This route starts at the station in the village of Brockenhurst, which retains a lot of its charm, including a ford at the end of the main street, and the New Forest’s oldest church (St Nicholas, established in 800 AD).
There are a couple of bike hire businesses in Brockenhurst.
The old railway line passes through attractive areas of heathland and pine woodland, a unique landscape where you might come across a group of wild ponies.
The New Forest is a patchwork of different wildlife habitats, so keep an eye open for its less obvious inhabitants – birds and bees or even wild roe deer at certain times of the day.
Refreshments can be found at The Old Station Tea Rooms at Holmsley. Holmsley was the site of one of 12 makeshift airfields that played a vital role in the D-day landings.
There is a large memorial, topped by a Dakota propeller, to commemorate the aircrew and local civilians who worked there.
The route currently ends at Thorney Hill, just north of Bransgore.
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Please note
We have taken all responsible steps to ensure that these routes are safe and achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness.
However, all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. To the extent permitted by law, Sustrans accepts no responsibility for any accidents or injury resulting from following these routes.
Walking and cycling routes change over time. Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces.
Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability, experience and confidence levels of those in your group.