Rufus was the ‘pet name’ of my old faithful friend, so
imagine when I learned there was a stone erected in England with the name “Rufus”
on it. This became a must see. Deep in the New Forest the stone lies under a
great oak tree. The original stone has long since eroded away so a new one has
been created in its place.
Legend is that the stone has been placed in the exact
spot King William II aka. Rufus (turns out it’s a great nickname for those
with red/ ruddy hair {or fur}) was shot by an arrow and killed instantly. The
arrow was supposedly fired at a mighty stag but deflected off the giant oak tree piercing
Rufus in the chest causing his death. Whether or not the shot was deliberate
was never known; but you bet the Frenchman named Sir Walter Tyrrell who shot
the king, hot-footed it off to Normandy
as soon as possible!
The famed Frenchman has a pub named after him. The Sir Walter Tyrrell Inn is nestled peacefully in the New Forest about 200 yards
from the Rufus Stone. Here you can
stay for a wee bit at the Inn, grab a bite to eat at the pub which overlooks the
very scenic New Forest, or pop by for a pint. I recommend the cider on tap. (Doggie
friends are welcomed too).
Such a lovely place to visit especially during the autumn
with the tree colour changes, but do bring your wellies as it ALWAYS seems to
be muddy in this national park. Also beware of the wild ponies. Most are so
tame they will stroll right up to you and steal your picnic sandwich! The
horses run amuck throughout the forests here and can even be found begging around
the Rufus Stone car park so be prepared! With plenty of tranquil and secret
trails to stumble upon in the New Forest, throw on your old hiking boots and
enjoy!
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