CYCLING EVENTS 2026
There are Cycling New Forest:
CALENDAR EVENTS, which as the name suggests are run with support on a specific day, and
PERMANENT EVENTS, which may be ridden on any day without support
Between them there are event distances from 100km (64miles) to 300km (200miles) run at different minimum speeds to suit cyclists of all abilities.
CALENDAR EVENTS, which as the name suggests are run with support on a specific day, and
PERMANENT EVENTS, which may be ridden on any day without support
Between them there are event distances from 100km (64miles) to 300km (200miles) run at different minimum speeds to suit cyclists of all abilities.
2026 CALENDAR EVENTS (This year because of bank holiday dates the Spring and Autumn event dates are reversed)
These events are adapted from John Ward's original classics. There will be a car park start
AUTUMN EVENTS - Sunday 23rd August
New Forest Day Out - 105km (66miles) Starting at 10.00
This event event starts from Lymington with Controls at Breamore Country Museum Cafe and Lymington Community Centre, plus 3 information controls. The route explores the heart of the New Forest from the Avon Valley to the Lymington River. Route Sheet and GPX will be provided nearer to the event date. Suitable for: Adults and older teenagers. You have ridden this distance before or you have cycled recently or regularly and want a challenge that is demanding but realistic. With a bit of regular practice beforehand and then taking it steady you should succeed and enjoy the 'day out'. Entry fee: £11 (+ £3 temporary membership fee, if you are not a member of AUK or Cycling UK) Includes: Route sheet, gpx track, brevet card and AUK validation fee ENTER (and more information) (Follow instructions to Enter on-line, ) No on-the-day entries New Forest Excursion - 207km (125miles) Starting at 08:00
This event starts from Lymington with Controls at Cranborne (Garden Centre), Lepe Country Park (Cafe), Lymington Community Centre and Lymington, plus 4 information controls. No on the day entries Routesheet and GPX files will be available nearer to the event date The route explores every corner of the forest and all of it's varied landscapes. Two intermediate cafe controls, 4 'Info' Controls and a Hall finish with a hot meal and other refreshments included. Suitable for: Adults and older teenagers. You are a regular experienced cyclist. If you have not ridden this distance before you will have taken part in a 100km or 100mile cycle event, or similar distance 'Sportive' or charity ride, and be prepared to put in some pre-event training to step up to a new challenge. You will have the re-assurance of riding with experienced cyclists who have done it before. Entry fee: £13 (+ £3 temporary membership fee, if you are not a member of AUK or CTC) Includes: Route sheet, gpx track, brevet card and AUK validation fee ENTER (and more information) (Follow instructions to Enter on-line, or download entry form for postal entry) No on-the-day entries SPRING EVENTS - Sunday 19th April
to the ISLE of WIGHT
New Forest On and Off Shore - 206km (129miles) Starting at 08:40
This event takes in the spectacular Needles and south west cliffs of the Island cutting inland through the lanes reaching the easternmost point at Bembridge. cafe control in Bembridge near the eastern point. A return through the sailing capital of Cowes (small chain ferry, £1.50, card machine available) and the Solent shore leads to a return ferry from Yarmouth to Lymington and a jaunt among the forest ponies. Pass the majestic trees of the Ornamental Drives to the Avon Valley and the quiet lanes skirting Cranborne Chase. Then a fast run back to the coast passing beaches and saltmarsh nature reserves and finish at Lymington Community Centre about 1.5 kms from the ferry terminal start location. No on the day entries Routesheet and GPX files will be available LATER START THIS YEAR DUE TO FERRY TIMETABLE CHANGES. Mandatory Route. There may be one or more 'secret' controls. Community Hall finish in Lymington with hot food and all the trimmings included in the entry fee. Brevet Cards are given out before you board the 08:15 ferry in Lymington. Ride time starts from scheduled dismbarkation at Yarmouth IoW. (08:55) IMPORTANT: ARRIVE LYMINTON FERRY TERMINAL 0745 FOR BOARDING. EVENT STARTS ON LEAVING THE FERRY. SEE FERRY BOOKING INFO BELOW. Scenic lap of the Isle of Wight followed by a loop of the New Forest and coastline. Brevet Cards are given out before you board the 08:00 ferry in Lymington. EVENT CLOCK STARTS AT 0840 ON FERRY ARRIVAL IN YARMOUTH. CLOCK KEEPS RUNNING ON THE RUTURN JOURNEY SO TAKE THIS AS YOUR LUNCH STOP. Mandatory Route. Community Hall finish in Lymington with hot food and all the trimmings included in the entry fee. PLEASE BOOK A DAY RETURN ON THE 0800 BEFORE ENTERING AND ENTRY IS GUARANTEED. (COST on 10/11/25 was £28.20 return. Seniors get a good discount and Tesco Clubcard vouchers 50p voucher =£1. (There is a Tesco link when booking or log into your Clubcard account and search for Wightlink.). Book ferry here: https://www.wightlink.co.uk/book. There is a cafe control at Bembridge and approximately 15 minutes to allow for the Cowes chain ferry. Foot passengers with bikes will always be allowed on to a different Wightlink return sailing if you are early or late. A further, much easier and faster 104 kms remain after your return to Lymington. Entry fee: £12 (+ £3 temporary membership fee, if you are not a member of AUK or CTC) Includes: Route sheet, gpx track, brevet card and AUK validation fee BOOK Wightlink ferry ticket
ENTER (and more information) On and Off Shore Event
(Follow instructions to Enter on-line, or download entry form for postal entry) No on-the-day entries or STAY in the FOREST for a SHORTER RIDE
New Forest On Shore - 107km (65 miles) Starting at 10:00
This event starts from Lymington with Controls at Cranborne Garden Centre and Lymington., plus 3 information controls. No on the day entries Routesheet and GPX files will be provided nearer to the event date The route explores the heart of the Forest, the Ornamental Drive and quiet lanes of Cranborne Chase with a finish leg down the Avon Valley and along the Solent shore. Entry fee: £11 (+ £3 temporary membership fee, if you are not a member of AUK or CTC) Includes: Route sheet, gpx track, brevet card and AUK validation fee ENTER (and more information)
(Follow instructions to Enter on-line, or download entry form for postal entry) No on-the-day entries 2026 PERMANENT EVENTS
These events are for experienced and self-sufficient cyclists.
They may be ridden at any time, but entry should be made well in advance. The routesheets are written for a particular start location (usually Lymington), but you can start at any other control along the route. You must use electronic proof of passage (GPS or E-Brevet) for these event Entry fee for all events: £5 (except the Taster Trip, which is £3 (+ £3 temporary membership fee, if you are not a member of AUK or Cycling UK) New Forest National Park TASTER TRIP 50km - 50km (30miles) This AUK Permanent Event is a short cycle ride intended to give an introduction to the New Forest. I hope you enjoy what on a fine day is spectacular scenery. It is actually the same scenery in the rain, but not always appreciated as much. The route sgeet is written for a start and finish in Lymington with café stop opportunities at Burley and Homsley. A minimum speed of 10kph means that you can linger or pause on the way round. ENTER New Forest TASTER TRIP Permanent 50km New Forest National Park DAY OUT (via Breamore) 100km - 100km (60miles) This event route explores the centre and west of the New Forest National Park and includes descending the Ornamental Drive. NOTE: Breamore is a good place for a half way stop, but the Tea Rooms here are not open in the winter. So, this event is best ridden as a summer cycle ride (There are two other all-year 100km events via Cranborne) The route sheet is written for a Lymington start and finish, but you may use any Control as your start point. ENTER New Forest DAY OUT (via Breamore) Permanent 100km New Forest National Park DAY OUT (via Cranborne and Forest) 100km - 100km (60miles) This is the original New Forest Day Out cycle ride. The route heads west from Lymington into the New Forest before skirting around Burley and continuing to the Avon Valley. From there you continue to reach Cranborne as the half way café stop. The route returns to cross the River Avon again and then follows the scenic ‘Ornamental Drive’ through the heart of the Forest to Brockenhurst. Across heathland to Hatchet Pond before returning to Lymington. ENTER New Forest DAY OUT (via Cranborne & Forest) Permanent 100km New Forest National Park DAY OUT (via Cranborne and Coast) 100km - 100km (60miles) Permanent version of the Second half of the On and Offshore Calendar event. This event route explores the centre and west of the New Forest National Park and including the Ornamental Drive. Cranborne Garden Centre café is a good place for a half way stop, ENTER New Forest DAY OUT (via Cranborne and Coast) Permanent 100km New Forest National Park Excursion 200km - 200km (125miles)
This event route explore most parts of the New Forest National Park. On the way you will pass or travel through Ancient and Ornamental woodland, timber Inclosures, heathland, Forest lawns, valley mires, bogs, temporary Mediterranean ponds and coastal grazing marshes (don’t worry you do not have to tick an I-Spy book as well as completing the event) ENTER New Forest EXCURSION Permanent 200km New Forest Goes West 300km - 300km (190miles)
Permanent version of the former 'New Goes West' Calendar event. Heads west through the Forest and across the Somerset Levels towards Weston-Super-Mare, returning via Cheddar Gorge and the Mendips. There are Controls at Podimore, Sedgemore Services, and Nunney Catch Services. ENTER New Forest GOES WEST Permanent 300km Isle of Wight End-to-End - 100km (60miles)
Unless you live on the Isle of Wight this event starts by using the ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth to cross the Solent. Bicycles go free. The event route (and the clock) starts from the Yarmouth ferry terminal with a short warm up to the Needles. Don't rush the few easy climbs on the way to Alum Bay where the only proper climb on the route takes you to the Needles. This is a private road on which you should give way to coastguard vehicles and most certainly to a double deck 'Breezer' bus should you meet one on its way down. From the Control you descend again and continue along the southern side of the island to complete the IoW End to End at Bembridge lifeboat station. From here it is easy cycling on the north of the island to return to Yarmouth. ENTER Isle of Wight End-to-End Permanent 100km BOOK Wightlink ferry ticket New Forest On and Off Shore - 200km 125miles) Permanent version of the 'New Forest On and Off Shore' Calendar event. An opportunity to have a trip across the Solent on the Isle of Wight ferry (drinks and snacks served). Then,starting in Yarmouth, a short warm up to the Needles sets you up for a hilly End-to-End to Bembridge lifeboat station, then back to Yarmouth via the Cowes chain ferry to return the the mainland for an easier 100km finishing along the coast with views of the IoW where you cycled in the morning, finally returning to Lymington ENTER New Forest ON and OFF SHORE Permanent 200km BOOK Wightlink ferry ticket New Forest and Wiltshire Century - 162km (100miles)
Lymington Tuesday Cycling (LTC) was started to encourage bicycle owners who were really non-cyclists to go a bit further. Ten miles to coffee and ten miles home again. Then it grew in both numbers of members and their aspirations. We went on some tours and we always had representatives on the annual CTC Gridiron 100km event around the New Forest. And then.....someone (Mary Godroy) asked if it was really possible to cycle 100 miles in one day? Thus the Mary Godfroy 100 miles cycle ride around the New Forest and Wiltshire was born, and until Covid a small LTC team of individuals who nad never cycled so far before would do it every year. It is not a wickedly challenging route but also by no means flat, taking in zig-zag hill on the way to Shaftesbury and Spread Eagle hill on the way to Blandford. ENTER New Forest and Wiltshire Century 160km |
Public transport to Lymington
Lymington Town railway station is very close to the events start and finish in the town centre. (Lymington Pier railway station is where the IoW events start) There are earlier/ later and more frequent trains on the main line to Brockenhurst, which is about 10km from Lymington. Audax UK Calendar Events You are provided with a route sheet and/or gps track to follow (the route is not signed on the road), and a brevet card, which you should get stamped at various Controls (checkpoints) on your way round. There will be opportunities to feed at the Controls, and you will be fed you at the end. Use whatever bike suits you. Mudguards are not required. 100km events have a minimum speed of 10kph, which will give you lots of time (all day) to finish. Longer events are harder. You should be an experienced cyclist with fitness and stamina. There is a minimum speed of 15kph for these events. Don't worry about the maximum speed of 30kph - you won't get near it. If you have ridden a 'Sportive' event and you want to try something a bit more challenging in terms of distance and self sufficiency, then an AUK event is for you - And the entry fees are much less too! Prepare your bike carefully for any of these events. Further information Audax UK  |
