Cycling, New Forest, cycle ride, Lyndhurst, Burley, Hampshire

A 72-mile circular cycle route through the New Forest, starting and finishing at Lyndhurst, makes for a rewarding autumn day out. The route follows country roads with a short section of bridleway, and while it was ridden here on mountain bikes and a cyclocross bike, road bikes would cover the ground faster.

Where to Stay

An early Saturday start allowed for a stay at the Lyndhurst Park Hotel on the Saturday evening. The hotel permits guests to leave cars in its car park during the day, though a permit must be obtained from reception. The exterior looks a little tired, but the rooms are fine and the buffet breakfast is adequate without being exceptional.

The Route

Riding anti-clockwise means most of the climbing is done in the morning. In truth, the route is not especially hilly, and much of the afternoon is spent on flat country roads, covering distance quickly.

The Day Itself

Cycling began at 8.30am and finished at 5pm. The day included several stops for map reading, a puncture repair, and around 45 minutes for lunch in Burley, 38 miles into the route. Average speed was 11.8 mph on a mountain bike.

The weather was cold but sunny — ideal conditions for autumn cycling. There are fine views over the rolling New Forest landscape in the open stretches of the route.

As with all New Forest rides, watch out for horses, ponies and cattle along the way. They often stand in the middle of the road or wander into it; at one point a herd of ponies galloped along the road.

Eating snacks early in the ride helped keep energy levels up later on — a lesson worth remembering rather than waiting until fatigue sets in.

Highlights

The best sections come before and after Burley. Before the village, there is a fine descent down Bolderwood Arboretum Ornamental Drive, a lovely winding road through the trees that runs downhill in this direction. After Burley, wide open roads with long-distance views allow for good progress through the afternoon.

The low point was putting a foot down while crossing a stream in the morning.

Summary

This is a fantastic ride covering a reasonable distance through some stunning New Forest scenery.