A gently undulating walk largely on wide gravel tracks in the northern part of the New Forest which tends to be a bit quieter than the busier parts around Lyndhurst. We will start in Fritham by the award-winning Royal Oak Pub before walking past Eyeworth pond, a man-made pond used in the manufacturing process of smokeless gunpowder at the nearby Schultze gunpowder factory, and on through woodland to Telegraph hill. Turning southward we will walk along a ridge past forest until we reach the Ashley Walk Bombing range which was use during WWII for testing explosives. We will then head west and walk along Hampton ridge to Frogham, stopping for lunch on the way. Leaving Frogham, we will return using a different route through forest and back to Fritham for a well-earned drink (they also do an excellent Ploughman’s) at the beautiful 17th-century Royal Oak.
: Fritham Car Park (Forestry England; Free). Note there is additional parking at the back of the car park or, if full, there is further parking by Eyeworth Pond (also free). The car parks can get busy. Please share lifts, if possible.
: Fritham Car Park just beyond The Royal Oak, Fritham, Lyndhurst SO43 7HL. What Three Words: shapeless.echo.guard. Or for Eyeworth Pond car park: dated.polka.misty