Soudley Ponds

Soudley is a small village, with on the road parking by the houses, or there are a few spaces in a layby at the entrance (avoid blocking the gate, as this is used by emergency vehicles) The ponds are a private fishing lake, and fish can be seen in the various ponds, signs do say to keep your dog on a lead around the ponds to prevent disturbance to the fish and wildlife. But once you are past the ponds and begin the walk into the forest they can be left off as long as they are under control. From the main road you can follow numerous paths round the initial pond which can take 20 to 40 minutes. From the main round with the village and school behind you take the first left onto the path following the pond clockwise. The path is clearly marked out follow the trail all the way to another car park, where there will be two tracks, one left and one right, keep left and begin climbing the hill. Trust me it will be worth it! Follow the path all the way to the top and it will bend round to the right where you will begin to decend back down the hill and the view of the surrounding forest below and oppersite hill are breathtaking (also because you just climbed a hill). We saw a number of deer, birds and blue beetles along the way. As you decend back down the hill you will come back to the second car park, again keep to the left hand side path and follow the path back round the ponds on the opposite path you just walked round then this will lead you back to the main entrance.