Map and compass training courses
EVERYONE learns to use a map and compass
Details and directions to New Forest Navigation courses
Course joining instructions are sent around two weeks before the course date. Most courses in the New Forest start at Forestry England car parks.
Other locations will use remote countryside car parks, parking places that are not necessarily designated as car parks and residential streets. Always park with considerations to residents and do not block access to gateways by parking across or opposite them.
Your car and its contents are your responsibility. Do not leave anything of value in your car when parked.
Open Street map - some map are embeded Open Street maps. These may use cookies and external links to larger maps will open in open street map website.
What Three Words - W3W links are external links to the W3W website.
Anderwood car park
Anderwood car park, Lyndhurt Road, New Forest - BH24 4HS will get you to the general area but not the actual car park. what3words - https://w3w.co/sofa.modes.whizzing
From London, Souththampton, Lyndhurst - Take the A35 towards Christchurch go PAST the Rhinefield/Bolderwood cross road and then take the FIRST right onto ‘Lyndhurst Road’ towards Burley (grass triangle island) - This road is not sign posted from the main road but does have a main road sign with a 6’6” except for access sign. Go about 1.5 miles down this road and Anderwood car park is on your right.
From Christchurch (New Milton) - Follow the A35 towards Lyndhurst, go past the Burley turn off (new 40 miles per hour limited bridge) and continue for around 2 miles or so and take the first left onto Lyndhurst Road (grass triangle island). The road is not sigh posted except for a ‘bend to right’ with junction sign. If you go past the turning take the next right onto the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive and true around.
From Brockenhurst. Take the Rhinefield Road to the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive to the A35. Turn left and drive a short distance down the A35 and FIRST right onto ‘Lyndhurst Road’ towards Burley (grass triangle island) - This road is not sign posted from the main road but does have a main road sign with a 6’6” except for access sign. Go about 1.5 miles down this road and Anderwood car park is on your right.
From Burley village centre - Start on Chapel lane that leads onto Lyndhurst Road. Chapel Lane starts at the Queens Head pub/main village car park. Follow this road for around 3 or 4 miles until you see the Anderwood car park on your left. If you approach the main road (A35)then you have gone to far!
This car park has a public toilet and ample free parking.
Fritham Forestry car park - details and directions: Fritham car park is in Fritham, New Forest, about 100m past the Royal Oak pub with directions and further course information on the website here: The postcode SO43 7HJ will get you to the right area, but NOT the actual car park using a satnav. Fritham and the Royal Oak pub are located right at the end of the T-junction road that is clearly sign posted.
I would strongly suggest you check the location and get/print the directions from Google BEFORE coming to the forest.
Fritham, Hampshire SO43 7HJ
If approaching from the west (Ringwood direction) you can turn off the A31 onto the Ocknell Plain and continue straight on until you reach the Fritham turning on your left. If you are traveling from the east or from within the New Forest (Southampton or Lyndhurst/Brockenhurst direction) you will need to use the B3078 Bramshaw to Fordingbridge Road as you CANNOT cross the A31 westbound!
The Fritham car park is about 100m past the Royal Oak Pub on the left down a Forest track. Do not take the immediate left almost opposite the pub; if you do turn round past the chapel and try again!
Standing Hat Forestry car park - details and directions: The track to Standing Hat car park is close to the Balmer Lawn Hotel, Brockenhurst. Turn off the main road towards the hotel (sign posted Beaulieu), drive past the hotel entrance road, continue on this road with the houses on your right until the road bears right and the track will be straight in front of you. Follow the track past Tillery car park for about 1 mile towards the woodland and Standing Hat car park.
The postcode SO42 7QJ will get you to the right road, but NOT the actual car park using a satnav.
Wilverley Plain
Wilverley Plain or Inclosure Forestry car park - details and directions:
Wilverley Plain car park is on the Brockenhurst to Burley Road
The postcode BH25 5TZ will get you to the right road, but NOT the actual car park using a satnav. The postcode is for Wilverley Lodge which you will pass on your left BEFORE the car park/s entrance if you are approaching from the A35, continue on until you see the car park on your left. If you are approaching via Brockenhurst then you will see the car park/s on your right, if you get to the house you have gone too far! Please do not drive up to the house.
I would strongly suggest you check the location and get/print the directions from Google BEFORE coming to the forest. Burley Rd, New Forest National Park, Brockenhurst, Hampshire BH25 5TZ, UK
Both car parks Wilverley Inclosure and Wilverley Plain lead into each other and we will meet at the open plain car parking area.
Abbotts Well car park
Please note this car park is not signed but is a very large gravel parking area. I usually park in the lower section close to the road.
Abbots Well car park - Frogham
Abbots Well Rd, New Forest National Park, Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 2JD
W3W - https://w3w.co/prepares.sharpen.narrating
OS Grid - SU177129
Rockford Common car park and roadside parking 'ford' meeting point
Rockford Common National Trust car park The Rockford Common car park is more easily accessed via the A338. Ellingham Drove, Ringwood, New Forest, Hampshire BH24 3NF Nearest Post Code - BH24 3NF, Grid Reference, SU164082, W3W - https://w3w.co/snippets.quilt.observers
If we are meeting at the ford then walk downhill towards the river and the ford (and footbridge)
Rockford Common - roadside parking and meeting point near the ford
You can park here on the roadside gravel area or in the NT car park.
W3W - https://w3w.co/spacing.driftwood.usage
From the A338 Salisbury Road (Ringwood or Fordingbridge direction) use the Ellingham Drove Road exit for Moyles Court and Linwood (also brown signpost/s Redshoot Inn/camping site). Continue past the nature reserve lakes and then just after the cattle grid and Ibsley 30 speed sign continue straight on (sign posted Mockbegger and North Gorley) between between Moyles Court School playing fields/buildings. Next right at junction and then over the ford and continue straight. Rockford Common car park (National Trust non-payment) is straight in front of you near the disused sand quarry (signposted as a T-junction road). If the ford is too high park either side of the road just before it and use the foot bridge!
This postcode will get you to the general area of the car park but NOT the actual car park. PRINT off or make sure you have directions to the car park BEFORE coming to the forest.
Rockford Common car aprk - National Trust - no charge
Rockford Common - Roadside parking and 'ford' meeting point
Joining instructions for Hawkhill car park
The entrance to the car park is off the B3055 near Brockenhurst. The car park has ample parking but no public toilets.
Hawkhill car park, B3055, Brockenhurst, New Forest - Nearest postcode SO42 7WB
Car park entrance - what3words https://w3w.co/asterisk.fewer.acted
The entrance to Hawkhill car park is on the B3055 between Brockenhurst and Beaulieu.
The easiest way to get to Hawkhill is to come via Brockenhurst Village but your car navigation of choice may take across the forest via waterside or through Beaulieu if you are coming from that direction.
From Brockenhurst head north out of the village on the main road towards Lyndhurst, turn right on Balmer Lawn Road (B3055), signposted Beaulieu. Follow the B3055 until you see the car park on your left.
From Lyndhurst, head to Brockenhurst and as you enter the 30mph, village edge you will see the Balmer Lawn Hotel on your left, turn left on Balmer Lawn Road (B3055), signposted Beaulieu. Follow the B3055 until you see the car park on your left.
From Lymington head towards Brockenhurst on the main road and go right through the village towards Lyndhurst. Just outside of the village as you cross the road/river bridge turn right on Balmer Lawn Road (B3055), signposted Beaulieu. Follow the B3055 until you see the car park on your left.
From Hordle scout hut go out of the village car park and turn left onto Vaggs Lane. At the end of the Vaggs Lane, turn right onto Sway Road. Follow direction to Brockenhurst Village, through the village and then to Balmer Lane. Your car navigation might choose a different route to one I can describe but you should head out of the village on the main road towards Lyndhurst. Turn right on Balmer Lawn Road (B3055), signposted Beaulieu. Follow the B3055 until you see the car park on your left.
Martin Down National Nature car park - A354
Nearest postcode is SP5 5RH, Grid reference SU037201 and what3words https://w3w.co/drummers.baths.shop (Google Maps call this the 'upper car park').
The postcode will get you to the right road, but NOT the actual car park using a satnav.
There are no public toilets at this car park. This car park has a height barrier restriction.
The car park is on the A354 between Salisbury and Blandford Forum. Your car navigation may use alternative routes to get to the location depending where you come from. Please allow time to get through Salisbury or check for alternatives that use other rural roads to avoid the city.
Martin Down Sillen lane
Sillen Lane, Martin Nature Reserve, parking area
Nearest Post Code SP6 3LW - This is the general area, OS grid reference SU057191. The Sillen Lane parking area W3W- https://w3w.co/saucepan.providing.shark
The parking area is at the very top of Sillen Lane. You can access Sillan Lane form the village of Martin.
Heading north through the village you will see the village community shop on the left and the next left is Sillan Lane (look out for the grass triangle with the war memorial, road side bench and rubbish bin). Head up this narrow Lane with passing places, to the car park at the very end.
Heading south through the village (from A354), you will see Sillan Lane on you right (look out for the grass triangle with the war memorial, road side bench and rubbish bin). Head up this narrow Lane with passing places, to the car park at the very end.
Sillan Lane village turn off - Martin Village (not the car park). The village end of Sillen Lane (grass triangle), W3W, https://w3w.co/dared.smoking.clarifies or SP6 3LF - village centre
Broadchalke Church
All Saints Church, car park, The Causeway, Broadchalke Priority for parking is for church users. If there is a service or church even on we will meet at the Broadchalke Road side alternative. Nearest postcode - SP5 5DW, OS Grid reference - SP5 5DW W3W - https://w3w.co/adapt.estimated.speech
Broadchalke roadside alternative parking
Please note this is roadside parking. Please park considerately towards local residents and do not block driveways or access to properties.
You may find parking on South Street near the village hall. Turn right out of the church car park and take the next left into South Street. Park on the left near the village hall or just up the road on the same side (do not use or block access to the village hall car park)
Badbury Rings - National Trust pay and display car park
The car park is signposted from the B3082, Blandford Road (Wimborne Minister to Blandford Forum Road)
Nearest postcode Post code DT11 9JL, W3W - https://w3w.co/whiplash.resurgent.newlywed (car park entrance, B3082)
Pay-and-display car park, open dawn till dusk. Free for members; scan your membership card for an all-day ticket. Charges for non-members: £1 an hour, £3 all day.
Badbury Rings - roadside parking area (room for 5/6 cars if squashed in)
Google maps call this the Blandford Rd Parking Blandford Rd, Wimborne BH21 4DZ W3W - https://w3w.co/health.wicket.interval The car park is just off B3082, Blandford Road (Wimborne Minister to Blandford Forum Road). Look out for a small gravel parking area that is almost opposite a side road that is signposted Sturminster Marshall 2 and also has a brown tourist sign for the The Red Lion Inn. The parking area is on your right of coming from Wimborne Minister, and on the left is coming form Balndford Forum direction.
Badbury Rings National Trust car park
Badbury Rings - Roadside parking area
Harting Downs - National Trust pay and display car park
Google call this car park - National Trust Harting Down Car Park
B2141,Nearest Post Code GU31 5PN and OS grid : SU479118 W3W - ,
From Chichester take A286 through Lavant, turn left on to B2141. Car park is roughly 5 miles at top of hill on right-hand side. From Petersfield take B2146 to South Harting village, follow signs to Uppark, then fork left towards Chichester on B2141. Car park on left-hand side at top of hill.
Parking charges - There is as charge to park at the National Trust Harting Down car park. The machine is a 'Pay by Phone' machine and does not take actual money - you can pay on the day with app or by ringing the phone number. It is easier to use the app than ringing the phone number.
From the National Trust website: 'Parking: Car park £3 per day for non-members. This is a pay by phone or internet car park using the PaybyPhone system. Details of how to pay can be found on boards located in the car park. Paying prior to arrival cannot guarantee you a parking space. Download the PayByPhone app or call 0330 060 4037 Location code 805444 Free for NT members and Blue Badge Holders.'
South Harting village parking
There is a free small car park in South Harting but also quite a lot of on street parking in Tipper Lane. The car park is between Tipper Lane and the village centre - W3W - https://w3w.co/mistaking.earmarked.tastings .
Meeting point Tipper Lane
Tipper Lane, South Harting, Petersfield GU31 5QN - Please park with consideration to local residents.
W3W - https://w3w.co/chromatic.prospered.equal
Navigation courses - Learn how to use a map and compass
New Forest Navigation map reading courses start from car parks and villages within the New Forest National Park. Courses also start in Cranbourne Chase, South Downs, Dorset, Wilstshire and Hampshire. The New Forest is located in south Hampshire, South East England. It is easily accessible from the surrounding counties of Dorset, Wiltshire, Surrey, Sussex and London. No need to travel to Snowdnia or Peak District with the New Forest on your door step! Course start locations are reached easily from all New Forest villages and towns, which all have a huge range of accommodation options; Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, Lymington, Christchurch, Fordingbridge, Ringwood, Burley, Sway and further afield at Bournemouth, Southampton and Salisbury.
Book and pay
Navigation courses
Dates and locations
Website and legal
Check out Wessex Adventures for guided mountain biking, navigation on your bike, MTB skills and technique training and guided walking and actvivities