Ancient South England Tour

This Tour is designed for the enthusiastic cyclist who is keen to enjoy an active holiday, packed with historic sites and pretty countryside. You not only explore the New Forest National Park and the Hampshire Coast, but also cycle by the ancient sites of Stonehenge and Avebury. The beautiful town of Salisbury is on the route as well and all locations are connected by specially selected cycling-friendly quiet country lanes. Your overnight stays in historic market towns like Romsey and Marlborough only add to this unique exploration experience! This Tour is available as a Bed & Breakfast package and as a camping package.

Route Summary:

Both Bed & Breakfast cyclists and camping cyclists start their holiday enjoying Bed & Breakfast accommodation in Brockenhurst. If you didn't bring your own bike you collect your hired bike the next morning from the local bike hire. You set off with a nice route through the New Forest National Park. You can stop at the New Forest Deer Sanctuary (B&B route) or Burley (camping route) and have a mid-day break in the hamlet of Fritham, where you can have lunch in the local pub or enjoy a forest walk. B&B cyclists head for the scenic town of Romsey and its majestic Abbey whilst camping cyclists make their way to a pretty camp site near West Wellow.

The next day you join the rolling Hampshire Hills and you can stop in the picturesque village of Stockbridge for lunch. Then you make your way to the ancient Danebury Ring Fort, where you have the opportunity to have a walk around the old fortifications. In the late afternoon you arrive in Andover, where the Museum of the Iron Age is open for those who want to find out more about Danebury Ring Fort.

From the valley of Andover you climb steadily onto the Chute's Causeway ridge where you'll be rewarded with some great views. Beyond the sleepy village Great Bedwyn you cycle through the ancient woodland of the Savernake Forest. In Marlborough you can enjoy the hustle and bustle of its impressive high street.

The route continues on the traffic free Ridgeway, which ends at ancient Avebury. You should have a long break here to take in the walk around the ancient stone circle. You can also visit the Keiller Museum and Sidbury Hill. A bit further you'll make your way through Milk Hill Pass and in the following descent you can admire the Alton Barnes White Horse.

The next attraction is one of the most famous landmarks of England; Stonehenge! We have been able to create a reasonably traffic-calmed route to this magic place despite the presence of the A303 nearby. The Bed & Breakfast package includes two nights of accommodation in nearby Amesbury, which gives B&B cyclists the opportunity to have a day without cycling here. There are some lovely walks available in the beautiful countryside surrounding Stonehenge and these walks are within easy reach of the B&B!

Camping cyclists have their day without cycling near Salisbury on a great camp site within walking distance of the town and only a stones throw away from the ruins of Old Sarum. Salisbury is a beautiful old town, with its cathedral tower as it most striking feature. Inside the cathedral you can also view an original copy of the Magna Carta. There are plenty of museums to enjoy and Salisbury is great for browsing and shopping too!

Beyond Salisbury you cycle through the Avon Valley. You'll pass the stately mansion Breamore House and cycle through the small town Fordingbridge and the tiny village of Sopley. You hit the South Coast at Highcliffe, where Highcliffe Castle stands proudly on the cliffs. There is a fabulous cycle way along the beach here and a great cliff café in which to chill out.

From Highcliffe B&B cyclists make their way back to the New Forest and Brockenhurst, whilst camping cyclists enjoy a slightly longer coastal route via Milford on Sea and Lymington. This last stage is on a Sunday and rented bicycles should be returned to the Brockenhurst rental by 5pm at the latest. 5pm is also the time the arrangement ends. If you wish to stay in Brockenhurst that night you can book an extra night Bed & Breakfast with us.

Check your Cycling Profile:

You have to be fit to embark on this journey as you are required to cycle 3 to 5 hours a day. Although we have tried to find a route as flat as possible, you will have to deal with various short steep climbs and some gradual longer climbs as well. Also be prepared to deal with some steep descents. The Tour is open to teenagers providing they have the physical and mental strength to deal with the mileage and conditions as described. Of course they must be very keen to cycle and they should be supervised by an adult at all times. We also expect them to be able to cycle according to Bikeability Level 2 of the National Standard. If you are unsure, please contact us.

Our bike hire partner has aluminum frame comfort bikes available with semi-slick tyres, ideal for off-road and on-road usage. All rental bikes have at least 18 gears, mud guards and luggage racks are fitted on adult bikes for your convenience. The use of a helmet is also included in the rental price.

If you bring your own bikes, bear in mind the route is not suitable for racing bicycles with narrow tyres as there are some sections of gravel tracks. It is wise to use a bike with at least 18 gears. This makes it possible to deal with the climbs.

Overview cycling times B&B arrangement (estimated at easy pace):
Monday: Brockenhurst - Romsey: 3 hours
Tuesday: Romsey - Andover: 2.5 hours
Wednesday: Andover - Marlborough: 3 hours
Thursday: Marlborough - Amesbury: 4 hours
Friday: No cycling; enjoy Stonehenge and surroundings by foot!
Saturday: Amesbury - Fordingbridge: 3.5 hours
Sunday: Fordingbridge - Brockenhurst: 3.5 hours

Overview cycling times Camping arrangement (estimated at easy pace):
Monday: Brockenhurst - West Willow: 4 hours
Tuesday: West Willow - Andover: 3 hours
Wednesday: Andover - Alton Barnes: 5.5 hours
Thursday: Alton Barnes - Salisbury: 3.5 hours
Friday: No cycling; enjoy Salisbury and surroundings by foot!
Saturday: Salisbury - Sopley: 3.5 hours
Sunday: Sopley - Brockenhurst: 3 hours

When can you start:

This arrangement starts on any Sunday and finishes a week later on the next Sunday. It you wish to extend this arrangement with an extra overnight stay at Brockenhurst (at the end of your last cycling day) you'll finish the arrangement on Monday instead of Sunday. You'll need to book this arrangement at least four weeks in advance.

Note you can combine this Tour with our South Coast & Forest mini break with 2 extra cycling days in the New Forest National Park. In this situation you arrive on a Friday with extra cycling days on Saturday and Sunday before starting the Ancient South England arrangement on Sunday night. You could also start the mini break on completion of the Ancient South England Tour on Sunday with extra cycling days on Monday and Tuesday, to finish on Wednesday. If you wish to do this, please let us know, so we can offer you a discount.

Prices Bed & Breakfast arrangement:

£620 per person for booking by one person only
£429 per person for booking by two people
£379 per person for booking by three people
£369 per person for booking by four people
£359 per person for booking by five people

Included are:
- 7 nights Bed & Breakfast accommodation
- Route Book and maps
- High visibility vests
- Emergency assistance when required
- VAT

Prices are based on people sharing rooms. On a booking for 3 people or more we expect 2 people to share a double bed.

Not included are:
- Entrance fees for museums and attractions
- Lunch / Dinner / Additional Drinks and Snacks
- The return journey between your home and Brockenhurst
- Luggage transport between accommodations
- Bicycle Rental
- Taxi rides between Stonehenge and your Stonehenge accommodation (if required)
- Extra night accommodation in Brockenhurst at the end of the Tour (if required)
- All extra costs related to emergency assistance
- Travel and Cancellation Insurances

Scroll down for prices of extra options (like bicycle rental and luggage transport)

Prices Camping arrangement:

£310 per person for booking by one person only
£239 per person for booking by two people
£229 per person for booking by three people
£219 per person for booking by four people
£209 per person for booking by five people

Included are:
- 1 night Bed & Breakfast accommodation
- 4 nights camping at camp sites with good amenities
- 2 nights camping at camp sites with limited amenities (*)
- Route Book and maps
- High visibility vests
- Emergency assistance when required
- VAT

Prices are based on people sharing tents and also sharing rooms on the first night B&B. On a booking for 3 people or more we expect 2 people to sharea double bed for the first night B&B.

(*) Alton Barnes camp site is located in a quiet field near a country pub, where you can access toilets/washing facilities and drinking water. You can also buy food at the pub, but there are no showers. Sopley camp site is an oasis of calm. This site is in a small forest, next to a lake. There are toilets and there is drinking water available, but there are no showers. You are free however to swim in the lake and to make a camp fire. You can also buy a fruit picking session in the orchard nearby

Not included are:
- Entrance fees for museums and attractions
- All food, snacks and drinks (except breakfast in Brockenhurst B&B)
- The return journey between your home and Brockenhurst
- Camping gear (you are responsible for bringing all camping equipment yourself, just as nearly daily constructing and dismantling!)
- Luggage transport between accommodations
- Bicycle Rental
- Extra night accommodation in Brockenhurst at the end of the Tour (if required)
- All extra costs related to emergency assistance
- Travel and Cancellation Insurances

Prices extra options (for both arrangements):

Bicycle Rental:
Bike hire for 7 days: £98 per person (including helmet)

Pannier bag rental:
£30 per set of two bags

Daily luggage transport service:
£380 per party

Extra night accommodation in Brockenhurst:
£55 per person (for a booking by one person only you'll be charged an extra £40). This extra night enables you to store some luggage at the B&B in Brockenhurst whilst you are away on your 7-day tour at no extra cost.

Travel Information:

By train: We recommend you travel to Brockenhurst by train. South West Trains runs a direct link with London Waterloo and the journey time is approximately 90 minutes. Cross Country Trains also serves Brockenhurst station with a good connection to Reading and the Midlands. Both companies carry bicycles for free, but reservations are recommended. Total travel time from London to Brockenhurst: approximately 2 hours.

By plane: If you travel from further afield, Southampton Airport is the airport to which to fly. The airport is the hub of carrier FlyBe. The airport has a direct train link from Southampton Airport Parkway station to Brockenhurst. Total travel time from Southampton Airport to Brockenhurst: approximately 30 minutes.

By car: Take exit 2 from the M27 motorway and follow signs with the freight route to Lyndhurst to avoid long delays on arrival in Lyndhurst. In Lyndhurst follow the A337 to Brockenhurst. Note you are only allowed to park your car on B&B premises on nights you are actually staying there. Long stay paid parking is available at Brockenhurst station. Some Brockenhurst public roads have free on-road parking at your own risk, but spaces can be limited. Overnight parking in car parks in the surrounding New Forest is not permitted! Total travel time from London to Brockenhurst: approximately 2 hours.