Rockford Common Walk

Rockford Common Walk is a 2.5-mile (4 km) loop from the National Trust car park, crossing open heath before circling back through woodland and a sunken hollow way. Allow about 1.5 hours. A shorter 1.7-mile (2.7 km) northern loop shares the first part and turns back at the gravel crossroads, leaving the southern woodland stretch for a longer outing.

From the car park, climb onto open heath and take the left fork for views over the rolling New Forest. Descend through trees to gravel crossroads, then turn right on the more wooded, sunken track. The old sand pit lies alongside it. From above, its pale face looks toward the Avon; frame the sand with the tree-lined rim for a photo. Stay on the path: erosion threatens a Scheduled Ancient Monument beside the pit, so walkers should not enter it. Sand was removed here in the 1950s. Heather is at its best in late August, and silver-studded blue butterflies are around in July.

At a later crossroads, turn right twice for the short return. To continue the full loop, take the smaller left path down through woodland. It meets a wider track by a few houses, climbs the other side, then winds through trees to the road by Mount Cottage. Turn uphill at the crossroads to reach the open common again and follow the broad path back to the car park. The southern hollow way appears on Taylor's 1759 Hampshire map and may be older; it may once have helped people avoid a tollgate after the turnpike opened in 1786. Pillow mounds for medieval rabbit keeping and mounds associated with bee skeps sit low in the grass and can be hard to spot when vegetation covers them.

The northern paths are gravel but have steep pitches. The longer southern extension adds rough grass and gravel, gates, stiles and more gradients. Choose the short loop if those are a concern; even it is not flat. Ponies and cattle roam the common. Dogs are welcome, but keep them under control and give livestock space. The Alice Lisle pub is a separate post-walk stop west of Moyles Court on Highwood Lane.