King Alfred’s Way and the New Forest

It follows the newly opened King Alfred's Way as well as the Solent Way and the New Forest cycle trails. The King Alfred's Way in its entirety is a 350km circular off-road adventure route through 10,000 years of history, connecting some of England’s most iconic sites. Despite being easily accessible from cities in the south of England, you’ll feel like you’ve escaped from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Think white horses on chalk hillsides and wide-open views across rolling waves of countryside. The name of the trail is inspired by Alfred the Great, who ruled the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex. The tour starts in Reading and heads south-east in a clock-wise direction around the King Alfred’s Way route taking in the sights of the south downs. The journey then takes in the amazing cycling tracks and wildlife of the New Forest before venturing through the North Solent Nature Reserve with its expansive salt marshes. After a journey out to historical Hurst Castle, our finish point eventually will be Lymington, famous for sailing and smugglers. Come and experience a slice of British history on an almost entirely traffic-free cycling adventure with no shortage of idyllic countryside, forests and seaside riding.

Highlights

• Fantastic cycle trails of Alice Holt Forest and the New Forest
• Britain’s best display of wild heathlands
• Stunning views of the Solent along the cliff tops at Keyheaven and through the salt marshlands on the Solent Way path
• Roman and WWII history throughout the route.
• Riding along the North Downs ridgeway

This ride is graded as intermediate. 34% of the ride is unpaved and 66% is on paved or asphalt surfaces. The tour is suitable for the regular rider with medium fitness.

The tour can essential be split into two in term of difficulty. Days 1 and 4 are flat compared to day 2 and 3. Day 3 is the toughest day with up-and-down riding most of the day. No day has above 750m of uphill riding. Most of the tour is off-road on gravel trails, bridleways, tarmac and occasionally some sandy sections