GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Fritham Walk

4.97 miles (8 km)

This loop walk explores the area surrounding the pretty village of Fritham in the New Forest. On the walk you'll visit Green Pond, Janesmoor Pond and the popular Cadman's Pool.
The walk starts in the village and heads west along country lanes passing the fine Royal Oak Pub. Near here you turn south west to follow footpaths onto Fritham Plain, passing Hiscocks Hill before coming to the pretty Green Pond. You may see some cattle or ponies here as they use it as a watering hole.
The paths then head south from the pond to Freeworms Hill, Anses Wood and Cadman's Pool. The beauty spot is an ideal place for a picnic or some birdwatching.
From the pool you head north east through the Bentley Inclosures and across Janesmoor Plain to Janesmoor Pond. The pond is a popular spot for young fishers and is another photogenic location on the route.
The final section takes you from the pond back to Fritham on quiet country lanes.
To continue your walking from Fritham head a short distance north from the Royal Oak to visit Irons Well where you'll find a spring beside a gravelled track once used by gunpowder carriers from a nearby factory. A few miles south of the village you will find the lovely Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary. Here you will find a large herd of fallow deer with a viewing platform overlooking the meadow where the deer congregate. There's also more nice woodland trails to be found in the nearby Latchmore Brook and the Hasley Hill Inclosure.

Postcode

SO43 7HJ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Fritham OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Fritham Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

After your walk head to the Royal Oak in Fritham. The pub is popular with walkers and has a fine menu. Features include a partly-thatched roof and a nice big garden to relax in during the summer months. You can find it in the village at postcode SO43 7HJ.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just to the north east of the village you can explore the Bramble Hill area. There's some nice trails here and the opportunity for a cream tea in the lovely gardens of the Bramble Hill Hotel.
The Frogham to Fritham Circular Walk visits the village from the neighbouring settlement of Frogham. The route climbs to the splendid viewpoint at Hampton Ridge before heading to the lovely Latchmore Brook and Hasley Hill Inclosure near Fordingbridge.
Just to the west you can pick up the Godshill Walk and enjoy the rhododendrons of the Godshill Inclosure before a climb to the Castle Hill viewpoint. The Ashley Walk area is also located near here and another popular area to start a walk with its large car park and pleasant heathland trails.
For more walking ideas in the area see the New Forest Walks page.

Photos

Fritham - geograph.org.uk - 1407477

Fritham

Green Pond, Fritham Plain, New Forest - geograph.org.uk - 69313

Green Pond is in the middle of Fritham Plain, a heathland plateau to the southwest of Fritham village. The pond is a watering hole for the Commoners' stock on this otherwise high and dry hill, and since it doesn't feature on the 1940s maps I assume it was dug out specifically for this purpose (like Longcross and Ocknell ponds).

Janesmoor Pond, New Forest - geograph.org.uk - 36989

Janesmoor Pond, New Forest. This pond is a magnet for keen young fishers, and despite obviously being copiously fertilised and quite shallow at the time of photographing, it holds quite sizable carp. I watched a teenager haul in a three pounder - and of course, return it.

Ducks, Cadman's Pool - geograph.org.uk - 1387394

Ducks, Cadman's Pool. The pond is a breeding ground for duck and Canada geese and is one of only three ponds in the forest where fishing is allowed.

Cadman's Pool - geograph.org.uk - 1387370

Cadman's Pool The pool was created in the 1960s to enhance the scene by deputy surveyor of the Forest, Arthur Cadman.

Garden of the Royal Oak - geograph.org.uk - 1293952

Lovely large garden of the Royal Oak pub in Fritham

GPS Files

GPX File

Fritham.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)