New Forest Cycling; New Forest Cycle Rides

New Forest Cycling

	Cyclists enjoying a ride in the New Forest

New Forest Cycling is a wonderful experience that can be enjoyed by young and not so young, alike.

Travel at leisurely pace through some of the best countryside in England, absorb the very special atmosphere of this historic landscape, and enjoy a little exercise as well! What could be better?

New Forest Cycling can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and virtually all levels of fitness, using a specially provided network of cycle routes that extend for more than 160 kilometres (100 miles) over usually dry, compacted, off-road tracks and minor roads - use by forestry vehicles can, though, sometimes result in surface mud gathering on the tracks.

New Forest Cycle Rides are great for families, too. All the cycle routes are signposted, and, as most are off-road, cyclists with young children can enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside without the noise, and risk to life and limb posed by speeding cars.
 
A number of suggested, circular New Forest Cycle Rides of varying length are included here. All start in Forestry Commission car parks or locations where roadside parking is available. Many are also readily accessible from local villages, cycle hire businesses and the railway stations at Ashurst, Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst and Sway. From May to early September, cyclists may also wish to try the New Forest Tour Bus, on which cycles can be carried - details of the tour bus route, times and fares are here.

Some of the suggested New Forest Cycle Rides cross open heathland, yellow with springtime gorse, then purple with summer heather; whilst all pass through magnificent, mature woodlands - but not just ordinary woodlands. Some are ancient, unenclosed pasture woods, open to grazing by deer, ponies and cattle. Others were planted up to 300 years ago, originally to provide timber for Navy ships.

With each set of New Forest Cycle Ride details, links are provided to information about the woodlands and other places passed through; and, to help provide a context, there’s also a brief outline of when and why the inclosures were set down.

A copy of the New Forest Cycle Code is available, which includes a map showing the complete network of New Forest Cycle Routes. It's also advisable to carry a copy of the Ordnance Survey map of the area - it's Explorer OL22.

Please be aware, though, that to help protect valuable wildlife habitats and the species that depend on them, cycling on the Crown Lands of the New Forest is restricted to the way-marked Cycle Routes. Indeed, cyclists contravening this local by-law risk a fine of up to £500.

And finally, do enjoy cycling in this magnificent landscape, but  please treat it with respect:

• Take all litter home – it is unsightly and can also have unfortunate consequences for wild animals and commoners' stock.
• Don’t be tempted to pick wild flowers (or anything else) – it potentially damages the ecology of the New Forest, harms the individual species and is often illegal, too.
• Don’t feed the ponies or other commoners' stock – it’s bad for their diet, attracts them to roadsides and car parks where traffic accidents are always a risk, and encourages nuisance begging.
• And do close gates behind you – to create conditions where wild flowers flourish, stock are deliberately excluded from many of the woodland inclosures, and deer also from some. Open gates are an invitation that few animals can resist.
  Stock, primarily ponies, are, however, encouraged to enter a small number of inclosures - for example, Burley Old and Dames Slough - so as to introduce something of the character of unenclosed woodland into these places. Gates here are accordingly locked open. Please leave them as you find them.

Note: Occasionally, public access is not available to some areas of the New Forest whilst thinning or other Forestry Commission management work is underway – paths are closed for short periods for the safety of both visitors and workers. Similarly, to reduce surface damage, a small number of car parks are closed, primarily in winter. Check out the Forestry Commission web site for up to-date details.