A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE OLD STATION TEA ROOMS, HOLMSLEY. INCLUDING A GUIDED WALK ALONG THE "OLD ROAD"

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Foolishly, I hadn’t checked to see if the tearooms was dog friendly (which it isn’t inside) so as we approached in the rain, I was a little worried that we’d be sitting outside in the rain, eating wet scones. Those keen to explore the forest on foot were the main users, and with the main line now running through Sway, Hinton and Christchurch, the hustle and bustle of previous years became a distant memory. It is gravelled for nearly the whole of this section, which is why it is great for cyclists, but it also means that it can be walked even in inclement weather. The Cliffhanger has made it to our list more for its location than the cream tea, although it’s still absolutely delicious! Today long stretches of the track bed have been retained as walking and cycling routes and the old station at Holmsley is a popular tea room.

Burley and Burbush Hill Circular - AllTrails

As you approach Holmsley Stationhouse, you can see the remains of one of the platforms, covered in a carpet of green moss, leaves and brambles, with trees growing out from where the tracks once stood. We wanted to park up somewhere in the New Forest, walk the Old Station Tearooms in Holmsley, eat cake and then walk back to the car.

Horses and ponies could be heard charging around the hills, the overhead cawing of crows and the delicate watery sound of streams running alongside the path all mean that this is a lively landscape to stroll through. As it’s part of the New Forest, you can change your walk at almost any point, to make it longer or shorter. However, the savoury version include tiers of goodies such as mini beef burgers, mini fish fillets, ricotta, beetroot and red pepper en croute, tarts, pies, and cheese scones – delicious! This has changed little from its original appearance, and is now a busy and popular tea rooms which serve breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks. Along the route is the historic station house of Holmsley, where you can dine in the waiting room where previous visitors have included Kaiser Wilhelm, Edward VII with his mistress Lillie Langtrey and General Eisenhower.

the New Forest – Holmsley Circular Walk Dog Walks in the New Forest – Holmsley Circular Walk

About 50 metres beyond the bridge fork right along a narrow path which widens as it climbs uphill towards Hincheslea Wood. The great thing about walking an old railway line is that there is no need to spend your time peering at a map - you just follow the path safe in the knowledge that you won't be missing any hard-to-spot turnings or obscure paths off it.From breakfast through to dinner, Rosie Lea House is a destination to while away the hours sipping on local wine and ales.

AN EASY WALK THROUGH RAILWAY HISTORY IN THE NEW FOREST

The railways reached the New Forest in 1847, when a line was opened between Dorchester and Southampton. For the longer walk turn right along a narrow earth path through trees and after 150 metres ignore a path off to the left. The mid 1800’s saw great development, but the transport system needed to meet this challenge head on, and great investment was made into the railway network. Facing three months of minimal trade, Mr Jensen scrapped plans for a refurbishment of the tea rooms. Heathland wildlife hereabouts is of national importance – look out for tiny Dartford warblers; noisy, conspicuous stonechats; small groups of chattering linnets and many other wild birds.

Continue for about 75 metres before turning left along another clear woodland path beneath large beech trees. Paul Jensen, who has owned the tea rooms since 2014, said "nothing came close" to the current challenge his business was facing. We love their Dorset cheddar and bacon scones which they serve alongside soft cheese and a fruity home-made chutney. The New Forest is a beautiful part of the UK, vast landscapes of heather, ferns and forest, one which is very popular with walkers and cyclists. At the next junction a few metres beyond go right again and continue along the track as it curves left around the edge of the caravan site.

Tea Rooms Holmsley, Burley Breakfast Menu - The Old Station Tea Rooms Holmsley, Burley

In 1907, Holmsley was the arrival point of Kaiser Willhein of Germany and his cabinet, to attend a conference with Major Stuart Wortley at Highcliffe Castle. It used to have a railway line, now long since gone, which provides an easy route for a walk, one in which you can still see the old railway bridges and platforms at various places. The iconic Rhinefield House Hotel is slap bang in the middle of the New Forest National Park and surrounded by fairytale woods and forest walks.

Even when a branch line opened up in 1862, passengers still had to transfer to horse drawn carriage from Ringwood to Christchurch. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. To allow the work to take place, the A35 has been closed in both directions, as has the C10, which runs underneath the main road, for months. Use of the old Castleman route declined, but it continued for almost a further 100 years and was not closed until the mid 1960s as part of the infamous ‘Beeching Cuts’.