Royal Oak, Fritham

The Royal Oak is a New Forest institution which, apart from appearing in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide for over four decades, has also been selected by other guides for awards, including being featured as another guide's 'country pub of the year', and it was local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2016.

In good weather the huge garden can absorb almost limitless numbers but any sudden rain showers can result in the pub's inside becoming very crowded. For much of the year extra covered space is provided in a marquee in the garden or in the yard alongside the pub. While many traditional values remain unchanged, the pub has kept up to date with some 21st century fads like taking card payments.

No food is served in the evenings but a pizza van calls on Thursdays and a fish & chip van on Saturdays. In the summer the garden usually has an ice-cream kiosk.

In a field adjacent to the garden are three 'shepherd's bothies' for quiet, away-from-it-all accommodation, for full details see the website: newforestshepherdshuts.co.uk.

Cars may be parked on the public roadside or in the nearby Forest car parks; in either case beware of dips and potholes.

Buses: X7 at Nomansland Crossroads: a pleasant 3-4 mile walk can be devised. The Summer-only New Forest Tour bus can drop and pick up at Longcross (1¼ miles).