Rockford Common Printable Leaflet

Directions

1. The Moyles Court Oak.

   The trail starts at the water splash between the Moyles Court Private School and the ancient oak tree known as the Moyles Court Oak. Head up the hill through the National Trust car park, past the barrier and up the hill onto the grassy lawns above

2. Rockford Common

   Once you clear the woods the path forks. Head left enjoying views over the rolling New Forest landscape. The path heads down amongst some trees and reaches a crossroads of gravel paths. Turn right and head down this slightly more wooded track with the sunken, quarried landscape on your right

3. Choice at the crossroads

   After a long straight section the path leaves the sunken section heading up into more woodland. At this point you will reach a crossroads of gravel tracks. For the shorter walk turn right, then right again and follow this main track back to the car park. To continue the walk look out for the smaller path on the left heading down through woodlands

4. Woodland Path

   Head down the smaller path through woodland to join a large track also heading down hill. Pass by several houses before climbing back up the hill on the other side. Before reaching the grassy lawns at the top, take the trail heading right, through more woods and follow it until it reaches the road

5. Mount Farm & Cottage

   Keep going along the road passing by Mount Cottage on your right. At the crossroads turn right heading back uphill and re-entering the open landscape of the New Forest. At the crossroads at the top take the path straight ahead which bears left. Follow this wide track all the way back to the National Trust car park.

Rockford Common

This route is more accessible for those with reduced mobility and/or making use of a ‘Tramper’ like mobility scooters.

The trail starts at the National Trust car park. Rockford Common is an area of 15 acres consisting of open heathland and woodland. It is grazed by livestock belonging to local commoners.

Commoners are those people who occupy land or property in the New Forest which has attached rights; in this case the right to turn out ponies, cattle, mules and donkeys. These can often be seen grazing out on the common. This area is rich in wildlife and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Unlike much of the other New Forest moorland, in the past Rockford Common belonged to estates; originally Moyles Court and then Somerley.

The family of Lord Normanton of Somerley bought both estates in 1825.

The National Trust bought about 1,500 acres of common land at Ibsley and Rockford in 1999 and a further 32 acres in 2007.

The northern section of this trail can be journeyed as a circular route, following wellmade gravel tracks with good accessibility but some steep sections. However, it is possible to extend the trail to include the southerly section which is on more minor grass or gravel tracks with some stiles/gates. Before returning to the car park after completing the circuit, you may wish to walk down to the Moyles Court Oak and across the road to look at Moyles Court School.

Over the centuries the common has been used for various purposes. Most of these have had an impact on the environment and often result in the landscape we see today.

Trail Overview

Start/finish

National Trust Car Park, Rockford Common.

Grid reference

SU 162 083

what3words

what3words.com/yelled.layered.embraced

Ordnance Survey map

Explorer OL 22 New Forest.

Distance

1.7 miles (2.7 km) or 2.5 miles (4km) – 45 minutes or 1.5 hours.

Local facilities

National Trust Car Park, Rockford.

Accessibility

It is possible to follow a shorter Access route on well-made gravel tracks. The extended circular route continues further south on more minor grass and gravel tracks where there are some gradients and has stiles and gates.