Bolton's Bench Main Path – Bolton's Bench loop from New Forest

Running trails & routes

Bolton's Bench Main Path – Bolton's Bench loop from New Forest

Moderate

5.0

(3)

runners

Bolton's Bench Main Path – Bolton's Bench loop from New Forest

00:57

8.95km

60m

Running

Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Tips

Includes a short out-and-back section

Your route doubles back at a waypoint. If this isn’t intentional, adjust the waypoint’s position.

After 114 m for 52 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

140 m

Bolton's Bench

Highlight • Viewpoint

From the huge bench on the hill you have a great view of the town. Horses often graze here

Translated by Google •

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801 m

A very accessible set of paths in the Bolton's Bench / White Moor area here. Lovely, long views in most directions from here. Only a few minutes away from Lyndhurst and lovely, comfortable tracks here... what's not to enjoy?

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2.86 km

Wooden Bridge Over Brook, New Forest National Park

Highlight • River

you'll often find people (and ponies!) at this picturesque spot in the forest watching the stream and listening to the birds. generally pretty dry year-round

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5.22 km

Pondhead Inclosure Dragon Sculpture

Highlight • Natural Monument

A modern-day wood carving resembling the Bisterne Dragon, that supposedly expired and became Bolton’s Bench (another Komoot highlight!), just E of Lyndhurst, about a quarter of a mile distant.

There is a New Forest tradition that a dragon once had his den at Burley. There are several versions of the tale, one being that the creature "flew" every morning to Bisterne, where it would be supplied with milk.

In order to kill the dragon, a valiant knight (usually named Berkeley) built a hide, and with two dogs lay in wait. The creature came, as usual, one morning for its milk, and when the hut door was opened the dogs attacked it, and while thus engaged the knight took the dragon by surprise, the dogs dying in the affray.

The dragon slayer himself, says another version of the tale, only succeeded by covering his armour with glass, and a popular telling of the story has it that the fight raged throughout the forest, with the dragon finally died at Bolton’s Bench.

Though the knight had defeated the dragon he had been mentally broken by the battle, and after thirty days and thirty nights he went back to Bolton's Bench to die alone atop it, his yew-wood bow falling on the ground beside his body and eventually sprouting into the yew tree which can still be seen today.

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6.40 km

Bluebell Forest in New Forest National Park

Highlight • Natural

8.66 km

Bolton's Bench

Highlight • Viewpoint

Bolton's Bench commemorates the 18th century New Forest Master Keeper, the Duke of Bolton. It's a great place to stop and take in the views from under the giant yew tree at the top, stretching from the spire of St. Michael’s & All Angels church in Lyndhurst out across open heathlands, White Moor, Matley Heath and towards the waterside village of Hythe.

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