Nestled at the end of a narrow road, the small village of Fritham is a starting point for a number of walks.

The settlement largely grew up around the Schultze gunpowder factory which specialised in smokeless powder for sporting guns.

Established in 1865, it was at one time the largest nitro-compound gunpowder factory in the world, with 60 separate buildings and scores of staff.

While only a few of the original buildings remain, one of the lasting signs of the industrial past is Eyeworth Pond. It was created as a reservoir to hold water needed in the manufacturing of gunpowder.

The path alongside the tranquil lake is the first stretch of a walk to Nomansland, while a walk through Amberwood and Sloden inclosures finishes with expansive views across the forest from Fritham Plain.

Other walks near Fritham include Janesmoor Pond and a route from Linwood, taking in the famous Elephant Oak at Old Sloden Inclosure.

One of the main attractions of Fritham is the The Royal Oak – the red-bricked thatched pub is one of the oldest pubs in the New Forest, dating back to the 17th Century.