MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Never been there, but going this week for a long WE. What is there to do? Worth taking road / MTBs? A quick google suggests there's not much legit single track and the local BrownShirts / Verderers hate cyclists...
Contact Newforce cycle club.
Bikebouy has a cx loop (there was a thread). Not really mtb territory imo, xc at best. As a sailor I am more interested in stuff around the water, a few thoughts
Beaulieu village (try and go at high-ish tide), motor museum
Bucklers Hard (Master Builder for a beer, view of river, simple ship builders museum)
Lymington Town
Would suggest you take ferry to Yarmouth (on foot) for a stroll around, nice little beach a short walk away on other side of marina (always lots of boats), Salty's for lunch/dinner. Or take mtb's on ferry (not sure of cost) and do a ride around that part of the IoW and over to Freshwater Bay
There are a few spots to see the Solent / Needles from, little stone beach off coastal road from Bucklers Hard (Park Lane / Farm I think - no car access but can take a bike down there), Lepe Park or Keyhaven and maybe do the walk along Hurst Spit to the old Fort / light house or circular around marshes / nature reserve - again best at HW-ish I think so less mud visible !
I can post OS map snapshot if you wish
EDIT: Yarmouth, Wellow (via road), Hampstead trail south to Tennyson Way (trig point?) West along TW to Freshwater Bay, continue via road or path to West High Down above the Needles, back to Freshwater then follow track along River Yar to Yarmouth
EDIT: Yarmouth, Wellow (via road), Hampstead trail south to Tennyson Way (trig point?) West along TW to Freshwater Bay, continue via road or path to West High Down above the Needles, back to Freshwater then follow track along River Yar to Yarmouth
IOW is not NF!
XC/CX, plenty of trails, plenty of hardpack gravel in NF.
Roads nice enough but better if you head North out of it where the hills are, but you'll be surprised at the variety and climbing that is around the NF.
Easy enough to pick up a Cycle Route Guide from the bike shop in Burley, link up a few of the routes in there for a decent 3-4hr hack.
There are plenty of routes on Strava to nick, I've a few I use to test fitness on and one of my faves is on here somewhere in another NF thread, can't be bothered to reload it sorry.
I'd take a XC/CX bike and play in the woods.
IOW is not NF!
Yes, much obliged for the route, but we'd rather explore the New Forest whilst we're staying there! Leave IoW for another trip.....
Easy enough to pick up a Cycle Route Guide from the bike shop in Burley, link up a few of the routes in there for a decent 3-4hack.
Cool, will add that to the To Do list then. We'll take XC bikes...
@nixie yes I know that, having grown up in the area if I where doing a bike ride I'd take the ferry to the IoW, that ride I posted could be done with the family. When my kids where young we used to rent bikes from car park of motor museum and ride down to the little beach I mentioned. Happy days 10+ years ago now 🙁
I go to NF many times every year as we are 30 mins away and I have many friends who live around there normally to walk dogs and have a beer and/or lunch. My bias is there is not really 3 days of interesting stuff to do there and a ferry trip to the IoW would be something different and a bit more memorable. For me NF is all too flat and brown and a bit so-so
Not sure what you are interested in but there are some good restaurants in the area for a lunch which have cheap fixed price menus eg 3 courses for £25 at 5-star country house hotels (dinners are double/treble that)
Anyway have a great time and hopefully the weather is kind
NF has some decent xc offroad routes, none of which are permitted cycle paths. The place is pretty empty once you're out of the dogshit zone around car parks and actually very little if any open hostility - though the attitude of verderers and commoners assocn (and local press and MP) are openly against bikes and any other infernal modern contraptions. **** 'em I say; I'd have more inclination to listen if they were in any way accomodating of the 20th century (yes, I know you're in the 21st but they're still mired in 19th), but they aren't
Enjoy your stay and your riding. Trails will be largely dry & dusty/sandy (unless it pisses down at the end of this week) though you will also find mud as parts of it are bog. There's a few shrpish climbs but definitely "easy" riding unless you're really looking to work hard (in which case, take a road bike 😀 )
Most of the forest's roads are limited to 40 (notionally at least) but some of the surfaces are quite shit - drip'n'chip is the favoured surfacing technique. Having only just tried it recently, I prefer riding out of the forest; fewer tourists stopping to take photos and making random turns at late notice etc. Rural roads north of Romsey (Dean/Winterslow/Wallops etc) are decent enough, quieter and a few more hills than in the forest
WHere are you going to be staying ?
We're staying at Rhinefield House Hotel, Brockenhurst (wedding anniversary). Will take bikes and have a car, so keen to explore the area...
Right out of the hotel is the NCN2 gravel route....
My folks have a weekend place in Lymington and we are there a number of times a year. Have a walk along the Ornamental Drive at Rhinefield - there is a circular loop of 2km or so. Staggering trees and very tranquil. Lunch at The Pig in Brockenhurst is lovely, but make sure you book. Ride your bikes from Lymington to Keyhaven along the sea wall - you can catch a train from Brockenhurst to Lymington. Hurst Castle is interesting if you like that sort of thing.
Good tips!
We're staying at Rhinefield House Hotel, Brockenhurst (wedding anniversary). Will take bikes and have a car, so keen to explore the area...
You'll love it, I used to stay there a lot. Loads of trails through the woods you can explore and lead to nearby Brockenhurst and other areas.
If you go to The Pig in Brock, try the Pigs Head on the menu..
Bet you don't.
There are loads of good cycle tracks across the forest, the trails are rough-ish but not proper off road. Mountain bike will be fine but road bike will get a battering.
There are trail up the road from Brockehurst. Also good running trails - home ground
Ok, bikebuoy - you're not at the Bullingdon now
If you go to The Pig in Brock, try the Pigs Head on the menu..Bet you don't.
Have been served a complete pig in Sardinia, on a cycling holiday. Everything from Nose to Tail was consumed by the group....
If the weather is nice, the Rose & Crown in Brockenhurst has a decent beer garden for relaxing in. Food is OK there too.
My Brother's in-laws have a second home down a road almost opposite, that they let us use when we want.
Rather stupidly, we've only used it once so far.
There's a good Indian restaurant in Brockenhurst called Dynasty, I think. Booking would probably be required.
Lymington is worth a visit.
Oh, and Beaulieu is worth a visit if you've never been (& you like looking at old cars).....
Jump in the car and take the mountain bikes to Lordswood and Bassett Sports Centre's trails, you might even get a tour guide in the form of WCA. 😉