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.

Joe O'Reilly

February 23, 2022

forest

Mike The Mooching Minister.

August 25, 2025

Bolton's Bench is a well-known natural knoll and landmark situated on the edge of Lyndhurst, the "capital" of the New Forest. A prominent ancient yew tree grows at the top of the hill, which is surrounded by grassy lawns where the New Forest's famous ponies, donkeys, and cattle often graze freely.
According to a medieval tale, a dragon that terrorized the nearby village of Bisterne was slain on the site by a knight named Sir Maurice de Berkeley. The dragon's body supposedly became the hill, and the ancient yew trees grew where the knight and his hounds later died.

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Elevation 40 m

Weather

Today

Sunday 14 December

11°C

6°C

12 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h

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

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