Park in Shatterford car park on the left just the other side of the bridge from the Beaulieu Road Pub.

Standing with your back to the road, make for the right hand side of the pine trees; emerge onto heather and find the gravel track leading away down the incline towards the water.

The ground here is being repaired: a reminder that the forest gravel is sometimes unstable. On either side the waterlogged land carries cottongrass and bog myrtle. The track continues on a gravel causeway in good condition into sandy territory amongst haether: just right for stick throwing if you have your dog with you.

After a little the gravel peters out and the well-worn path meanders though grass and bracken, with occasional oaks, hawthorn and holly.

As you approach the woods bear left, entering the oak and birch wood but keeping sight of open land on your left. Soon the indistinct path crests a low hillside amongst fallen beeches, remnant of the 1987 storm, and begins to descend towards Bishop's Dyke. Bear right and move along the side of the slope through magnificent beech trees just above the Dyke. When the trees start to thin you encounter the meeting of several paths and the land becomes somewhat boggy.

Turn left here and cross the wooden bridge over the stream. This is an opportunity to watch out for dragon flies at the right time of the year, and for your dog to dive into the water to cool off or retrieve a ball! Carry on in the same direction, looking for one or two more wooden bridges and crossing the low lying rather marshy land. You may see deer here, wandering in and out of the woods on the right - or birdwatchers with telescopes.

The path then gets clearer and climbs onto rolling grassland. Follow on towards a few lone oaks, with a gate on your right. Bear round to the left over a muddy patch onto a gravel path which crosses the stream on a wooden bridge.

Again there's an opportunity for dogs to swim in stagnant water among birch trees! Never mind, there's cleaner water further on.

The path becomes sandy once more and gets quite close to the railway. Children have an opportunity to climb up an incline onto a railway bridge and watch for trains on the London to Bournemouth line. Let them wave and the driver will give them a hoot on his horn. And you can watch through your binoculars for goldfinches in the trees on the far side of the railway. Though it might seem so, the bridge does not provide a very comfortable route back to the pub: the bridge disgorges you onto boggy heather land: ankle-breaking territory.

So keep to the same side of the railway, and soon the track drops down to the stream where the water is a little clearer: dog-washing time! Now you can see the car park, and the railway cottages, pub and hotel on the other side of the line. Back at the car park, walk out to the road and walk carefully over the bridge. Do watch out for cars, keep dogs on a lead, and hold children's hands. You have been warned!

Map reference: SU 348 063
Postcode: SO42 7YQ