A ‘there-and-back’ route linking two small New Forest villages. Follow the route that was established to service Fritham’s Victorian gunpowder factory before wandering between the ancient oak and beech trees in Bramshaw Wood.

Start from either village and enjoy a break at their village pubs – The Royal Oak in Fritham or the Lamb Inn in Nomansland – before your return.

Route from Fritham

From the Eyeworth Pond car park, turn right on to the path that runs alongside the pond.

 Eyeworth Pond is man-made – created in the late 19th Century as a reservoir to supply water to the nearby Schultze gunpowder factory. At its peak, the factory was the largest employer in the New Forest, producing 20,000lbs of sporting gunpowder a week. The factory closed in 1921 but some of the factory buildings remain as farm outbuildings on the other side of the road to Eyeworth Pond. The pond is now a haven for birdlife, including a colony of Chinese Mandarin ducks which established themselves on the pond after escaping from captivity.

Follow the path, which was known as Powder Mill Road when the gunpowder factory was in existence. It was used to transport potentially deadly products to the road between Cadnam and Fordingbridge, without having to go through the village of Fritham.

At Irons Well, look out for the chalybeate spring with water containing high levels of iron. You’ll see it a short distance upstream from the head of Eyeworth Pond, to the left of the track about 130m after the car park. This considered to be the best example of an iron spring in the New Forest. The iron-rich waters join the stream that runs along Howens Bottom, feeding Eyeworth Pond.

After a short distance further through the woods, the path reaches open heathland. With Howen Bottom over to your left, continue on the path for 1.5km as it gradually climbs until it reaches a barrier when it meets Roger Penny Way.

 Taking care, cross Roger Penny Way and walk the short distance along the roadside to the junction with Forest Road over to the right.

Cross Forest Road and take the track that leads off across the small open area. When the track forks twice after 600m, take the left track, followed by the right track, keeping the trees of Black Bush to your right. After another 300m, you’ll reach the edge of Bramshaw Wood.

If the open area is too wet, continue to walk down Forest Road for 1km and turn right at the barrier towards the wood, just before the Piper’s Wait car park.

Enter the woods at Two Beeches Bottom and walk for 900m through the oak and beech woods, gradually heading downhill until you reach a ford.

The path is rough and indistinct in places – especially on a steep downhill stretch near the ford. Tree roots and muddy patches can make conditions difficult underfoot. Fallen trees have also obstructed the path in places.

Follow the path uphill after crossing the ford. At a crossroads in the paths after a short distance, continue straight ahead uphill for 250m to reach Bramshaw Wood car park.

Turn left out of the car park and walk along the roadside for 400m to reach the village of Nomansland.

The name Nomansland dates back to 1802 when a court case deemed the settlement not to be on Crown land within the New Forest. The village cricket pitch and wooden war memorial can be seen on your right, with the Lamb Inn pub dead ahead.

Route from Nomansland

From the Bramshaw Wood car park, take the path on the right leading downhill into the woods. Continue straight ahead past a crossroads, for 300m, until you reach a ford. When the track forks shortly afterwards, take the path to the right and continue walking gradually uphill through the woods. Keep the earthen bank on your right for 150m until the path forks again. This time, follow the track on the left and continue heading uphill through the woods for 750m. The path can be indistinct at times and it is prone to fallen trees obstructing it in places. However it gradually climbs and gets steeper until you emerge from the woods at Black Bush Plain. Continue on the path straight ahead, across the open heath, keeping the woods of Black Bush to your left. Keep to the right when the path forks and continue for 600m until you reach the junction of Forest Road and Roger Penny Way. In wet conditions, turn right when you exit Bramshaw Wood and walk towards Pipers Wait car park. Then walk along the roadside of Forest Road towards the Roger Penny Way junction instead. Turn right and walk the short distance along the roadside of Roger Penny Way before crossing with care at the barrier across Powder Mill Way. Follow the gravel track as it winds its way gradually downhill with Howen Bottom to your right. After 2km you’ll reach Eyeworth Pond. To visit the Royal Oak pub, exit the car park and turn left. Walk 600m uphill along the roadside until you reach an open area of grass with Fritham car park to the right and the pub just ahead.

In Pictures