Cycling in Alice Holt Forest
Last Updated 12th July 2009
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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 Quench Cycles who hire out mountain bikes at Alice Holt Vistor Centre. www.quenchuk.co.uk (Use this link for the Alice Holt Page) Call them on Quench Cycles Main Office: 01580 879694 Mobile: 07921 572498. Or mail them alice.holt@quenchuk.co.uk
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 did great work to encourage cycling for all. His role has been taken over by Sarah Walker who can help with all kinds of enquiries about cycling both for the able bodied and for those with physical difficulties or who're getting on in life and would like to learn to cycle.
Alice Holt now has a special "All ability" track, relocated to a more attractive part of the Forest and this has brought tremendous pleasure to many people of all ages for whom cycling is a physical challenge. If you , or someone you know would benefit from this facility or needs assistance Sarah 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 there are regular cycling events such as
"Five Miles to Fitness" Free group cylce rides for women
Sunday 9th August 10.30am
Saturday 5th September 10.30am
"Forest Discovery Rides" 5 Miles of gentle cycling suitable for Children and less experienced adults with a Forestry Commission guide: Free
Sunday July 26th 10.30am
Thursday August 20th 6.00pm
Saturday September 26th 10.30am
Use this link to keep up to date with CTC activities in and around Alice Holt Forest
.
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 Sarah directly on 07775 595998 sarah.walker@ctc.org.uk>>Use this link to email Sarah
THE "SHIPWRIGHTS' WAY"
This is still largely a twinkle in the eye of cycling enthusiasts, but it's hoped that a long-distance car-free route can be opened all the way from Alice Holt Forest and the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, down in the heart of the new South Downs National Park. Named for the oak which travelled south from Alice Holt in former times, bound for the naval shipyards of Portsmouth, it may not be opened in a single go, due to the need to negotiate access conditions where the proposed route crosses Army property in the Woolmer Forest but it will be a fantastic addition to our countryside.
More details soon!