The Old Railway — New Forest National Park

Bike touring routes & trails

The Old Railway — New Forest National Park

Easy

4.8

(22)

110

riders

The Old Railway — New Forest National Park

01:09

14.5km

90m

Cycling

Starting at the charming village of Brockenhurst in the centre of the New Forest, this tour follows the disused railway line known as "Castleman's Corkscrew", so named due to the path it takes across the forest.

The route mostly follows off-road cycle tracks, and also includes a few well-surfaced roads.

by New Forest National Park

Last updated: June 13, 2024

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

New Forest National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

3.54 km

Castleman's Corkscrew Trailway

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

Known as the Castleman's Corkscrew, this former Southampton to Dorchester railway line is an excellent flat gravel track. It forms a section of National Cycle Network 2 that connects Brockenhurst with Burley. It was named after its founder Charles Castleman, and the meandering route it took.

Tip by

5.35 km

Old Railway Bridge at Set Thorns Inclosure

Highlight • Trail

The bridge is along the boundary of the Set Thorns Inclosure, with the old railway line passing through the northern tip of the tall pine and oak woodland.

Tip by

9.20 km

Holmsley Station platform

Highlight • Historical Site

Original Platform for Holmsley Station plus other railway related history. Well worth a stop and look around before crossing the road and visiting the station building.

Tip by

14.3 km

The Queen's Head pub, Burley

Highlight • Restaurant

The Queen's Head pub was used by smugglers and highwaymen in the 17th century as a stopping point. Old coins, brandy bottles and pistols were discovered in a hidden cellar during renovation work. The New Forest's maze of secret tracks through woods and heaths provided the perfect cover to move contraband safely from the coast. Ridley Wood on the northern edge of Burley was a black market for these goods.

Tip by

14.5 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.73 km

6.39 km

886 m

153 m

140 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

7.69 km

6.67 km

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Saturday 10 October

17°C

8°C

19 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

April 29, 2024

Starting at the charming village of Brockenhurst in the centre of the New Forest, this tour follows the disused railway line known as "Castleman's Corkscrew", so named due to the path it takes across the forest.
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The route mostly follows off-road cycle tracks, and also includes a few well-surfaced roads.