This route is a classic for anyone who lives along the south coast and can be started from anywhere in the new forest and the surrounding towns or cities (including Lymington, Southampton, Salisbury, Bournemouth and Poole), and isn’t hard to get to via the main trainline to London Waterloo which stops in Brockenhurst. It takes in the exposed windy sections around Stoney Cross, but also the beautiful, wooded areas near Brockenhurst. I would recommend checking the wind direction before heading out… Though it is flat, it can be very tough with an hour and a half of block headwind. I like to describe riding around the new forest as equivalent to a turbo session – you very rarely have to stop pedalling – but with the bonus of being outside, enjoying the fresh air and countryside. You can ride it in either direction, the only part that changes is the one-way system through Lyndhurst. One main reason why I love to ride my bike is the freedom and the views, and this ride has plenty of them. Through the thick layers of gorse and heather, past all the horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and donkeys, you can see for miles, and if it’s a clear day, you’ll even be able to see the Isle of Wight just over The Solent. I know safety is often an issue with riding out on the roads, so another reason why I tend to stick to the New Forest is because of the 40mph speed limit and narrower roads meaning cars are driving a lot slower, and from a rider’s perspective, the road surface is impeccable, so very few potholes to be concerned about. I do this route a lot, or at least variations of it. That’s the nicest thing about riding around the New Forest: there aren’t a lot of roads, so once you get to know the area, you can never get lost, and just turn when you feel like turning, no route required! If you fancy a longer loop, you can add in the Lepe loop which takes you right down to the beach near Calshot just a stone’s throw from the Isle of Wight! Or you can shorten it and focus on one area of the New Forest. You will likely be caught in a donkey jam at some point along the way, though the best part is, on a bike you can easily get past. In the summer it can get quite busy with cars stopping to look at the animals, so be mindful of sudden braking and phones emerging from car windows. I have definitely photobombed someone’s video of the deer before as I was riding past the queue! The new forest is stunning all year round, even in the rain! The little elevation change means there is very few descents that require you to stop pedalling, so even on the coldest days, once you get warm, you’ll usually stay that way. If you like a good café stop, I can recommend The Bakehouse in Beulieu. It sits halfway up the quaint, cobbled high street and often has donkeys outside waiting for that dropped bit of cake! Talking of cake, the slices are enormous, and when it’s hot, you can even ask for ice cream on the side! If you’ve got a gravel bike, you’ll be in paradise around here. Though this route is all on road, you can turn of pretty much anywhere to join one of the hundreds of possible bike routes on the fire roads. I love this because you really become part of the beautiful view you were admiring from the road five miles ago.
