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.

Tour Summary:

This tour starts on any Sunday and both Bed & Breakfast cyclists and camping cyclists start their holiday enjoying Bed & Breakfast accommodation in Brockenhurst. You can check in from 4 pm onwards. All accommodations are within a 10 minute walking distance from Brockenhurst Station. Note you can also combine this Tour with our New Forest & Coast arrangement. In this situation you arrive on the Friday before and explore the New Forest National Park and its surroundings at your leisure on the Saturday and Sunday.

If you didn't bring your own bike you collect your hired bike from the local bike shop on Monday morning. 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.

On Tuesday you join the rolling Hampshire Hill 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 we 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 on and you 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 the UK; 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. This impressive old fort became deserted when the population moved to the valley where Salisbury sits now. 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 at 5 pm at the latest. 5 pm 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 4 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, just as you should be able to keep cycling in all regular English weather conditions! Remember there are plenty of opportunities for entertainment on the way to break up the total cycling distance in smaller chunks!

The Tour is open to children 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 the Bikeability Level 2 of the National Standard. If you are unsure, please contact us.

Bed & Breakfast arrangement cycling times (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; enjoying Stonehenge and surroundings
Saturday: Amesbury - Fordingbridge: 3.5 hours
Sunday: Fordingbridge - Brockenhurst: 3.5 hours

Camping arrangement cycling times (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; enjoying Salisbury and surroundings
Saturday: Salisbury - Sopley: 3.5 hours
Sunday: Sopley - Brockenhurst: 3 hours

If you bring your own bicycle it is important to know that 90% of this route is on tarmac. There are some short sections of gravel and grass as well. If you bring a racing bicycle with narrow tyres you have to be prepared to walk and even carry your bike across the gravel and grass sections! Please also note you need at least 18 gears on this tour.

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 for your convenience. The use of a helmet is also included in the rental price.

Prices Bed & Breakfast Tour:

Booking for 1 person: £ 599
Booking for 2 people: £ 399 per person
Booking for 3 people: £ 359 per person
Booking for 4 people: £ 349 per person
Booking for 5 people: £ 339 per person

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

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

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
- 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 Camping Tour:

Booking for 1 person: £ 299
Booking for 2 people: £ 229 per person
Booking for 3 people: £ 219 per person
Booking for 4 people: £ 209 per person
Booking for 5 people: £ 199 per person

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 at least 2 people sharing a double bed for the first night B&B.

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

Not included are:
- Entrance fees for museums and attractions
- Breakfast (1st night B&B excepted), Lunch / Dinner / Additional drinks and snacks
- The return journey between your home and Brockenhurst
- Camping gear (you are responsible for constructing and dismantling!)
- Luggage transport between accommodations
- Bicycle Rental
- Taxi rides between Stonehenge and your Stonehenge accommodation
- Extra night accommodation in Brockenhurst at the end of the Tour (if required)
- All extra costs related to emergency assistance
- Travel and Cancellation Insurances

(*) 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.

Prices Optional Extras (for both tours)

Bicycle Rental:
Bike hire for 7 days: £ 95 per person (including helmet)

Daily Luggage Transport:
Booking for 1 person: £ 649
Booking for 2 people: £ 325 per person
Booking for 3 people: £ 215 per person
Booking for 4 people: £ 159 per person
Booking for 5 people: £ 129 per person

Extra night accommodation in Brockenhurst at the end of the tour:
Booking for 1 person: £ 75
Booking for 2 people or more: £ 40 per person
Prices are based on people sharing rooms. On a booking for 3 people or more we expect at least 2 people sharing a double bed.

Extending your holiday with our South Coast and Forest package
You can extend the Ancient South England Tour with our South Coast and Forest package to a cycling holiday of 10 days. You'll start your holiday on a Friday instead of on Sunday and get two extra nights B&B accommodation in Brockenhurst. This allows you to enjoy two extra days at your leisure in the New Forest area on Saturday and Sunday. See our South Coast and Forest page for details of the routes. These are the prices of this extension:
Booking for 1 person: £ 169
Booking for 2 people or more: £ 99 per person
Prices are based on people sharing rooms. On a booking for 3 people or more we expect at least 2 people sharing a double bed. Note you'll have to pay extra for bike hire as well. Bike hire charges for 2 days are £ 27 per person.

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. For Cross Country Trains it is advisable to make a reservation for your bike(s) by phoning 0844 8110124.

By plane: If you travel from further afield, Southampton Airport is the airport to fly to. The airport is a major hub of carrier FlyBe and has a direct train link with Brockenhurst.

By car: Travelling by car might be convenient, but be advised that not all our Bed&Breakfasts have on-site car parking for guests. Also, B&B owners are not obliged to let you use their car park when you are not longer staying with them. Some Brockenhurst public roads have free on-road parking at your own risk, although spaces can be limited. There is also a long stay car park at the station. Overnight parking in the car parks in the surrounding New Forest is not permitted!