Three Ponds

Date: 7 March 2009

Distance: 5 miles approx
Parking: New Forest Car Park - Janesmoor Plain
Map: Explorer OL22
Map ref for car park: SU246135

There is a big area to choose from for parking here. Wherever you choose to park take your starting point from the pond, facing south with the pond to your right. From here walk along the lawn following the line of the fence left until a T-junction. Cross the road and head west with the road to your left. The walking is excellent along gorse-studded lawns with Inclosures to your right. Keep straight on as much as you wish to until Cadman's Pool.

From the car park, go through the barrier at the back. Today, there was a grey tree trunk to step over. Walk down through the leave-strewn woodland being careful of hidden tree roots until a clear path running east to west is reached. Turn left and continue until the path comes to a fork with paths going to left and right. The paths become quite indistinct here in places. Keep going downhill until another clear path again running east to west and turn again left. Follow this path into trees where it is no longer clear and turn right to the river. Find a place to ford and cross.

A vague path runs up towards a small woodland. The path widens into a clear wide grass path which skirts the woodland, running between the trees on the left and holly bushes and gorse on the right. Keep along this path, which may be muddy in places, and continue uphill until you come out of the trees.

Look to your left for the panorama over Rakes Brakes Bottom. The path ahead forks, take the right fork. Keep following this clear, grass path up to Green Pond. From here, turn right and take the path that runs past two wells about 50 yards apart. Walk down into trees and keep along until you reach houses and a footpath sign.

Turn right along the driveway that goes down to more houses, then a barrier and out on to forest lawn again. Cross the footbridge ahead. From here choose to turn right and go up through the Inclosure or go straight ahead along a footpath, which is actually a cow track. The latter is churned underfoot at best in dry weather; after rain it will be a quagmire. However, this is the way I walked today. For an alternative route, please consult the map.

Follow the path along until it emerges again on Janesmoor Plain on the west side of the road. The path becomes concrete and follows a V-shape to the road.

Cross the road and the car park at Janesmoor Pond is immediately ahead.

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