017

 

Ducks, Ducks and More Ducks

Fleet Pond is a pretty place with lots to explore – boardwalks, jetties, three different trails, a beach with a paddling area and lots of ducks, swans and waterbirds.

There are also some great paddling spots.

 

 

Passing Trains

The reserve is quiet and peaceful, except the path along the northern shore of the lake, which has high-speed trains rocketing past it at regular intervals. This was a bit of a surprise at first but my children found it exciting.

 

 

 

The Paths

The paths are surfaced and easy to push a buggy along but were very muddy in places. There are also stretches of boardwalk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hampshire County Council’s Story Trails

*These are walks with interactive stories to read along the way, as told by a cute character called the Story Snail.

Each Story Trail is about one mile long and is divided into numbered story sections that you read out as you reach number markers along the trail.

 

 

 

Finding a Copy of the Story Trail

To follow the Story Trail you need a free pack that you can either borrow from a specified place (with a Hampshire Library card and a £20 returnable deposit) or download a story trail from the internet in written or audio form. Each pack has a map to follow and the trail itself is marked with arrows and/or pictures of the Story Snail.

Nearest Town: Fleet
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU51 2RR

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic area.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese, waterbirds, birds and squirrels.

Information Written: January 2017