The Naked Man provides the excuse for a circular walk in this beautiful part of the New Forest. A path from the car park takes you to a part of the disused Southampton to Dorchester railway, with some fine views of the forest from the embankment. The scenery is varied, taking you through heathland and woodland to the Naked Man. This was an oak tree which was used for hangings. The rising food prices of the early 19th Century saw the onset of smuggling and highway robberies. The numerous natural creeks and inlets around the coastline made life easy for the smugglers to get their contraband into the secrecy of the forest. The most popular routes were along the glen at Chewton Bunny, near New Milton and up the Beaulieu River. However if caught, both smugglers and highwaymen would be hanged from this tree. There is very little to be seen of it now. Do remember that the New Forest has its boggy and muddy spots, so wear appropriate footwear, although this walk is usually pretty good underfoot.

England - Hampshire - New Forest

View a road map to the starting point of this walk.