Leaving Set Thorns Inclosure, the route reaches a main road, which you cross to access Long Slade Bottom car park. Beyond the car park, the walk joins a section of the former Southampton and Dorchester Railway. This raised embankment offers a welcome change from the enclosed woodland tracks, opening up views across the surrounding landscape towards Hincheslea Wood and Hincheslea Bog. The old railway is also the main historical feature encountered on the walk, providing a reminder of the area's former transport connections.

After approximately 800 metres along the former railway line, the route turns right and descends gently from the embankment. A slight ascent then leads towards Longslade View car park, where the surrounding landscape opens out with particularly good views in both easterly and westerly directions. This was one of the scenic highlights of the walk and a welcome contrast to the more enclosed woodland earlier in the route.

Shortly after Longslade View, I left the published route briefly to carry out my planned GNSS field test at Sway trig point. The test explored whether a GNSS device could help locate a trig point using its published grid reference, providing a practical opportunity to compare the position recorded by the device with the published location. The full methodology and results are covered separately in From Grid Reference to Trig Point — Testing GNSS Accuracy. Once the test was complete, I returned to the published route and continued south-east through the open heathland, where gorse bushes and smaller paths replaced the more enclosed woodland surroundings.

For me, this was one of the most enjoyable parts of the walk. The landscape around Hincheslea Bog and the edges of Blackhamsley Hill has a different character from the earlier woodland sections, with open heathland and plenty of gorse creating a stronger sense of being immersed in the New Forest. There are numerous small paths through this landscape, generally heading in the same direction. Rather than following one broad, clearly defined track beneath a canopy of trees, you find yourself moving through the heath itself, with the surrounding vegetation and open ground becoming the defining features of the experience. This stretch captures much of what I enjoy about walking in the New Forest: the landscape feels less enclosed and more expansive, and the variety of paths gives the route a different character from the earlier gravel tracks.

Eventually, the route meets the railway line between Sway and Brockenhurst, which is crossed via a footbridge. From here, a final section through residential streets leads back to Sway railway station car park. Although the village walking is a noticeable part of the route, it also makes the station a practical starting and finishing point for the walk.

Sway proved to be an enjoyable and varied short walk, with a good balance between woodland and open heathland. I particularly enjoyed the changing landscape, from the structured gravel tracks of Set Thorns Inclosure to the more open surroundings around Hincheslea Bog and Blackhamsley Hill. The final stretch through the heath was a particular highlight, with its gorse bushes and smaller paths creating a real sense of immersion in the New Forest. Together, these contrasting landscapes give the walk more variety than its relatively short distance might suggest.

There is some residential walking at both ends of the route, but this is a reasonable trade-off for the convenience of starting and finishing at Sway railway station. Those who would prefer to spend less time in the village could consider starting from one of the car parks outside it. The route is easy-going and straightforward to follow, making it suitable for beginners and less-experienced walkers. There are no particular fitness or navigation requirements to consider, although some sections of heathland may become muddy during wetter periods. Overall, it should be suitable for walking throughout much of the year.

I'd happily recommend this route to anyone looking for a relatively short introduction to this part of the New Forest. It combines accessible woodland tracks, an interesting former railway line and open heathland, with enough variation to keep the walk engaging from beginning to end. For me, it was also a fitting way to complete the SWME New Forest guidebook challenge. Having visited a range of locations across the area, I now have a much better starting point for planning my own explorations when I return.