Good thing with being back in east Dorset you are not far from the border of west Hampshire and the wilderness of the new Forest.

OS Maps New Forest

I had previously done a few trips to the new forest in Hampshire when I was last in Dorset.  The new forest is a large expanse of forest enclosures and heath-land.   There was lots more to explore and photograph.  I wanted to return.

My landlord was a local and give me some good tips of places in the new forest to walk, she recommended around Dockens water.  Studying os maps online I could park up at the High Corner Pub and do a circular walk, returning for opening time.

From Rockford Common

I left early morning for the new forest and when I arrived close to my start location the road was closed so had to make a detour to the public parking at Rockford.  Near the car park for about a mile out there was lots of dog walkers but further out they thinned out and I was wonderfully alone.

The winter ground was hard with frost.   The silver birch made a good focal point in the mid ground with sweeping views across Rockford common and the heath lands of the new Forest.

New Forest Wild Ponies

You not have to walk far in the new forest before coming across wild horses and ponies which make an excellent focal point.

When shooting wildlife you need a faster shutter speed to avoid any motion blur with the animals moving, blinking etc, unless you are lucky and they stay still.  You want them looking at you and to focus on the eyes.  I not realise until post processing in Lightroom,  the highlights of the weak morning winter sun on their white coats.  It really makes this photo the best one of the day, maybe of January, shot with my compact.

From Rockford common I made my way through some forest enclosures back out onto Heath land before heading down to Dockens water and the High Corner Inn for a pint.

It was a long walk back along Dockens water to where my car was parked at Rockford.  The afternoon was mostly dull cloud and not really get a landscape composition I wanted to keep.  Even if you not get a single composition which would be hard in the new forest it’s always a great walk.