Rockford Common
On this walk, children will enjoy sliding down the sand pit, paddling in the ford and the play area at a lakeside pub.
The ford where children can picnic and play
The Basics
Time: 1hr 40 mins
Distance: 5.5 km
Terrain: Some small sections on country lanes, sandy heathland paths, maintained lakeside paths, stile with dog hole, one muddy section and a broken stile (March 2025), which means you need to climb over a fence.
Pushchair: The main route described here is not recommended for pushchairs, however, you can get up onto Rockford Common with a pushchair by following the track going uphill from the car park, where you can find flat and well maintained paths.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome but keep them on leads through pony paddocks.
Refreshments: The Alice Lisle Pub is beside a lake and has an excellent children’s play area in a large garden. There is often an ice-cream van parked up near the car park in the summer months.
Toilets: There are no public toilets on this walk other than the pub.
Public Transport: There is no public transport to this location.
Parking: Free National Trust car park at Rockford Common (Postcode: BH24 3NA - W3W - ///paradise.waltzed.cracker)
The huge sandpit at Rockford Common
At the far western edge of Hampshire is this must do New forest walk for families. Beside the car park is a huge natural sand pit that our children love racing down. There is also a wide, shallow ford in Dockens Water, perfect for paddling. Just down the road is the Alice Lisle pub with lake views and a fabulous garden play area. The walk leaves this fun-filled area to circle some of the Blashford Lakes, pass more paddling spots on the river and then returns over the heathland where you will be guaranteed to see free-roaming New Forest ponies.
The Route
Begin by the ford, where the road crosses through Dockens Water. It is shallow here and a great place for children and dogs to play - just watch out for cars. If you don’t fancy the pub, it is also a good place to put down a rug and have a picnic. To start the walk, head down the road, walking on the grass verge with Dockens Water to your right. At the road junction (signposted Rockford/Poulner to the left and Ellingham to the right), cross over the road and go through the little black gate onto a footpath.
Fork left at the barbed wire fence and walk with the fence to your right and the road to your left. Go out the black gate at the end and turn right towards the pub. After the pub, curve around back to the road and then turn right, passing through the gate at the side of a cattle grid. Go straight on at the crossroads and then just after the gates to Ivy Cottage, take the bridleway on your right, which will lead you down to the lakes.
Walk with Blashford Lake to your left and continue to the sailing club. Turn right away from the water along the track to take you around the front of the sailing club. Just as you reach the road, cross the entrance to the sailing club and go left through a black gate. Continue along the footpath.
Go through the kissing gate at the end and turn right at a gravelled lane. Almost immediately, turn left at the next kissing gate, following the footpath until it forks at a telegraph pole. Take the left fork. The next part of the walk follows Linford Brook to your left where there are lots of opportunities for children to get down to the water and play, and there are wild daffodils in March.
When you eventually reach the road at the end, turn right and then cross the road, following the sign towards Highwood. Just after a red post box, go right over the little footbridge, cross the lane and then go through the kissing gate into the pony field. Keep left in the field and then go through another gate into the next field. Follow the path to the other side and out through an old metal kissing gate onto an access track.
Turn left and walk along the track, which can be quite muddy in winter. Keep going until a footbridge, which you should go along and then over the stile on the other side (dog hole). Walk to the top of the paddock between the electric fence. At the time of writing, the stile to exit the field is broken, so you need to climb the post and rail fence to get to the lane on the other side.
Turn left at the lane and then almost immediately turn right up a footpath with a log store and a thatched cottage. Go forward until you reach a metal gate, then after you have gone through it, veer up to the left away from the fence.
As you enter the heathland vegetated by gorse, you will come to a cross path. Go straight ahead and then keep left at the next junction. At the next meeting of paths there is a low wooden barrier to your left and a National Trust sign saying ‘No through Road’ to your right. Ignore the two paths to your right and take the left hand fork. When you reach the corner of the fence of Chatley Wood Cottage, veer right and follow the track down towards the car park.
Did you know?
In the 1950’s Rockford was used a a quarry for the collection of sand for use in the building industry.
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