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.

Steve Woolley

May 25, 2023

No cycling through this conservation area. Avoid if on bikes.

Rona 🐶 + Dad (John)

May 7, 2021

A small, multi award winning community woodland project run entirely by volunteers with the aim of restoring the hazel coppice, woodland understorey and ride (track) network of Pondhead Inclosure, near Lyndhurst, in order to improve its biodiversity and enhance public enjoyment of this unique area of New Forest woodland.

It is particularly fine in the spring (bluebells) and late autumn (foliage).

pondheadconservation.org

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Elevation 40 m

Weather

Today

Tuesday 23 December

9°C

6°C

11 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: Lyndhurst, New Forest, Hampshire, South East England, England, United Kingdom

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Bolton's Bench Main Path

Bolton's Bench

Bolderford Bridge

Ober Water Stream, New Forest National Park

Ober Water

Ober Heath

Brockenhurst Trailhead, New Forest National Park

Acres Down Viewpoint

Bluebell Forest in New Forest National Park

View of Bolton's Bench

New Forest Ponies

View of New Forest from Quiet Road

Pondhead Inclosure Dragon Sculpture

1. Bolderford Bridge – Brockenhurst Ford loop from Lyndhurst

2. Bolton's Bench – Bolton's Bench Main Path loop from Lyndhurst

3. Ober Water Bridge – Start of the Tall Trees Trail loop from Brockenhurst

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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