Last week I did a 40 mile bike ride through the New Forest (Hampshire) on a really lovely early September day. It was fresh and clear and became sunny and warm - in the main short and T Shirt weather.
As I live on the Isle of Wight it was a foot passenger ferry crossing from Yarmouth into Lymington on the edge of the New Forest - a 40 minute crossing sat on the top deck in the lee of the breeze but in the early morning sun. Quiet and lovely and thinking about the day ahead.
From the Wightlink Ferry it was straight out onto the route - going east eventually towards Bucklers Hard and up towards Beaulieu. This is flat easy riding mostly on quiet lanes. This area is owned and maintained by the wealthy Beaulieu estate with Bucklers Hard and Beaulieu (Motor Museum) obviously tourist attractions. Traffic increases around them it was not an issue..
It is not long before we are in the forest itself on gravel tracks and Forestry Commission land. Our route takes us anti clockwise eventually towards Lyndhurst and down towards Brockenhurst, Setley and Boldre to complete the circular course back at a lovely pub and well earned beer and dinner on picturesque Lymington Quay with a view of all the beautiful (and expensive) yachts in the extensive harbour formed in the Beaulieu River Estuary.
To be honest I was not navigating on this occasion so I am not certain of the actual route. I do know it was an amalgam of 2 designated cycle routes put together to make up the distance for a days cyling in leisurely mode - with unhurried stops. Except for one stretch of A Road around Brockenhurst and the run back into Lymington we were occasionally on quiet tarmac lane but mostly on very quiet gravel walking/cycle paths through the lovely forest.
The New Forest is not of course new as it was declared as a Royal Forest by William the Conqueror in 1079! Much of it is wide open heathland - covered with bracken or gorse. There is much pine and some deciduous wood. It is very much a leisure area with lots of quiet car parks - camp sites and picnic areas. However it is not spoilt by commercialism - the camp sites are run either by the National Trust or the Forestry Commission. On this day - out of the main school season it was quiet and lovely and it is relatively easy to get away from civilisation although perhaps it never quiet feels truly "wild" as it is managed land after all.
The New Forest is perfect bike riding territory - mainly flat - mainly quiet and off road. I know it reasonably well from past visits - it would not be my idea of summer camping as it does get busy - but an easy place to enjoy out of season - very picturesque and convenient. A lovely day indeed.
I attach a few forest scenes from my mob camera below.
As I live on the Isle of Wight it was a foot passenger ferry crossing from Yarmouth into Lymington on the edge of the New Forest - a 40 minute crossing sat on the top deck in the lee of the breeze but in the early morning sun. Quiet and lovely and thinking about the day ahead.
From the Wightlink Ferry it was straight out onto the route - going east eventually towards Bucklers Hard and up towards Beaulieu. This is flat easy riding mostly on quiet lanes. This area is owned and maintained by the wealthy Beaulieu estate with Bucklers Hard and Beaulieu (Motor Museum) obviously tourist attractions. Traffic increases around them it was not an issue..
It is not long before we are in the forest itself on gravel tracks and Forestry Commission land. Our route takes us anti clockwise eventually towards Lyndhurst and down towards Brockenhurst, Setley and Boldre to complete the circular course back at a lovely pub and well earned beer and dinner on picturesque Lymington Quay with a view of all the beautiful (and expensive) yachts in the extensive harbour formed in the Beaulieu River Estuary.
To be honest I was not navigating on this occasion so I am not certain of the actual route. I do know it was an amalgam of 2 designated cycle routes put together to make up the distance for a days cyling in leisurely mode - with unhurried stops. Except for one stretch of A Road around Brockenhurst and the run back into Lymington we were occasionally on quiet tarmac lane but mostly on very quiet gravel walking/cycle paths through the lovely forest.
The New Forest is not of course new as it was declared as a Royal Forest by William the Conqueror in 1079! Much of it is wide open heathland - covered with bracken or gorse. There is much pine and some deciduous wood. It is very much a leisure area with lots of quiet car parks - camp sites and picnic areas. However it is not spoilt by commercialism - the camp sites are run either by the National Trust or the Forestry Commission. On this day - out of the main school season it was quiet and lovely and it is relatively easy to get away from civilisation although perhaps it never quiet feels truly "wild" as it is managed land after all.
The New Forest is perfect bike riding territory - mainly flat - mainly quiet and off road. I know it reasonably well from past visits - it would not be my idea of summer camping as it does get busy - but an easy place to enjoy out of season - very picturesque and convenient. A lovely day indeed.
I attach a few forest scenes from my mob camera below.
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