King William II (Son of William the Conqueror) was said to have been out hunting and died by a stray arrow while in the New Forest in the year 1100 by accident. Or was it????

His younger brother with whom he was not on good terms just by coincidence happened to be in the area and within 24 hours had sized the Treasury in Winchester and within 48 hours had himself crowned King Henry 1st. King William II was better known as Rufus either because of a ruddy complexion or having a red beard. He was not married which led to suspicions that he may of been the first Homosexual King.

Rufus Stone was erected in the Romantic (?) Victorian Times and our walk starts at this spot. After a short incline on the road we head West on good tracks before heading North through open Moorland and then through Forest before circling back to the Car Park