New Forest gravel route (Christchurch to Hythe)

Can anyone recommend a good / scenic / fast-ish gravel route across the New Forest ? Will be riding Christchurch to Hythe Ferry.  Ideally going fairly direct, but am keen to avoid roads as much as possible.

A .gpx would be amazing.

Thanks all !

Sorry, not moi part of the forest.

The approved routes will be on here ( https://www.forestryengland.uk/sites/default/files/documents/New-Forest_Cycle-Routes-Map_2021_0.pdf ) – those that aren’t roads will almost def be gravel trails and pretty much weatherproof

I’m almost certain that it’s also possible to ride along the seafront from Mudeford at least to Highcliffe beach if that helps

You can ride from Mudeford to Barton On Sea along the cliff tops.

@kerley is the local you need for forest info

Probably something like this though I’d also probably not bother with the ferry (assuming you are planning to catch it) and go via the deerleep to the east of Ashurst then follow the mostly cycle path into the city centre.

https://www.komoot.com/invite-tour/1325801147?code=lcxw94-4W4sLgRngYcuVrsfDrQuUuy6NrcpVzfCHUejOfx6hnE&ref=&share_token=aa43JbBIdw3gXVYtLDQs437PJhjf5NDv65Pn0V6F1AwcXaRMdt

The is a reasonable amount of road on that. You can avoid some more towards the end but the is definitely cheeky.

Get to Lyndhurst from Brockenhurst on the gravel track network then you can get all the way into Southampton via busketts in closure to woodlands road then there’s a decent bridleway into Totton then you can pick up the cycle paths through Totton and across the Redbridge flyover into Southampton. Easier than getting to Hythe and misses the ferry out.

@kerley is the local you need for forest info

None of my loops go much past Brockenhurst so don’t have a clue beyond that to Hythe. My riding is all about the first half of that blue line.

@Kerley, from Brockenhurst, you can cycle all the way to hythe by literally just crossing about 2 or 3 roads. Into standing hat, Aim for pigbush, cross the Exbury road and end up at Dibden enclosure. Some of the paths are ‘cheeky’ but it’s the New Forest and they are very heavily used/cycled, and almost 100% gravel.

For non-locals, the NF has a truely ridiculous set of bylaws enforced by the verderers that are best ignored. it’s not your typical footpath/bridleway scenario. There are an astonishingly low number of ‘legal’ cycleways, and many that are ‘illegal’ (only to bikes, not horses, horse riders, walkers and local traffic) are 15′ wide gravel tracks.

(I live in Hythe)

@Kerley, from Brockenhurst, you can cycle all the way to hythe by literally just crossing about 2 or 3 roads. Into standing hat, Aim for pigbush, cross the Exbury road and end up at Dibden enclosure. Some of the paths are ‘cheeky’ but it’s the New Forest and they are very heavily used/cycled, and almost 100% gravel.

Thanks but don’t do long enough rides to go to Hythe and back as all my rides are from my door and don’t ride over 30 miles.

As for the verderers, this picture says it all (yes they are as big **** as they look)