A New Forest loop from Burley

© Automobile Association 2006. © Crown Copyright Licence Number 399221

Getting to the start

Burley village is on a minor road south east of Ringwood, between the A31 and the A35. Leave the A31 at Picket Post, 1 mile (1.6km) east of Ringwood, and follow the signposted route through Burley Street to Burley. Keep left at the war memorial in the centre of the village, and you'll find The Queens Head immediately on your left, with the public car park entrance just beyond the pub's own car park.

1 Turn right out of the car park, stop at the road junction, and continue straight ahead. Fork left at the war memorial into Pound Lane, signed to Bransgore. Pass the Forest Teahouse and cider shop, then follow the lane out over the heath to Burbush Hill.

2 Fork left just before the old railway bridge, following the waymarked off-road cycle track through the Forestry Commission's car park and down on to the old railway line. The Castleman Trail begins in a lovely sandy cutting, which is smothered with brilliant purple heather in late summer. Soon the old line emerges from the cutting onto a low embankment, with good views out over the boggy heath. You'll often see horse riders in the area and birdwatchers should look out for green woodpeckers, as well as for lapwings, curlews and redshanks, which nest on the heath in early summer. The trail rises briefly to the broken brickwork of Greenberry Bridge, which survived the closure of the railway, only to be demolished in 1995 when it became unsafe. Continue to the low wooden barriers that guard the minor road crossing at Holmsley Passage, where you can still see short sections of the original railway lines embedded in the road surface.

3 If you wish, you can shorten the ride by turning left here. To complete the full route, cross the road and continue along the old railway line. The trail becomes more shaded as it runs perfectly straight through an avenue of young oak trees. The track crosses two small bridges that herald the approach to Holmsley Station. Look out for the old brick platform on your right before dismounting at the wooden gate that marks the end of the cycle track.

4 Beyond the gate and across the road, the Old Station tea rooms are well worth a visit for morning coffee, home-cooked lunches and cream teas. There's a pleasant garden, as well as a gift shop where you can buy a souvenir of your visit to this unusual refreshment stop. Turn here and retrace your outward route to Holmsley Passage (Point 3). Turn right on to the quiet lane, follow it up the hill and stop at the 5-way junction.

5 Cross straight over towards Burley Lawn and zig-zag left, then right, past the White Buck Inn into Bennetts Lane.

6 Bear left at the next junction into Beechwood Lane and keep straight on through Lester Square until you reach a T-junction. Turn left here towards Burley, and continue past the little brick-built church of St John the Baptist for the final 400yds (366m) back to the car park.