Fritham walk
[The walking suggestions in this web site are merely to show you some nice, fairly short walks within the New Forest National Park, so you can enjoy the Forest at its best.
The walks have been completed by me, and follow used walking tracks. However, I can't take responsibility for you getting lost, bogged down or chased by an angry pony etc.etc...!]
Fritham walk is one of the most popular walks within the New Forest, not least because of the proximity to the famous Royal Oak pub in Fritham village, and also Eyeworth Pond at the bottom of the hill.
This suggested route takes you through 3 different inclosures, and across the open heath of Fritham Plain.
There are good opportunities for deer-spotting on this walk, but not if it's busy! During the rutting season (early October), fallow bucks can be seen clashing antlers on several ancient rutting grounds within the area.
A year-round highlight is looking north over Islands Thorns and Amberwood Inclosures from Fritham Plain, on the way back to the car park. If you've seen Kevin Costner's Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, you'll recognise this view as Sherwood Forest, after he and Morgan Freeman 'steal' Maid Marion's horse while escaping the Sheriff's cousin. This is probably the New Forest's biggest claim to Hollywood fame, even though the shot only lasts a few seconds!
Fritham walk:
[Map excerpts: left, the approximate location of the walk within the National Park. Below, OS 1:25000]
Car park OS grid reference: 229141 [How do I read a map?]
Approximate distance of Fritham walk: 4 1/2 miles
Allow (time): 2 1/2 hours
Nearest pub/s: The Royal Oak, very close to the car park.
The walk...
| From inside the main car park, walk back towards the road but then double-back on yourself just before the road, and walk down the lower car park track. You should see a low-level 'Cycle route to Frogham' sign on the right of the track, soon after the Forestry Commission barrier at the start of this track. |  |
| This is the main Forestry Commission track that you'll be following, and at this point goes through a mixture of wooded area and open land (point 'A' on the map excerpt). After about half a mile it enters Islands Thorns Inclosure. |  |
| At the point where you enter the inclosure, you'll see a track that forks right (point 'B' on the map excerpt). Ignore that, and continue on the one. The track is quite windy, and there are several junctions along the way. At one point you'll bear sharply right, where another track comes in from the left, and then cross a small stream. After the stream, ignore the track going to the right and bear sharp left on the main track. |  |
| Not long after these sharp bends, you'll come to the start of a small hill. The track you are on continues up the hill, but you need to turn left and go through the gate (point 'C' on the map excerpt). You're entering Amberwood Inclosure, which has some nice Ancient & Ornamental Woodland. |  |
| The track through this part of woodland is narrower, but still gravel. As before, keep to this track and ignore any junctions. |  |
| After about a mile, or slightly less, the track bears to the left but looks like it goes straight on (point 'D' on the map excerpt). Stay on it to the left, you'll see a wooden Memorial bench, dedicated to New Forest film maker and conservationist Eric Ashby, on your right. |  |
| Shortly after this bench, you'll cross a wooden bridge over Latchmoor Brook, a very typical New Forest stream. Immediately after crossing the stream, you'll go through 2 sets of 5-bar wooden gates, one gate each side of a wide grassy ride. Cross this ride and continue on the gravel track. Point 'E' on the map excerpt. |  |
| Stick to this track, ignoring the one going to the left shortly after the second gate. You'll go through a mixture of Ancient & Ornamental Woodland and forested pine. Fallow deer are plentiful in this area, so keep your eyes peeled! |  |
| After about a mile, or so, of following the main gravel track, you'll come to a 5-bar wooden gate exiting the inclosure. Go through here and follow the track up and round to the left, where it joins another track coming in from the right. Point 'F' on the map excerpt. |  |
| This track takes you straight back into the car park. You're now walking across Fritham Plain, and from leaving the inclosure to reaching the car park is about a mile. |  |
| About half way along this track look over to your left, this is the spot where Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman stopped on horseback to look over Sherwood Forest! Point 'G' on the map excerpt. |  |
| You'll enter the car park soon after the 'Sherwood Forest' view, there is a low-level Forestry Commission barrier gate (point 'H' on the map excerpt). Walk through the car park, across the village green and head for the Royal Oak, to replenish those lost calories! |  |
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