Hollybush Pits to Coleford Bridge

Distance 2 miles

1. Bear right along riverside path to North Camp Station. The left track leads to lakes, leased to Farnborough and District Angling Association, known as Hollybush Pits.

2. After crossing River the path joins pavement opposite the Old Ford pub and North Camp Station. Turn left then cross over Station Road and follow footpath/cycleway through underpass.

3. Pass alongside the large footbridge over Blackwater Valley Relief Road. Keep the bridge to your left and rejoin path at end of old road. Turn right, passing through a small clump of trees the path runs at side of a major road as it rises to cross the railway line.

4. Take ramp down, cross over River and left under road bridge.

5. Either continue along path beside River, or cross over bridge into Gerry's Copse, where a bridge at the other end of the site rejoins path.

Gerry's Copse was planted in 1996 with many Willow, Alder and Hazel.

These will be cut (coppiced) to provide material such as hedging stakes.

6. Keep left and follow left path into a small woodland. This path eventually takes you over a river bridge, through another small woodland and on to Coleford Bridge.

The Alder trees in these small woodlands each have a number of trucks, a sure sign of coppicing in the past. The trees are getting old and now are important for wildlife; look for the many woodpecker holes.

View the map on Hollybush Pits to Coleford Bridge Opens in a new window
View the next section of the Blackwater Valley Path - Coleford Bridge