Temporary closure on Route 2 (Holmsley Inclosure, New Forest)
Access to Route 2 at the eastern end of Holmsley Inclosure in the New Forest will be temporarily closed from 25 April 2026 due to a damaged access gate.
Forestry England has advised that the gate cannot be safely closed and there is a risk of ponies accessing the nearby road, so it has been chained and padlocked shut. The issue has been reported to Hampshire County Council and the closure is expected to be short term while repairs are carried out.
A diversion is available via Station Road and Holmsley Passage.
Please follow diversion signage in place.
This route starts at the station in the village of Brockenhurst, which retains a lot of its charm, including a ford at the end of the main street, and the New Forest’s oldest church (St Nicholas, established in 800 AD).
There are a couple of bike hire businesses in Brockenhurst.
The old railway line passes through attractive areas of heathland and pine woodland, a unique landscape where you might come across a group of wild ponies.
The New Forest is a patchwork of different wildlife habitats, so keep an eye open for its less obvious inhabitants – birds and bees or even wild roe deer at certain times of the day.
Refreshments can be found at The Old Station Tea Rooms at Holmsley. Holmsley was the site of one of 12 makeshift airfields that played a vital role in the D-day landings.
There is a large memorial, topped by a Dakota propeller, to commemorate the aircrew and local civilians who worked there.
The route currently ends at Thorney Hill, just north of Bransgore.
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Please note
We have taken all responsible steps to ensure that these routes are safe and achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness.
However, all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. To the extent permitted by law, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust accepts no responsibility for any accidents or injury resulting from following these routes.
Walking and cycling routes change over time. Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces.
Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability, experience and confidence levels of those in your group.