WWII Relics at Roundhill: Guided History Walk in the New Forest

On the eastern edge of the New Forest, along Beaulieu Road in Brockenhurst, the History Walk at Roundhill unfolds across heathland and oak woodland where RAF Beaulieu once operated during World War II. This two-hour, roughly three-mile guided walk, led by local wartime historian Marc Heighway, stitches visible landscape traces—bomb stores half-hidden in gorse, earth-covered air-raid shelters, and flattened ground where runways and hangars once stood—with the human stories that animated them. The route moves between tracks, mixed paths and patches of low heath, passing the exact places where ordnance was stockpiled and crews sheltered. You’ll see low masonry, depressions and scattered concrete that hint at a vanished airfield, and the surrounding New Forest habitats—acid heath, mature broadleaf trees and scrub—that have reclaimed wartime edges. Bring your attention to New Forest ponies grazing nearby and the possibility of red deer or common buzzards overhead; the wildlife frames the walk’s sense of continuity between history and living landscape. What makes this walk special is its voice: a local historian who can name pilots, units and specific incidents, folding archival detail into on-the-ground observation. That narrative makes the forest itself legible; holes in the turf and old concrete become wartime infrastructure, and names on logbooks become people who slept, worked and risked their lives here. The walk is also an accessible dose of military history without a museum’s walls—outdoor, tactile, and rooted in place. Practicals are clear: meet promptly at Roundhill Campsite tt reception (Beaulieu Rd, Brockenhurst SO42 7QL, UK) at 10:00. The route covers about three miles over mixed terrain and is not suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters. Minimum age is 13; under-18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Dress for the season, wear flat trainers or boots, and bring water and any snacks. For visitors staying in Brockenhurst, this walk pairs well with a day of forest cycling or a visit to the Beaulieu estate. It’s an instructive, atmospheric way to understand how the New Forest balanced military urgency and pastoral life during a global conflict. Whether you’re a military history buff, a landscape photographer, or a curious walker, the History Walk at Roundhill turns ordinary forest paths into a timeline you can follow with your feet. Marc Heighway’s guided narrative has been offered in events including Roundhill’s VE Day 80 celebrations, so participants can expect archival anecdotes and on-the-site interpretation. Small groups move at steady pace that allows time to examine concrete remains and read landscape clues, while the guide answers questions about squadron movements and the airfield’s construction. Booking is handled through campsite’s activity listings; arrive ready for two hours outdoors and you’ll leave with a clearer sense of how war reshaped the Hampshire landscape.