Off-road cycling fun
On this page, you will find ideas for places where you can take the family for some off-road cycling fun.
Goodwood Motor Circuit
Chichester
Where to ride: One Sunday a month, Goodwood Motor Circuit is opened up to cyclists of all abilities. You need to book on via their website and it will cost £10 per adult and kids under 12 ride free (they must be accompanied on the track by and adult). It is around 2.5 miles around the track and is entirely flat.
Other features: There is an onsite cafe with views of the track, spectator areas and cycle hire.
Getting there: Goodwwod Motor Circuit, Chichester, free car park (Postcode: PO18 0PH - W3W: ///gain.rams.rope)
Liss Riverside Walk
Liss
Where to ride: Liss Riverside Walk follows the line of an old military railway from the car park at Longmoor to Liss station. This route is suitable for small children and is short, flat and off-road. It will take you less than twenty minutes of cycling each way. Cross Forest Road out of the car park and join the trail opposite.
Other features: The path ends with a little park with river access and picnic tables.
Getting there: Free car park beside Longmoor Ranges on Forest Road - this car park is owned by the MOD and they reserve the right to close it at little or no notice. If the car park is closed, park in Liss at the train station and do the trail the other way around (Postcode: GU33 7RA - W3W: ///bulbs.smirks.tangling)
Greenham Common
Newbury
Where to ride: Greenham Common is located on a disused RAF airfield. The compacted gravel paths around the old runway are entirely flat and mostly straight making them perfect for cycling. You can cycle a loop of around 6km.
Other features: Go up the original control tower, which is cared for by knowledgeable local volunteers. There is also a cafe and other interesting remnants of the aviation and military past can be found around the site.
Getting there: Greenham Control Tower car park off Burys Bank Road, free (Postcode: RG19 8BZ - W3W: ///force.energy.smiles)
Blackbushe Airport
Yateley
Where to ride: Blackbushe is a little airport in North Hampshire. The busy runway is obviously off limits to cyclists, but hidden behind the modern day airport, you can discover disused wartime runways that make brilliant places for kids to practice their cycling safely. To find the them, take the gate at the end of the car park by the control tower and turn immediately left. Keep going until a cross path and then turn left and ride until you meet the old tarmac.
Other features: Pathfinder cafe directly overlooks the functioning runway and it is a great place to get refreshments and watch the planes take off and land.
Getting there: Blackbushe Airport car park, free, closed overnight 18:00-06:00 (Postcode: GU17 9LQ - W3W: ///diverged.upholds.successor)
Bucklers Forest
Crowthorne
Where to ride: Bucklers Forest is a public open space on the land of the former Transport Research Laboratory. What is left behind of the testing sites make fun places for kids to ride bikes and these include ‘The Banked Curve’ with its velodrome style banking and ‘The Small Roads Test Site’ with some of the original road markings and signs still visible.
Other features: There is a brilliant kid’s play area next to The Stables Coffee Co. cafe.
Getting there: Buckler’s Forest car park off Woodcote Green, free, height barrier (Postcode: RG45 6HZ - W3W: ///spray.drama.delay)
West Walk, Forest of Bere
Wickham
Where to ride: West Walk is the largest remaining pocket of The Forest of Bere and has a network of wide, well surfaced paths. You can even connect to The Meon Valley Line and extend your ride off-road to Wickham or West Meon.
Other features: There is a play area with wooden huts, swing, sand-pit and more, picnic area, coffee trailer Wednesday to Sunday and toilets.
Getting there: Large pay and display car park off Hundred Acres Road (Postcode: PO17 6JB - W3W: ///signs.shorted.gosh)
Basingstoke Canal
Calthorpe Park to Zebon Copse, Fleet
Where to ride: Calthorpe Park in Fleet has a small cycle track and an epic play area. Using these directions you can also cycle along the Basingstoke Canal tow path to another brilliant park at Zebon Recreation Ground, Chruch Crookham.
Other features: There is a brilliant play area at both ends of this ride and refreshments can be found at Bean at the Park in Calthorpe Park or at The Fox and Hounds that backs onto the canal.
Getting there: Free parking for three hours at Calthorpe Park, Fleet (Postcode: GU51 4AB - W3W: ///knees.claw.ranking)