The New Forest is a truly beautiful place to ride a bike – it is safe, there are varying degrees of difficulty, and there’s always a chance you will spot the famous wildlife like deer, birds and ponies.
If you are looking for family cycle routes New Forest, then look no further – we have found a great selection of routes for you to choose from.
Family Cycle Routes In New Forest
Ornamental Woods
This route is between 10 and 14 miles, depending on if you take the optional extension to the route, but it is, in general, super flat.
Perfect for families with young children (or people who don’t like hills!) this route takes you through some beautiful traffic-free scenery.
Your route ends up at a well-known pub – Oak Inn – which does get pretty busy on
weekends and holidays, so it’s a good idea to book if you plan to end up there.
You will have the chance to hire bikes, if you haven’t brought any, making this an accessible fun trip for all the family.
Beaulieu & Bucklars Hard
A longer route, this one is calculated between 13 and 16 miles. It is incredibly beautiful, and you can choose to cut it shorter if you wish.
You will pass the largest freshwater pond in the New Forest, and the majority of the route takes you alongside a river. Something a bit different if you’re tired of staring at trees!
The return journey goes along a disused railway, so you know there will be no danger from passing traffic and your little ones will be safe.
Burley On Your Backisde
Try not to laugh at the cheeky name! This long route (it’s around 24 miles) takes in a lot of the countryside from Brockenhurst to Ringwood.
The route is partly a cycle track, but the rest is made up of quiet lanes and woodland trails – perfect for spotting wildlife.
You can also stop off and learn about the fascinating history of Burley, also known as “the smuggler’s village”, before stopping at a local cider farm to fuel you up for the return journey!
Lizard Loop
This route is perfect for those with small children who love wildlife, as it stops off at Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary where your little ones can catch a glimpse of some deer.
Be warned – the Lizard Loop is harder on little legs than some others, as it goes to a high point of 360 feet at Bolderwood!
However, there are plenty of places you can stop and take advantage of a cream tea, to give you and your family enough energy and fuel to keep going.
Lepe And Exbury Loop
This route is great for exploring a lesser-known part of the New Forest, and will take you along quiet country lanes.
You will see woodlands, farmland and the beautiful countryside, and there is even a beach you can stop at to take a quick paddle.
This route is not too close to local amenities and shops, so make sure you pack a picnic and a drink to stop those cries of, “Mum, I’m hungry!”
Northern Forest Circular
This 10 mile circular route will take you through some stunning scenery – think rolling hills, heather moors and pretty little villages.
The circular ride is mainly on quiet country lanes, so do watch out for cars – but it won’t be anything like cycling on a motorway.
You will pass several family friendly pubs en route, so you can stop for food and drinks either on the way there or the way back.
Brockenhurst To Lindhurst
This cycle trail is absolutely perfect for those families with horse-mad kids – there are ponies just about everywhere on this one!
It’s a shorter route, at just 10 miles, and the going is fairly easy for little legs, and those who are less cycle proficient.
This route takes you through some beautiful woodlands as well as open heathland, so you should be able to spot all sorts of wildlife as well as the ponies.
Milford-On-Sea To Lymington, Via Solent Way
Although the New Forest is famous for its woodlands, there is also a rather lovely coastline to admire too – and that is what you can do on this cycle route.
You start at Hurst Spit, near the famous castle, and travel on through the paths through Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve (keep an eye out for wildlife!)
You will end up in the quirky town of Lymington, where you will be able to find some fish and chips or an ice cream to give you the strength for the ride back.
Villages, Views And Vales
This is a slightly longer ride than some, at 15 miles – but it is entirely on smooth, tarmacked roads, making it easier on the legs.
You will see some glorious sights – pretty little villages, gorgeous natural forests, and a high viewpoint so you can see across the local area.
You will have a choice of no less than 6 local pubs to choose from, to reward yourself after your long day of cycling!
The Owl And Reptile Ride
This one is a great route to take if your little ones aren’t keen on cycling, but do like birds, bugs and creepy crawlies!
The route is 11 miles, and it goes through some beautiful, quiet country lanes where you can enjoy smooth riding and very little traffic.
You will end up at Liberty’s Owl And Reptile Centre, which will be incredibly interesting for anyone interested in the natural world. Even if you don’t see the wild ponies, a few owls and a lizard or several should make up for this!
Final Words
The New Forest is such a wonderful place to visit – it is pretty much unspoilt, and is a great example of well-managed woodlands and moors.
Once you have visited once, you will want to return – and seeing it from a bike is wonderful as you are even closer to nature. For more family cycling routes in the UK, check this or this guide.
