New Forest 3, 4 or 7 Day B&B Tours

We've combined B&B hospitality with our expert route advice, quality equipment and reliable support to create self-guided tours that are affordable and fun. These trips have flexible start dates and operate all year round.

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NEW FOREST 3 Day Self-Guided Bed & Breakfast Tour

Day 1 - We suggest you catch the train to Brockenhurst in the heart of the New Forest and arrive early evening for your first night's accommodation. Our cycle centre is located in a restored railway carriage at Brockenhurst station and your accommodation is within walking distance or a short taxi ride. At a time that suits you, simply make your way to the Cycle Centre to pick up your cycling equipment. We're open from 09.30 to 17.30 every day. A rep will introduce you to your bicycles and accessories and review the rules for safe cycling in the U.K. He'll also explain how to read our route sheets and provide you with a set of Ordnance Survey maps for your self-guided tour.

DAY 2 Beaulieu, Buckler's Hard & Exbury Gardens - Your tour begins with a gentle ride through wooded lanes, where New Forest ponies graze in villages of pretty thatched cottages. Pedalling across the heath land you'll glimpse the sea on the horizon before reaching historic Beaulieu - with its Abbey, village pond and antique shops. The return route to Brockenhurst includes some Forestry Commission tracks and provides a taste of leisurely off-road cycling.

Basic Route 19.8 miles. Exbury option adds 7.5 miles. Bucklers Hard option adds 8 miles.
Shorter Option The Standing Hat & Butterfly ride is 10.7 miles
Longer Options The Exbury option leads to Exbury Gardens - 250 acres of Rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias in a river setting owned by the Rothschild family. The Buckler's Hard option visits Nelson's naval shipyard.
Terrain Flat; easy forest tracks and country lanes.

DAY 3 Furzey, Minstead and The Deer Sanctuary - It's a leisurely ride along the Rhinefield Ornamental drive to the popular forest village of Burley. In near-by Rockford, the landscape changes into an exposed heath with magnificent views. Tour the delightfully landscaped grounds of Furzey Gardens before following quiet country lanes to the picturesque village of Minstead with its intriguing church. On the return ride to Brockenhurst there's a chance to do some deer spotting at the Boulderwood Deer Sanctuary before your bicycling break comes to an end and you turn in your bicycles before departing.

Basic Route 34 miles. Deadman's Hill option adds 15 miles.
Longer Option: The Deadman's Hill option takes in pretty hamlets and Heathland overlooking the Avon Valley, before climbing to the highest point of the Forest, Telegraph Hill.
Shorter Option: The Deer Sanctuary ride is 18 miles and includes easy off-road routes where deer have been known to leap across your path!
Terrain: Easy forest roads and tracks, with some gentle hills. Longer option is hilly.

PRICE: £210 per person (based on two people sharing)
Skill Level: Novice
Terrain : Flat with minor gradients. Forestry Commission tracks provide traffic-free cycling for beginners and children.
Trip start/finish : Brockenhurst/Brockenhurst
Local rail station : Brockenhurst, Hampshire

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Days 1&2 - Same as above

DAY 3 The Isle of Wight - England in Miniature - At Brockenhurst station you and your bikes catch the 9 minute train ride to Lymington Pier where it's an easy transfer to the Isle of Wight ferry and a delightful thirty minute crossing to Yarmouth. You'll cycle through peaceful north coast villages to the 'ghost town' of Newtown. Leaving it's creeks and marshes head inland to Calbourne and the much-photographed row of pretty thatched cottages at Winkle Street, through Brighstone Forest and on to Mottistone Manor. It's then west to the multi-coloured cliffs of Alum Bay. There's time for a stroll for spectacular views of the famous Needles rocks and Lighthouse before cycling back to Yarmouth via the traffic-free river cycle path.

Basic Route 26.2 miles. Shorwell option adds 13.1 miles. The Needles shorter option is 16.0 miles
Longer Option The Shorewell option loops out from the basic route at Brighstone Forest across the downs to the village of Shorwell and re-joins the basic route at Mottistone.
Shorter Option The Needles ride uses the River Yar's cycle path and reaches The Needles Lighthouse & Museum. This is an easy ride.
Terrain Starts out flat, then undulating country lanes. There is one long climb to Brighstone Forest.

DAY 4 Furzey, Minstead and The Deer Sanctuary - It's a leisurely ride along the Rhinefield Ornamental drive to the popular forest village of Burley. In near-by Rockford, the landscape changes into an exposed heath with magnificent views. Tour the delightfully landscaped grounds of Furzey Gardens before following quiet country lanes to the picturesque village of Minstead with its intriguing church. On the return ride to Brockenhurst there's a chance to do some deer spotting at the Boulderwood Deer Sanctuary before your bicycling break comes to an end and you turn in your bicycles before departing.

Distances 34 miles. Deadman's Hill option adds 15 miles. The Deer Sanctuary shorter option is 18 miles.
Longer Option The Deadman's Hill option takes in pretty hamlets and Heathland overlooking the Avon Valley, before climbing to the highest point of the Forest, Telegraph Hill..
Shorter Option The Deer Sanctuary ride includes easy off-road routes where deer have been known to leap across your path!
Terrain Easy forest roads and tracks, with some gentle hills. Longer option is hilly.

PRICE: £264 per person (based on two people sharing)
Skill Level: Novice
Terrain:
New Forest: Flat with minor gradients on Forestry Commission tracks providing traffic-free cycling for beginners and children.
Isle of Wight: Starts out flat, then undulating country lanes. There is one long climb to Brighstone Forest.
Trip start/finish Brockenhurst/Brockenhurst
Local rail station Brockenhurst, Hampshire

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DAYS 1-2 - Same as above.

DAY 3 - 26 or 39 miles
It’s a short pedal to Brockenhurst station where you and your bikes board the train for the ten-minute ride to Lymington. At this quaint yachting centre it’s an easy transfer to the Isle of Wight ferry for a delightful thirty minute crossing to the fortified port of Yarmouth.

From Yarmouth you’ll cycle through peaceful north coast villages to the "ghost town" of Newtown. Leaving it’s creeks and marshes head inland to Calbourne and the much photographed row of pretty thatched cottages at Winkle Street, through Brighstone Forest, past Mottistone Manor en route to the multi-coloured cliffs at Alum Bay. There’s time for a short walk with spectacular views of the famous Needles rocks and Lighthouse before cycling along the traffic-free river path back to Yarmouth to catch the ferry.

DAY 4 - 11, 40 or 55 miles
The Rhinefield Ornamental drive, is a tree-lined avenue of rare and exotic species that leads to the popular forest village of Burley. At the hamlet of Rockford the landscape changes into an exposed heath with magnificent views before returning to woodland near Furzey Gardens. There’s time to tour these delightfully landscaped grounds before following quiet country lanes to the picturesque village of Minstead and its intriguing church. There’s a chance to do some deer spotting from the observation platform at Bolderwood before returning to Brockenhurst.

At Brockenhurst station you and your bikes board the train for the hour-long journey to Wareham, an unspoilt Saxon town in Dorset. Your luggage awaits you at your B&B where there’s time to relax before wandering into town for a well-deserved meal.

DAY 5 - 18, 26, 30 or 40 miles
Today you’ll explore the Purbeck region of Dorset. The Blue Pool at Furzebrook marks the beginning of the day’s only challenging climb to the top of Knowle Hill. From here it’s freewheeling into the Corfe valley. The castle’s dramatic ruins dominate the landscape and you’ll learn about its dark and bloody past before heading for the sea at Studland You can hike along Ballard Down for a view of Old Harry Rocks, the sandy beach at Studland and the magnificent Dorset chalk cliffs. At the Victorian seaside resort of Swanage it’s all aboard a restored steam train for the ride to Harman’s Cross before returning through Corfe Castle to Wareham via the nature reserve at Arne.

DAY 6 - 25 or 35 miles
Your visit to Hardy Country starts with a short ride through Wareham forest to the historic market town of Bere Regis. The Saxon church contains the tombs of the Turberville family, inspiration for Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles. Unspoilt valleys, peaceful villages and more fine views are enjoyed on the way to Milton Abbas, the 18th Century model village which had troubled beginnings. There’s time to explore the Abbey and climb the grassy steps to St Catherine’s Chapel before the return ride to Wareham.

DAY 7 - 20 miles
Hike and bike to some of West Dorset’s most dramatic scenery. The short and gentle route leads to Lulworth Cove a beautiful bay surrounded by high cliffs. Shorter mileage leaves plenty of time to secure your bikes and hike the Dorset Coast path to the impressive rock archway known as Durdle Door.

From Lulworth Cove it’s a gentle climb to neighbouring East Lulworth where the recently restored ruined castle and chapel stand in beautiful wooded parkland. After sharing a pint with the locals at the award-winning Weld Arms pub, it’s a flat ride back to Wareham where its time to leave your bicycles and catch the train home.

PRICE: £570 per person (based on two people sharing)
Skill Level: Occasional
Terrain : Undulating with a couple of climbs.
Trip start/finish : Brockenhurst/Wareham
Local rail station Brockenhurst, Hampshire , Wareham, Dorset

What's included on your Bed & Breakfast Bicycle Tour?

• Bed & breakfast with private facilities in selected inns/guest houses
  
• Support of a representative
  
• 21 speed bicycle complete with accessories
  
• Set of O/S maps with routes marked on
  
• Detailed route sheets highlighting places of interest
  
• Daily mileage options with several levels of challenge
  
• Luggage delivery to your room (on all inn-to-inn tours)
  
• Souvenir t-shirt & water bottle
  
• Our Equipment - fleet of 21 speed cycles have been carefully selected for their comfort, reliability and ease of use. All are 'hybrid' bikes* with upright handlebars, mudguards, pump, rear rack, water bottle & cage, security lock and key. All bikes are fitted with puncture-free inner tubes. Helmets are provided free of charge.

Easy Access - Take the train and enjoy a car-free holiday All B&Bs are within walking distance or a short ride from the local rail station