I have never visited any of this area before. I planned the walk entirely by myself using the OS 1:25;000 map on the computer. I then printed the route to use alongside the OS map I also carried. I led the walk throughout with just 2 discussions about navigation at tricky points.
We started at Janesmoor Pond and I used a compass to check we headed off on the right path. We followed the wide track for 1.75 miles/ 2.8km until we came to the tarmac road. I 'thumbed' the route and estimated times to path junctions. We turned left onto the road and walked for 0.6 miles/1km and then turned right on the track sign posted Ocknell Inclosure. the paths in this inclosure were very indistinct and I made a navigation error and had to retrace my steps a few metres to find the correct path. I checked I was in the right place using the OS map on my phone and my compass. We then headed down the path until we could hear the very noisy road which we needed to follow the path next to to take us out of the inclosure. 1.2 mile/ 1.9km. We then turned right onto the open forest and followed the line of a small group of trees for 200 m and continued on the path for 1.3/2km miles until we came to the tarmac road. We walked towards Anses Wood and I quickly realised I had made a mistake and was following the wrong path as we had open forest on our left. I was able to find the correct path on the map and we walked across the forest for 50m and joined the correct path. It was very difficult to navigate through the inclosure as the paths were very indistinct and muddy in places. I made a mistake at a junction and realised I should have stopped to use my compass at this point. We walked across country which was quite wet and boggy for 100m to find the correct path and then continued on this and crossed the footbridge to Fritham. 1.6 miles/2.5km. We continued in the same direction on a small road with houses on the right and forest on the left until we came to a cross roads where we turned right passing a telephone box on our right just before the turning to the right. 1.2 miles/1.9km. We then followed the road until we came to open forest where we walked diagonally across the forest back to the car. 0.5miles/0.8km
It was good to explore a new area of the New Forest and this is a route I would definitely do again.
Total time taken 3hours 40 mins Distance 8.8 miles
