Bike ride from Totton to Brockenhurst, Bolderwood and return via Lyndhurst

Thursday 29 August, with Harry. It's basically the same ride as Monday, in reverse. We tried to find another cut across from Matley Camp site to Brockenhurst, but ended up walking the bikes for about a mile.

Still and all, we saw a lot of puffball mushrooms, and a roof full of house martins - flying around and resting. I imagine they're feeding up ready for their journey south in the not too distant future.

Coffee in the woods, just before the Frohawk Ride, and lunch at Bolderwood. 

Do I have to move again?

28 miles and 630 feet of up and down. Cooler than on Monday, and fewer cars on the roads. It was beautiful weather for cycling.

Not le Mont Ventoux!

Cycling - Totton, Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst

Monday 26 August 2019, with Harry.

What a great pattern our GPS trace makes for a rather fine bike ride. Hot bank holiday Monday, and some horrible surfaces on forest tracks. Quite a demanding 28.4 mile ride, but enjoyable!

We headed for Lyndhurst via Deerleap and forest tracks, emerging on to Beaulieu Road, and reaching Lyndhurst near Boltons Bench. We walked through the very crowded and traffic-dense little town, then followed back roads to Emery Down and the Bolderwood car park. A good place for coffee, and it has public toilets. 

We were glad to escape the billowing barbecue smoke and ride downhill all the way into Brockenhurst. A courteous lorry driver held up the traffic while we and others crossed the main road!

Brockenhurst was busy too, and there was a mini traffic jam near Balmer Lawn, but once we'd passed that and were on forest tracks again, we saw very few people - a few families on bikes, a few people walking. 

We found a shaded spot for lunch near the Frohawk Ride.

Then it was back towards Beaulieu Road. We came out a short distance below Matley Wood, then retraced the route to Deerleap and back to base.

Cycling - Lyndhurst, Emery Down, Brockenhurst, Bolderwood circular - and in reverse another day.

About 18 miles each time.

Friday 17 August, and Monday 20 August. With Harry. About 500 feet of climbing, and some rough going on forest gravel tracks. Warm.

Setting off from the Boltons Bench car park, we walked through Lyndhurst with its busy one-way system - if ever a place needed a by pass, this is it!

We took the A337 for a few hundred yards before turning left for Pikes Hill, and continuing to Emery Down. A very narrow road with far too much traffic - I know, it is the height of the tourist season!

We then encountered a very large group of cyclists from Germany, doing a guided cycle tour. Too many in one group for my taste, but whatever floats your boat.

From Emery Down we turned left just after the pub, cycling past Millyford Bridge and the Portuguese Fireplace  climbing steadily towards the Bolderwood parking area, where we paused briefly before heading down Bolderwood Arboretum Ornamental Drive, which wasn't too busy and then across the A35 and down Rhinefield Ornamental Drive. This was pretty busy, and at one point we were overtaken by at least 20 motorbikes in a herd! 

We reached Brockenhurst, cycled through the ford and headed for the Buttery cafe for coffee and teacake. No longer full of badger and bear toys - now we have a cock and hen!

After that it was over to Balmerlawn, and following the forest tracks to Lyndhurst.

On Monday we followed the route in reverse. 

Lots of donkey and pony foals in the Forest.

A good stretch of the legs.

New Forest bicycle meander

On forest tracks near Brockenhurst.  Monday 13 August. About 11 miles.

We parked at Brockenhurst and had coffee and teacakes before setting off.

Some of the tracks have fresh gravel which makes for a bumpy ride, but it's away from the constant traffic, and very pleasant.

We met a family from Germany, whose two children were fascinated by the ants.

New Forest Jaunts 2 - cycling from Lyndhurst to Bolderwood and Brockenhurst

About 15 miles on a fine cold day, with a bit of a wind and some hills to get the blood moving.

From Lyndhurst up Pike hIll, and via Emery Down to Bolderwood. We passed the Portuguese Fireplace on the way.

Next to the memorial is a plaque:

"This is the site of a hutted camp occupied by a Portuguese army unit during the first World War. This unit assisted the depleted local labour force in producing timber for the war effort. The Forestry Commission have retained the fireplace from the cookhouse as a memorial to the men who lived and worked here and acknowledge the financial assistance of the Portuguese government in its renovation." 

 In order to help with the timber production for the war, a Portuguese Army unit working for the Canadian Timber Corps helped the local population whilst local foresters were away fighting. 

Bolderwood is a very popular spot with a large car park - there was even an ice-cream van, but we were not tempted. 

Well wrapped up against the cold.

From Bolderwood there is a very pleasant and mainly downhill ride along the Bolderwood and  Rhinefield Ornamental Drive eventually arriving at Brockenhurst, where we stopped for coffee at the Buttery.

We took the main road for the three final miles back to Lyndhurst - rather too busy to be really enjoyable, but the whole ride was excellent.

Cycling from Lyndhurst to Brockenhurst

Wed, 2013 Nov 13 10:03 AM GMT

With Harry. Lovely ride through fairly quiet roads. Had a coffee in Brock and Bruin with Esther, then returned via forest tracks - some excessively muddy. Beautiful day, though chilly. 17 miles.

This is probably the best weather of the week - it reminds us of our first visit to the area, crisply cold with hoar frost on the grass, and bright sunshine, with mist rising from any water.

 We take the bikes from Lyndhurst through Pike Hill, and Emery Down, then up to Bolderwood, with a fairly steep section to test the legs. 

From  the car park we turn left and roll down the Bolderwood Ornamental  Drive, with lovely sun and autumn leaf effects.

  Next we cross the A35, and the road becomes the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, passes the tall trees, the Knightwood Oak, and the Arboretum before reaching Whitemoor heath and arriving at Brockenhurst.

Esther has come to meet us with Hazel in the buggy, and we walk across the bridge over the (dry) ford, and head for the Brock and Bruin tearoom.  Scones and caffeine oil the wheels - of the brain if not the bike.

We return via Balmer Lawn and the gravel tracks, but take a wrong turning, at either the 13 or 14 mile point, and end up in some sticky mud. We extricate ourselves and go back to the A337 main road for the final mile into Lyndhurst, and a much-needed shower for ourselves and the bikes - and my shoes. I guess I'm lucky not to have lost one of them for good.

I'll pinch a few of Harry's photos, since I didn't take my camera!

Map and details here