You can obviously cycle on the Forest roads, but it isn’t always pleasant having to share roads with other traffic. Fortunately, it isn’t always necessary for cyclists to use the public roads.
Forestry England has provided over 100 miles of off-road cycle routes in the New Forest so that you can explore the depths of the Forest in a much more pleasant way.
The Park Authority have route finder with both map and instructions for some sample routes.
Alternatively, you can download a map of the cycle routes from the New Forest Park Authority website. You should be aware that only car parks on the cycle network are marked on this map.
As you explore the Forest, you will notice route markers with a number and QR code. If you are in an area with internet access, the QR code will take you to the Park Authority’s map. However, you should not expect to find every marker post on this map as it is designed to be printed in A4 format.
However, there is a map from Merritt Cartographic which was designed to be viewed online, and so takes advantage of the ability to zoom and therefore can show every marker post.
For reasons of safety, it is not recommended that you cycle on the main roads (A35 and A337) through the Forest. During the summer months, the New Forest Tour Bus carries bikes along these roads at no extra charge. The dashes on the Park Authority map show whether the road is served by the Red, Blue or Green routes.
Between Ashurst and Lyndhurst, cyclists can avoid using the busy main road and enjoy the safety of the tarmac cycle path on the northern side of the road.
Cyclists should never use green tracks and footpaths as bikes can badly damage them, particularly in damp spots. If you need to leave the cycle network, then push your bike until you re-join it.
However, there are a variety of Bike Parks in and around the New Forest area where the responsible adventure cyclist can practise their craft.
If you don’t have your own bike, there are a number of hire locations in the forest. There are also people who will act as a guide for your forest adventure.
Please enjoy cycling responsibly in the New Forest.
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