No matter how many times you visit The New Forest, there is always something new to see or somewhere you haven’t explored yet! The majority of times I have been to the forest I have been either exploring by foot or by car, both ways limit how much of the area you can see. By foot you can’t cover large distances and by car you are restricted to the roads. Discover my recommended New Forest cycling routes, for a fantastic day out in the forest. Heading out on a bike allows you to cover a larger area whilst still having the freedom of off-roading and discovering new parts of the forest.
ABOUT THE AREA
The New Forest covers an area of 556 square kilometres and is made up of tracks, woodland, heathland and river valleys. There is plenty of wildlife to see here, including cattle, horses, deers and ponies roaming the area freely providing a tranquil and unspoilt location, perfect for exploring by foot and bike. The New Forest covers South West Hampshire and South East Wiltshire and is easily accessible from Southampton, Bournemouth, Salisbury, Winchester and surrounding areas. One of my favourite parts of the New Forest is the pretty towns and villages which make for a perfect stop to grab a drink in one of the cosy pubs, or enjoy a roast dinner after a Sunday afternoon stroll – Perfect!
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
REFUEL
Pack a picnic to enjoy at your own leisure or visit The Cider Pantry which offers brunch lunch, cream teas, coffee and homemade cake. And why not treat yourself to a much deserved cider!
ALTERNATIVE NEW FOREST CYCLING ROUTES
Another beautiful area of the forest to explore by bike. Lepe Country Park.
BROCKENHURST
BIKE & EQUIPMENT HIRE
Cycle Experience is situated in Brockenhurst (SO42 7TW) and offers bike hire, you can check prices and availability by selecting your desired date and ride duration on their website.
Other great options depending on where you are starting form…
Forest Leisure Cycling – Ringwood
The Wood Cyclery – Lyndhurst
WHAT ELSE IS ON OFFER IN THE NEW FOREST?
Drive in Movies
Something exciting I spotted along the way which I thought was worth a mention – Drive in Movies was showing A Star Is Born in Holmsley. Check out this link to find out more about movie screenings.
New Forest Water Park
If your looking for ideas of places to visit during your stay in the forest, The New Forest Water Park is definitely worth checking out. The park offers a range of activities including kayaking, paddle boarding and wakeboarding, this is not your average water park!
Do you know any great New Forest cycling routes? Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear all about your adventures in the New Forest!
Tag your New Forest cycling routes. Tag/hashtag destinationdowntime.
