18/04/2026
Brockenhurst village is pretty and busy. Our walking group was there on Thursday 16th April, some having taken the train from Portsmouth and Fareham stations, while others came by car.
The cafes wafted tempting aromas as we walked past. We found the pavements decent, and other pedestrians polite. Some even wished us good morning, which is a great way to let visually impaired people know you are there!
We did nearly get hit in the face by a shop canopy at head height and an A-frame advert board at knee height, which is a hazard for us in every village and town during the summer.
It was a surprise not to find a tactile edge to the marked pedestrian path on Station Approach or at Brookley car park to the facilities. The pathways were marked, but not all can see them, so without a tactile edge they're about as useful at showing the way as a chocolate teapot is at retaining tea. There was a crossing point near the shops in Brookley Road but not an official pedestrian one with lights, so totally reliant on drivers good manners to let people cross. To drivers with good manners, I say thank you. To the others, I say, it halts your journey for about 15 seconds to let someone cross safely, and you feel like a hero all day long, so do it!
Our walk was at a gentle pace and we enjoyed the warm sun, birdsong, sound of water, seeing the ponies, and eating a delicious lunch.
