Cycling in Alice Holt Forest
Last Updated 28th June 2008
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Directions to Alice Holt Forest (Main Visitor Centre)
By Car: Turn off A325 at the Halfway House Pub crossroads in Buck's Horn Oak. (Turn left if coming from Farnham/London direction, past Birdworld. Turn right if coming from Bordon/Portsmouth direction.) The Visitor Centre is on the left a short distance up the Dockenfield Road. The car parks, Forest Classroom, Forest Food Cafe ,toilets and information boards are all in this area ,together with "Go Ape", "Forestry Adventure" and the main Office of Forest Enterprise (SE)
By Rail: The Visitor Centre is a reasonable hike or pleasant cycle ride (about 2.5 miles) from Bentley Railway Station (Approx 1 hour from Waterloo on the Alton line) The walk is quite pleasant though if you ramble through the forest via the white picket gate at the end of the platform. If you're worried about getting lost, go down Station Road, turn left into Blacknest Road and turn left again at the Jolly Farmer Pub crossroads, which will lead you up to the Halfway House.From here you cross over the A325 and proceed up Dockenfield Road to find the Visitor Centre on your left.
Cyclists can also reach Alice Holt Visitor Centre from Farnham Station along the A325 and again part of that route can be through the Forest itself rather than on the main road which is extremely busy.
There is no reason why cyclists should confine themselves to the main Visitor Centre. This is the best access point for the main trails that run through the Willowgreen and Glenbervie Inclosures. But there are good cycling trails for adults and children in the Lodge Inclosure, accessible from Bentley Station or Alice Holt Lodge (In Gravel Hill Road which turns off the A325 just south of the Forest Lodge Garden Centre) There's off-road cycling too in the Holt Pound Inclosure, Goose Green Inclosure and StraitsInclosure. But in all cases be aware you're on the rough and some of these areas are very muddy.
CYCLE HIRE
Is available on site from Forestry Adventure at the Visitor Centre. Call them on 01420 520523 as their website doesn't mention it. Or try mailing >>Mail Forestryadventure
Robin's Cycles from Lindford 01420 476612 is another to try.
INFORMATION ABOUT CYCLE ROUTES AND CYCLING EVENTS
Clive Andrews, of CTC, the national organisation that promotes cycling is very keen to encourage cycling for all. He's set up "East Hampshire Cycling for All" : a scheme in partnership with East Hants District Council and the Forestry Commission which includes periodic Forest Discovery Rides (see the link to the Diary of events and activities at the top of this page)
Clive can happily make arrangements for tricycles, and various specialised and modified cycles for those with disabilities or who are unable/unconfident to use a regular bicycle and his blog is a mine of information for cycling enthusiasts. >>See Clive's Blog
.
Visit the East Hampshire page of the national CTC website >>www.ctc.org.uk/easthampshire , the local CTC group's own site >>www.nhampshirectc.org.uk
Or contact Clive Direct 07717 721511 clive.andrews@ctc.org.uk >>Use this link to email Clive