Rintot two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Rintot here.

Edit: 28/03/24 - Upon reflection, I have updated this route from 'No' to 'Maybe' and increased the rating from 2* to a 3*. Whilst I feel the main concern with the A337 and some other sections still stand, it is perhaps unfair to discourage anyone from trying it.

It feels difficult to provide a fair review for a route as long and varied as Rintot Two, as a single problematic section can have a catastrophic effect on the whole. Nevertheless, issues must be given their due attention and this review is no exception.

I walked this route in reverse, from Totton to Ringwood.

The major problem with the route is where it meets and follows the A337 for around 200m. The road has a 60mph limit and can be very busy serving as a main artery for motorists travelling to all corners of the forest and beyond.

Approaching as I did from the east, whilst I could see that I needed to cross the road I had no idea what was waiting on the other side and whether it would be suitable. As it happens below the level of the road there is a wide verge, though it is clearly not designed with pedestrian or wheel traffic in mind. I was fortunate that the grass had recently been mown, but still it was quite uneven and had several perpendicular gutters dug into the earth along its length to capture run-off from the road - had the grass not been cut I doubt I would have noticed then until upon them.

Altogether I felt very out of place on foot and seriously considered backtracking before pushing ahead for the sake of this review.

It's worth noting that Rintot One also includes this section, such that I feel neither are by themselves suitable for the Slow Ways network without at least one viable alternative bypassing it altogether. Potential diversions do exist, either tracking north via Bartley and following Beechwood Road as it crosses A337, or south via Lyndhurst. (The latter could also serve as a natural stopping point breaking the route in two if suitable in- and out-bound paths exist.) At the time of writing however I haven't explored either of these detours.

To give fair acknowledgement to the rest of Rintot Two:

1) Where it does follow the Forestry England tracks (marked as cycle routes in Ordinance Survey maps) it was very easy to navigate and should be suitable for a variety of users.

2) The route travels through lots of varied scenery and terrain, so it never felt dull.

3) It does involve a high proportion of on-road walking compared to other Slow Ways I have reviewed, though the majority of these are the quiet country kind with little traffic.

4) As this is a New Forest route, expect to encounter the native ponies and livestock such as pigs, cows and sheep (I did all but the lattermost).

5) Leaving Totton itself wasn't nearly as unpleasant as I'd expected. The pavement/cycle path along the A336 is for the most part wide with some sections separated from the road by a verge.

6) To caveat the previous point, the final roundabout before reaching Netley Marsh where the A336 and A326 intersect was busy with fast-moving vehicles and no traffic lights, so I had be confident when crossing. It might not be suitable for everyone.

7) The footpath section of Rossiters Lane was quite muddy and in parts overgrown when I followed it. Depending on the season, users might wish to detour this section taking Bourne Lane/Road to the north instead.

8) There is no shortage of bridle/livestock gates throughout.

9) It also has two old narrow footbridges, one crossing Ringwood Ford Bottom and another on the Right of Way approaching Ringwood. The latter resolves to a narrow 50m-long footpath studded with tree roots and a stile access.

10) The approach to the New Forest and Brockishill Enclosure had a section which was muddy with lots of fallen branches and other debris.

11) Arriving at Brockishill Enclosure the path was not clearly delineated, such that I found myself veering off of it before reaching the forestry tracks a little further along than intended.

12) There is a pub in Minstead almost at the halfway mark which could make for a natural stopping point, as well as a bench in the village green.

13) Likewise not long after Acres Down Farm could serve as a stopping point which serves cream teas between April and September.

14) Leaving the Highland Water Enclosure and taking the road under the A31 feels a little strange as a non-motorist, but the road is wide, visibility is good, and vehicles were infrequent and seemed to drive with care.

15) As long as you don't mind the constant sound fast-moving traffic nearby, the track which runs parallel to the A31 was quite novel and had wide vistas of the heather-covered plains to the north. Some sections were fairly uneven and others steep with loose stones/gravel, however.

16) Ringwood itself was quite uneventful which was most welcome by that point, albeit following the pavement/cycle path over the A31 was slightly disconcerting - though clearly the locals are quite at peace with it.

In sum, I do regret not being able to fully recommend this route, however I do think it illustrates a need which is lacking in this part of the New Forest – that is an obvious way to safely cross the main roads north of Lyndhurst.

Route Photographs:

1) Woodlands Road just before turning onto Rossiters Lane
2) Footpath (Rossiters Lane)
3) Footpath shortly before reaching the New Forest
4) Bridle gate entering the New Forest
5) Forestry England track
6) Verge along the A337
7) Footbridge over Ringwood Ford Bottom
8) From the Forestry England track after Acres Down Farm
9) Passing under the A31
10) Track running parallel to the A31 (1)
11) Track running parallel to the A31 (2)
12) First sight of Ringwood in the distance
13) First arriving on Linford Road
14) Footbridge on Right of Way approaching Ringwood
15) Footpath with sile access on Right of Way approaching Ringwood

Further photographs from the route can be found on the Example Photo Survey I submitted to supplement this review.

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