The New Forest: Abbot's Well - Fritham Circuit Walking

As one of the UK's newest national parks, The New Forest is only just coming onto the radar for many walkers. Having grown up on the edge of the forest I can tell you that the 'forest' - originally set aside by William the Conqueror as a Royal Forest for hunting - is more of an open heath with pockets or enclosures of mixed woodland. As a result, it offers great walking through rolling heathland between small villages and hamlets, more often than not with local cafes and pubs. Whilst the area does not lend itself to longer more arduous hiking, the day walks are many and varied. There's something here for all the family, with some of the better paths even being suitable for pushchairs (of course that makes them easy for running on too!).

The author walking out across the Hampton Ridge on the Abbot's Well - Fritham Walk  © Mark Reeves
The author walking out across the Hampton Ridge on the Abbot's Well - Fritham Walk
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Detailed description

1
SU1780112829 From the car park head northeast down a path to reach a large track. Turn left, and after 20m turn right and take the large track up and over Hampton Ridge. Follow the path as it winds across the top of the ridge to just past a large tumulus of the left, just before a prominent junction. Carry on the track to reach the wood edge at a corner of the Amberwood Inclosure.
Looking out across Hampton Ridge towards on a damp day towards the Amberwood Inclosure in the New Forest   © Mark Reeves
Looking out across Hampton Ridge towards on a damp day towards the Amberwood Inclosure in the New Forest
© Mark Reeves, Oct 2018

2
SU2067514149 Soon after you reach the wood line the track descends, and after 600m the path turns left and passes two streams as it curves round to the right. Ignore the possible tracks on the left until you reach a T-Junction, and take the left track up a gentle hill to where it levels off and you reach the edge of the woodland, with an open field system to your left.

3
SU2225314216 Carry on along the track, climbing slowly to reach the edge of Fritham. Continue straight on to reach The Royal Oak pub.

4
SU2321914127 Head back the way you came and turn left to walk through the car park. Head along the main track over Fritham Plain, passing Green Pound to its right. Carry on to reach a fork in the track just before the Sloden Inclosure.

5
SU2179313103 Walk into the woods and after 200 metres take the small path on the right. If you have the right path you will pass through an opening in the woods, less than 100m from turning off the main track. Carry on along this path, passing over the site of an old Royal Hunting Lodge. Soon after this you leave the woodland and you can follow the path down and right to a larger track. Follow this for 1km to the edge of the Hasley Hill Inclosure.

6
SU1989212109 Follow the right edge of the inclosure over the Little Witch and the Great Witch (two small spur features). The path then heads diagonally away from the boundary of the enclosure towards Latchmore Brook. Just before the stream the path loses its distinction, so head left down to the car park near Ogden's Farm. From the car park turn right and follow the track to a footbridge over the Latchmore Brook and up to the car park where you started.
Looking across at the end of the Abbot's Well - Fritham route as the path descends down from the Hasley Hill Inclosure.  © Mark Reeves
Looking across at the end of the Abbot's Well - Fritham route as the path descends down from the Hasley Hill Inclosure.
© Mark Reeves, Oct 2018

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