The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Redlynch

Beautiful spot with plenty of wildlife

Don't actually lean your bike up against the black post box. It is a monument not a bike post. There are plenty of trees nearby!

This section of path through the upper half of Islands Thorns Inclosure is utterly sublime, most particularly in springtime when all the leaves are fresh and new. Marvel at the sylvan beauty, birdsong and woodland views. It is my favourite inclosure in the New Forest!

The black post box is a Victorian relic and hidden in plain sight in the edge of the woods on the right as you enter the car park from the road. It even has a little sign in front of it now I notice. This is at the 15km or half way mark on the ride and conveniently next to the Royal Oak pub. Which is well worth a visit. Real forest pub with a lovely large garden and welcomes cyclists with a dedicated cycle park.

Beautiful spot, site of an ancient gunpowder works.

Ashley Walk bombing range was used by aircraft flying from the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at RAF Boscombe Down, nr Salisbury. The range was used for training and testing, all types of munitions fired and or dropped from British aircraft were tested here first, except live incendiaries due to the fire risk. The range consisted of several different target types including air to ground attack, mock ship targets, aircraft pens, gun emplacement, bomb fragmentation areas and the Ministry of Home Security target (known locally as the Sub Pens) as well as domestic facilities for crew, two small grass airstrips, observation shelters and towers. The range was split with one area for inert ordnance only. The site was also used day and night with one, the illumination target specifically for night raid practice. The whole range was used extensively throughout the war, creating many bomb craters and even an aircraft crash site. Activities continued until 1946, but the range was not fully cleared until 1948. The vast majority of targets and facilities were removed, although various features such as the concrete illuminated target arrow and the various chalk marks still survive. The Ministry of Home Security target was covered over with an earth mound and remains visible today near to one of the surviving observation shelters. Some craters were filled, but many were left open.

Dockens Water and Holly Hatch Cottage, New Forest The white building is Holly Hatch Cottage, a Forest Keeper's residence - one of the more remote dwellings in the New Forest. In the foreground is the concrete ford across Dockens Water, with the stream water passing beneath via plastic tubes. Dockens Water eventually joins the River Avon near Ibsley.

Visit Fritham and Eyeworth Pond, take a moment to wander through history Walk around the man-made gunpowder mill pond or take a walk through the woodland. Keep an eye out for the old black post box near the entrance to Fritham car park, there for the workers of the mill. Wander through the woodlands full of Roman remains. Fritham is a small village with the village green at it's heart. Visit the pub, named after the ancient oak opposite (over 1000 years old), or join the cycle trail network and ride over to Ogdens. You are likely to see the New Forest's ponies and cattle. Please treat these animals with care, don’t feed or pet the livestock – keep your distance.