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New Forest Cycle Ride - 10
Woodland, heathland and farmland near Linwood

Location: The area around Linwood.

Distance: 10 kilometres (6¼ miles), including two stretches of relatively quiet roads.

Start: Milkham car park at the north-east edge of Milkham Inclosure (SU 217103).

Station: Ashurst, 16 kilometres (10 miles).
Alternative starts: Car parks north and north-west of Milkham Inclosure: High Corner (SU199104) and Spring Bushes (SU202102).
Forest Holidays camp sites:
Longbeech, 6 kilometres (3¾ miles);
Ocknell, 7 kilometres (4¼ miles).

Cycle ride 10 map
� Walking Distance (Maps) Ltd 2008. Reproduced by permission.    Walking Distance cycle maps.    Map purchase and contact info.

Directions:
(Only designated cycle tracks, and roads are usually mentioned; not footpaths and other tracks).

1)     Enter Milkham Inclosure and cycle mostly downhill for 2 kilometres (1¼ miles). Notice along here on          the right, south-facing side of the track, numerous enormous, conically shaped Southern Wood Ant          nests.

2)     Cross a bridge over the Linford Brook, and enter Roe Inclosure before, after a further 0.5 kilometres          (1/3 mile), turning right at the first ‘T’ junction – cycle track sign number 5.

3)     Almost immediately re-cross the brook at another bridge, continue uphill past Roe Cottage and into          the ancient, unenclosed woodlands of Red Shoot Wood – notice along here two magnificent, aged          pollard oaks, one on either side of the track.

4)     Reach a minor road, and turn left, downhill, before, after a further 0.5 kilometres, turning right into a          narrow lane beside The Red Shoot Inn.

5)     Pass a ‘No through road’ sign, and at the bottom of the hill, cross a ford and follow the lane round          as it turns sharply right – there are numerous old, coppiced hazels along here, evidence of a country          craft largely now obsolete.

6)     Leave the tarmac road and continue straight on, along a somewhat rutted track, then after a short          distance, ignore a non-cycle track turn to the right, and follow the cycle track straight ahead, over the          open expanse of Black Heath, with away to the left, the higher ground of Ibsley Common and, further          on, Ogden’s Purlieu.

7)     After just over 0.5 kilometres, cross a ford over a narrow stream and follow the cycle track as it goes          to the right.

8)     Pass Black Barrow – this seems to be a natural hillock rather than a Bronze Age Barrow – and after          another 1 kilometre (0.6 miles), pass close to Dockens Water before, at a ‘T’ junction, following the          track to the right, uphill.

9)      Follow the grassland edge before continuing on uphill, through the ancient, unenclosed woodlands          of High Corner Wood, past the High Corner Inn and across a corner of Broomy Plain.

10)   Reach a minor road and turn left. After 1.5 kilometres (1 mile), follow the road to the right – ignore          the cycle track on the left - and then after a further 0.5 kilometre, turn right along the cycle track to          return to the car park.

Points of interest:

Roe Inclosure
First enclosed 1811. Mixed broad-leaved and coniferous woodland.
Milkham Inclosure

First enclosed 1861. Coniferous woodland early in the route, but with nice stands of mature oak later on.

Ancient, unenclosed woodlands

Red Shoot Wood and High Corner Wood

New Forest streams

Linford Brook and Dockens Water

Heathland

Black Heath and Broomy Plain

Castle Piece
An earthwork enclosure considered to be of Iron Age date, lies just off the route in Roe Inclosure.
Ibsley Common

Views over the National Trust-owned Ibsley Common.

Ogden’s Purlieu
A purlieu is an area of land removed from the jurisdiction of the Forest. Ogden Rooke in the second half of the 17th century was apparently associated with this land, hence the name. It is now again within the bounds of the New Forest.

And finally, find out about the countryside and wildlife that can be seen during the cycle ride:

 

New Forest Places to Stay
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