Find Family-Friendly Bike Rides in the New Forest

Finding family-friendly bike rides in the New Forest is straightforward when you focus on the disused railway lines and waymarked gravel tracks that avoid busy roads and steep climbs. The best options for casual cyclists and scooting families are the Brockenhurst to Burley loop (about 12 miles return), the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive circuit (8 miles), and the short, flat routes around Lyndhurst and Bolderwood. All have gentle gradients, suitable surfaces for child bikes and scooters, and handy picnic spots. Below you’ll find the key details to plan a day that works for different ages, budgets, and weather.

What are the best family bike rides in the New Forest?

The New Forest has over 100 miles of waymarked cycle routes, but not all are suitable for young riders. For families, the priority is a combination of trail surfaces that are firm but not slippery, route length that can be shortened or extended, and frequent picnic stops. The following three routes consistently meet those needs.

Route	Surface	Round-trip distance	Start point	Highlights for families
Brockenhurst to Burley	Gravel and old railway line (flat, wide)	12 miles (optional shorter 6-mile out-and-back)	Brockenhurst station car park	Railway carriages café in Burley, deer viewing near Bolderwood
Rhinefield Ornamental Drive	Tarmac section plus forest gravel loop	8 miles	Blackwater car park, Rhinefield	Tall redwoods, easy navigation, ice cream van in summer
Bolderwood to Linwood	Gravel forest track, some tree roots	5 miles	Bolderwood car park	Short enough for scooters, deer feeding platform, picnic tables

These routes are all marked on the New Forest National Park’s cycling map, which you can pick up free from visitor centres or download. For the most manageable family bike rides, start from Bolderwood or Rhinefield, because the car parks are close to the trails and you can bail out if a child gets tired.

How to choose a trail surface that works for children and scooters

Trail surfaces make or break a family ride. In the New Forest, you will encounter five main types: tarmac (on short road sections and ornamental drives), compact gravel (on old railway lines), loose gravel (on some forest tracks), grass (across open lawns), and mud (after rain). For children on bikes with small tyres, and especially for scooters, stick to compact gravel or tarmac. Loose gravel can cause skids, and thick mud will stop a scooter wheel. The old railway line between Brockenhurst and Burley is the safest choice because it is wide, level, and has a consistent surface. The Rhinefield Ornamental Drive has a tarmac section that is closed to through traffic, ideal for young cyclists, but the forest loop beyond it includes some loose patches. If you are using a scooter, keep your ride to the tarmac and very flat sections, or choose a balance bike route like the short path around Bolderwood arboretum.

What route length should you plan for different ages?

Route length matters more than difficulty for families. A good rule is: under 6 years old, plan for 2–4 miles with frequent stops; ages 6–10 can manage 5–8 miles at a slow pace; ages 10+ can ride 10–12 miles, but only if you have time for breaks. The table above gives round-trip distances, but every route can be shortened by turning back early. For example, the Brockenhurst to Burley route follows a straight old railway for much of the way, so you can simply ride 20 minutes out and 20 minutes back and still feel you have had a real forest adventure. Always carry a map or use a phone with the route downloaded, and agree a turnaround point before you start.

Where are the best picnic stops on these family rides?

Picnic stops are not just about food; they are a reason to stop, look, and rest. The New Forest is full of designated picnic areas with tables, bins, and sometimes toilets. For the Brockenhurst to Burley ride, the best stop is at the Burley end: the village has a large green with a play area, plus cafés, but you can also use the tables at the Burley cycle hub. On the Rhinefield drive, use the Blackwater car park picnic area at the start or halfway point. At Bolderwood, there is a large grassy area with picnic tables next to the deer viewing platform, and a small café in summer. Always pack a sit mat or a lightweight picnic blanket, because the forest floor can be damp even in dry weather. If you are carrying food, a trailer or pannier is easier than a backpack, but for shorter rides a backpack with a hip belt works fine.

How to adapt family bike rides in the New Forest to different budgets and schedules

You do not need expensive equipment to enjoy family bike rides in the New Forest. If you have your own bikes, the only costs are parking (most forest car parks charge £3–£5 for the day) and any food you bring or buy. If you want to hire bikes, several shops in Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, and Burley offer children’s bikes, tag-alongs, trailers, and even electric bikes for adults. Hiring a child’s bike for a day costs around £15–£20, and a trailer about £15. For a cheap day out, pack a picnic and start from a free roadside parking area (always check local signs) or use the train to Brockenhurst and ride from there. For a relaxed schedule, aim to start before 10am, because the forest gets busy after lunch and the car parks fill up in summer and on bank holidays.

What to prepare for a smooth family ride in any weather

Weather changes quickly in the New Forest, and shade is limited on some routes. Check the forecast the night before, and prepare for three situations: sun, light rain, and wind. Always bring water (500 ml per person per hour of riding), a small first aid kit, and a pump and spare inner tube if you have bikes with inflatable tyres. For scooters, check the wheels and folding mechanism before you go, because a loose scooter is dangerous on gravel. Dress children in layers and avoid loose trousers that can catch in chains. If rain is forecast, postpone or choose the tarmac section of the Rhinefield drive, which drains quickly and is rideable in light rain. The forest tracks become slippery when wet, and the old railway line can develop puddles, so it is less fun for children on small wheels.

How to coordinate the group without turning the ride into a chore

Family bike rides work best when the slowest rider sets the pace. Put an adult at the back and another at the front, and use a simple call system: “stopping” for a planned stop, “car back” if a vehicle approaches on a shared road section. Keep rides to under two hours of moving time, even if the distance is short, because children’s concentration drops quickly. Plan one “wow” moment for every hour: a deer sighting, an ice cream stop, or a stream to paddle in. The New Forest has many shallow streams by the trails, and stopping to throw stones or look for ponies is often the highlight of the day. Let children bring a small toy or a camera, but keep the load light. If you have a mix of ages, consider putting a younger child on a tag-along or in a trailer for longer rides, so the older child does not get frustrated waiting.

In short, family-friendly bike rides in the New Forest are abundant, but the best ones are those you adapt to your family’s pace, surface preferences, and appetite for picnics. Start small, choose the old railway lines and tarmac loops, and let the forest do the rest.