New Forest Cycle Ride - 4
Heathland and woodland between Brockenhurst and Beaulieu, including Beaulieu Heath and Frame Heath Inclosure

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

Latest News: New Forest Cycle Route Closures:
1) The cycle track at the start and end of this ride - either side of Hawkhill car park - has been closed.      There are easy alternatives available that allow access to the surrounding routes. Diversion signs are      in place. (The track is temporarily closed due to the concrete surfacing breaking up - it's become      unsafe to have open as a family cycling route. There are barriers at either end to discourage people      from using the route. Remedial work is being investigated).

2) The cycle track through New Copse Inclosure, near the 40 cycle track sign, is closed from October      until at least the end of December, 2009, and possibly longer - more news will be posted as it      becomes available.

In fact, for now, this ride is probably best avoided!

1)      Leave the car park, cross the minor road (B3055) – the first Bronze Age barrow is to the right here           - and continue south along the broken concrete, cycle track, which is actually an old, airfield service           road. Notice here also distant views across the heath to the hump-backed hills of the Isle of Wight.

2)      Reach a ‘T’ junction and turn right along a long-since disused, airfield taxiway.

3)      Follow the cycle track as it eventually swings round to the right where the concrete gives way for a           short distance to compacted gravel. Notice here to the left, the rounded hillock of a second Bronze           Age barrow, opposite a quite large, concrete rectangular area – a World War 2 hangar was here;           this is probably its site.

4)      And then shortly after, turn left at another ‘T’ junction. Almost immediately, ignore a turning on the           left (it is not a cycle track) and continue along the concrete track – this was the service road that           linked the airfield with staff living quarters in the area around what is now Roundhill camp site - to           reach Hedge Corner and the edge of the camp site.

5)      Notice to the right, half hidden amongst a group of conifers, the disused Second World War water           tower, whilst straight ahead can be seen an eroded, fenced Bronze Age barrow – the name,           ‘Pudding Barrow’, presumably refers to its shape.

6)      Follow along the narrow tarmac road with farmland on the left, and Roundhill camp site on the           right. After 0.5 kilometres (1/3 mile), follow the track as it goes sharp right, then after another 0.5           kilometres swings left past Round Pond to join the road out of the camp site, through Perrywood           Ironshill Inclosure.

7)      Cross a minor road – it’s the B3055 again – and enter New Copse Inclosure, following the sign           for New Copse Cottage.

8)      After 0.75 kilometres (½ mile), reach a crossroads and turn right, then after 1 kilometre (0.6           miles), leave New Copse Inclosure and turn left at a ‘T’ junction to travel along the driftway between           New Copse and Frame Heath Inclosures.

9)      After a short distance, at another ‘T’ junction, turn right into Frame Heath Inclosure; then after 1.5           kilometers (1 mile), turn right at cycle track sign number 41.

10)   After another 0.75 kilometers, go through a gate out of Frame Heath Inclosure, cross the narrow          driftway between Frame Heath and Hawkhill Inclosures, and enter Hawkhill Inclosure at another          gate.

11)   After a short distance, turn left at a ‘X’ roads – cycle track sign number 42. Note, though, that the          way straight ahead is not a cycle track. After 0.5 kilometres, take the next right turn at a ‘T’ junction.

12)   Reach the gate out of Hawkhill Inclosure, and the car park is to the left. (In Hawkhill Inclosure, by the          trackside not far from the exit gate, can be seen old, low walls, and the outline of building          foundations. A Second World War, Beaulieu Airfield bomb storage site was located here – maybe          these remains date back to that time).

Points of interest: