5 of the best cycle routes in the New Forest

5 of the best cycle routes in the New Forest

We explored one of Britain's newest national parks by bike. Here's our pick of the best cycling routes in the New Forest for all abilities

There are a total of 15 national parks in Great Britain. Established in 2005, the New Forest in Hampshire is the UK's second youngest national park and one of the easiest to explore by bike.

Just an hour and a half from London by train, the park is home to over 160km (100 miles) of superbly maintained (mostly gentle) hilly cycle paths - ideal for cyclists of all abilities.

We settled into a cozy little B&B in the well-located village of Burley, nestled in the lee of a hill surrounded by sturdy oaks and tall pines. The village is in the heart of the national park and offers excellent access to some of the best New Forest cycling routes, as well as convenient bike hire in the village center.

We spent three days exploring the surrounding area of ​​the village and compiled our favorite cycling routes in the New Forest. Maps and route descriptions are all available from the Forest Leisure Cycling Center in the village, but it's also worth picking up an Ordnance Survey map of the New Forest before you travel.

1. The old railway

Distance: 8km (5mi)Duration: 1-2 hours

alt="New-Forest-Radwege-1-old-Railway">Atlas & Boots3,000 beautiful wild ponies roam the New Forest National Park

We started our journey with a morning bike ride along the disused railway to the beautiful village of Brockenhurst. Away from the road from the village, the gravel cycle path runs almost exclusively along the disused railway line.

On either side you'll see dozens of the 3,000 beautiful wild ponies that roam the New Forest. The route stops at Holmsley Station Tearooms, perfect for a little refreshment before returning to Burley along the same route.

2. The hill fort

Distance: 14.5 km (9 miles)Duration: 2-3 hours

alt="New-Forest-Radwege-2-Schloss-Hügel-Gasse">Atlas & BootsThe view from Castle Hill Lane

We combined the Old Railway route above with a challenging excursion to the Iron Age hill fort at Castle Hill. Don't expect towering fortifications, as Iron Age hillforts were essentially earthworks that took advantage of a natural elevation difference for defensive purposes. Instead, on a clear day you'll have impressive views over the park, which is usually dotted with grazing ponies, cattle and donkeys.

3. The deer sanctuary

Distance: 19km (12mi)Duration: 2-3 hours

alt="New Forest Cycle Paths 3 Deer Sanctuary">Atlas & BootsThe Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary is an excellent picnic spot

This was our favorite of the New Forest cycle routes we tried as it was almost entirely off road and offered the opportunity to spot deer. The path winds north from Burley via Blackensford Brook and Bratley Water and climbs gently to Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary.

We stopped here for a picnic before crossing the road and continuing to Acres Down Farm where cream teas are available. We didn't do the entire loop, but went back the way we came.

4. Villages, views and valleys

Distance: 24 km (15 miles) Duration: 4-5 hours

alt="New-Forest-Radwege-4-Villages">Atlas & BootsThe view from the main road towards the village of Bransgore

This circular walk provides an excellent cross-section of the New Forest area south of Burley and passes through some of the park's smallest villages. The route is almost entirely on paved roads, meaning the cycling is quieter, although there is more traffic to contend with.

The real attraction of this route is the countless villages, pubs and tea rooms. The Carpenter’s Arms and Three Tuns Inn at Bransgore are both excellent!

5. The Royal Oak

Distance: 51.5 km (32 miles) Duration: 4-5 hours

alt="New-Forest-Radwege-5-Royal-Oak">Atlas & BootsThe route is a great mix of dirt roads, off-road cycle paths and quiet villages

Our last bike tour took us to the northwestern border of the national park and was by far the most demanding. We extended our drive to the wildlife refuge above with elements of the Royal Oak route.

Although we didn't complete the entire route, we spent a full day in the saddle. The route is a great mix of country lanes, off-road cycle paths and quiet villages with traditional pubs and excellent food.

The bike route is not only demanding in length, but also quite complicated! However, don't worry if you deviate from the route. Using a smartphone or even the simplest local maps you can easily find your way back to Burley.

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New Forest Cycle Routes: The Essentials

What: Explore the New Forest cycle routes from the village of Burley.

Where: We stayed at the charming Wayside Cottage, run by the even more charming Trish and Ian. The cottage has six delightful rooms, all with WiFi, flat screen TVs, private bathrooms, super comfortable beds and large windows that let in lots of light.

The holiday home also has free on-site parking. A delicious (and extensive) breakfast is served in the elegant dining room each morning, and tea, coffee and homemade cakes are available in the lounge during your stay.

When the weather is nice, it's worth taking advantage of the cottage's grounds, which are surrounded by beautiful purple wisteria. Take time to chat with Trish and Ian, who have led a fascinating life as a chef (Trish) and airline pilot (Ian) in Zimbabwe.

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When: Unfortunately, you're never guaranteed a completely dry period in England, but June to August is without a doubt the driest and warmest time of the year. However, it is also high season and availability could be an issue, particularly during the school holidays from late July to August. With this in mind, the shoulder seasons (April to May and September to October) are also good times to explore the New Forest cycle routes.

How: We rented bikes from Forest Leisure Cycling Center who have a fleet of bikes including tandems, children's and electric bikes, and bike trailers for dogs and children. The prices below are for 24 hours and include helmets, backpack, pump, lock, tool kit and a mobile replacement mechanic. See their website for additional equipment, prices and discounts.

They also carry local guidebooks and detailed maps (also available on their online store).

The national park is free to visit and there is tons of free parking throughout the park with access to hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails.

South West Trains run from London Waterloo to several major stations near the New Forest including Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole. Travel times are usually between 1-2.5 hours. Other stations within the park include Ashurst, Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst, Hinton Admiral, Lymington, New Milton, Sway and Totton.

National Express offers a number of services from London and the south of England, stopping at Lyndhurst, Lymington and Ringwood, as well as other stops in the New Forest.

We were in France at the time, so we took a ferry from St Malo in France to Portsmouth in the UK, the closest cross-Channel port to the New Forest, 50km (30 miles) and 65km (40 miles) from Burley. Brittany Ferries operates a route between St Malo and Portsmouth.

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Lonely Planet England is a comprehensive travel guide to England, including the New Forest National Park, ideal for those who want to both explore the main attractions and take the road less traveled.

New Forest OS Explorer Map is the most detailed and easy to read map at 1:25,000 scale. It contains tourist information points, popular attractions, viewpoints, points of interest and rights of way information.

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