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New Forest
Explorers Guide
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Pony near Hampton Ridge
For comprehensive information about the New Forest National Park
For comprehensive information about the New Forest National Park
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***** For information about New Forest access restrictions and related matters, check out the Forestry England website. *****

New Forest Cycle Rides - some suggested routes

Here are thirteen suggested cycle routes, all with accompanying information about points of interest to look out for along the way.

All, apart from Route 7, which includes a short section of the busy A35, can be equally enjoyed by walkers.

Note - The last three listed below also appear as New Forest walks.

For much of the year, the cycle routes are relatively little used by either cyclists or walkers, and they mainly follow compacted, usually gravel, tracks, which makes them ideal for use by walkers with a buggy, or when elsewhere the ground is wet and muddy. Passage of forestry vehicles can, however, sometimes result in a gathering of surface mud on the tracks.

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** New Forest ponies and other animals**
The New Forest
Commoners' ponies, cattle, pigs, sheep and donkeys are a popular part of the New Forest scene, but during 2019 agisters attended 159 road traffic accidents involving these animals, a small but disappointing increase on the 154 accidents attended in 2018.

Sadly, 58 animals were killed - 35 ponies, 13 cows, 8 donkeys and 2 sheep, whilst a further 32 were injured - 3 pigs, 9 donkeys, 11 cows and 9 ponies.

(Forty-three accidents occurred in daylight, 15 at twilight and 101 in the dark. Twenty-seven accidents were not reported by the driver involved).

Here's just one horrific example - Three donkeys killed in collision with van at notorious New Forest blackspot (Advertiser and Times)
** Always take care when driving **
Content produced by Andrew Walmsley
Content produced by Andrew Walmsley