SOUTH EAST
04 HAMPSHIRE FRITHAM & FROGHAM
■Distance: 9 miles/14.3km ■Time: 4-4½ hours ■Grade: Moderate
SEE FEATURE ON PAGE 37
Peacefully situated in the northern half of the New Forest, the village of Fritham is well known for its award-winning pub, the charming 17th century Royal Oak. New Forest ponies are a common sight on the green outside. Although quiet today, albeit well frequented by visitors, Fritham has not always been so. From the 1860s to the 1920s it was home to the Schultze Gunpowder Factory, which manufactured smokeless gunpowder, used for sporting guns. Man-made Eyeworth Pond, one of the New Forest’s beauty spots, provided water for the manufacturing process.
Worth visiting, it is just a 10-minute stroll down the lane from the car park – there is a car park there, too. Although little evidence remains of the former gunpowder works, there is a black post box, erected to make the postman’s life easier before motor vehicles, saving him the journey down to the factory (based at Eyeworth Lodge) and back up again.
During World War II the establishment of the nearby Ashley Walk Bombing Range (passed on the walk) shattered the peace of the area even more.
A vast area of heathland was used as a bombing range to test explosives.
This circuit links Fritham with Frogham, where there’s another popular pub, the Foresters Arms. There are views to be enjoyed from Hampton Ridge and Abbots Well car park at Frogham.
ROUTE
Start/parking Fritham car park (Forestry England) beyond pub, SO43 7HL, grid ref SU230140.
Or Abbots Well car park, Frogham (SU177129) Is it for me?
Gravel tracks through woodland and across heath; open grass by brook; country lanes; gentle gradients. Numbered marker posts used along cycle tracks (map available on National Park website) Stiles None
PLANNING
Nearest town Fordingbridge Refreshments Royal Oak, Fritham (02380 812606); Foresters Arms, Frogham (01425 652294) Public toilets None Public transport Bus to Fritham once a day Tue/ Fri; buses to Fordingbridge Maps OS Explorer OL22; Landranger 195
1 Start
Facing entrance to car park take R hand fork past barri
