Saturday Morning Off-Road Ride

Group leader:              David Orme chairman@christchurchbicycleclub.org

Group coordinator:     Marina Johnson saturdayoffroad@christchurchbicycleclub.org

These off-road rides run at the same time and are separate from the Saturday Morning Social Ride.

These regular offroad rides take place every Saturday, weather and available ride-leader permitting.  Club members wishing to take part need to be added to the CBC Sat Off-Road WhatsApp distribution list – contact Marina to sign up, or with any queries. This is a friendly ride and no one gets left behind. 

Outline details for upcoming rides are listed below. Rides/routes are subject to last minute changes or cancellation due to adverse weather and will be communicated by WhatsApp, so it is important you check for messages on the CBC Sat Off-road WhatsApp before you head out to the ride start. 

The majority of rides start at Holmsley and will take place in the Burley area.  A selection of rides are planned further afield (AD – Away Day). If you need help to transport your bike to the start points, please reach out to the group via WhatsApp. 

Rides will be led by David Orme and others. Confirmation of routes and the ride leader will be sent via the WhatsApp group at least 24 hours in advance of each ride, along with a weblink to the route (eg via ‘komoot’ or ‘Ride with GPS’ – both free to register with) and means of downloading the GPX file. 

For the 0930 starts at Holmsley car park, there are informal meet ups at 0900 at Bashley Stores, and at 0855 at the Oak Inn, Burton (neither of which are led) for those wishing to ride together to Holmsley. See Meeting Points Information.

A café stop is included in all the rides.  Ride distances shown don’t include distances from home start points, Burton/Bashley informal meeting points or riding home from the café (unless indicated). For most people total ride distances tend to be between 20-30 miles long. We typically reach the café late morning. Some Away Day rides may finish mid-afternoon. 

Speed is around 7-10 mph depending on terrain. You will need a mountain bike or hybrid/gravel bike with robust tyres. Please make sure you wear a helmet and you are properly equipped according to our CBC Ride Etiquette and Safety guidelines.

Saturday Off-Road Group Spring 2024 schedule.

Key: NF – New Forest Ride   AD – ‘Away Day’ ride

Date/TimeStartCafeDescriptionDistanceKey
06-Apr 0930Holmsley car park, Forest RoadShappens BurleyTowards Burley west via old railway line, north via Castle Hill towards A31 and loop back to Burley. Mixture of forest tracks11 milesNF
13-Apr 0930Wootton Bridge car park BrockenhurstEast along the old railway line, through Brockenhurst, north to Lyndhurst, south via Balmer Lawn. Mostly gravel tracks.19.3 milesNF
20-Apr 0930Holmsley car park, Forest RoadSammy Miller or Orchard LakesVia Holmsley Passage and old railway line, through Wilverley, rejoin railway line, Sway, Tiptoe New Lane, café. Mixture of tracks12.7 milesNF
27-Apr 0950 for 1000 ferrySandbanks FerryCorfe Castle From ferry loop round Swanage and Corfe area, returning to ferry. Mixture of tracks and road.18.2 milesAD
04-May 0930Holmsley car park, Forest RoadShappens, BurleyThrough Brownhills to Wootton Bridge, Wilverley, cross A35, into Burley via Creek Bottom. Mixture of tracks.10.9 milesNF
11-May 0930Holmsley car park, Forest RoadStation Tearooms, HolmsleyCross to south of A35, Brownhills, Wootton Bridge, old railway eastwards, back through Wilverley to café. Mixture of tracks.10.1 milesNF
18-May 0930The Elm Tree Pub, Ringwood BH24 3DYRoyal Oak, FrithamThrough Ringwood, forest tracks east to Fritham, loop back to Ringwood after café. tbaAD
25-May 0930Ringwood: Hurn Road and Castleman Railway car parkCosta, VerwoodThrough Moors Valley north, farm tracks, loop south via Verwood and Three Legged cross, back along Castleman railway. Mixture of road and tracks. 30 milesAD
01-Jun 0930Holmsley car park, Forest RoadShappens, BurleyVia Holmsley passage and railway through Wilverley, north across A35 into Burley via Bisterne Close.10.5 milesNF
08-Jun0930Holmsley car park, Forest RoadShappens, BurleyVia Whitten Pond and Long Pond over Church Moor west of Burley, head north across Moortown Lane, Smugglers Road, skirting A31, south to Burley. Mixture of tracks.11 milesNF
15-Jun 0930Holmsley car park, Forest RoadShappens, BurleyAcross A35 through Brownhills to Wootton Bridge, Wilverley Plain, Rhinefield, east back to Burley. Mixture of tracks.12.1 milesNF
22-JunMeet 0845 for 0900 ferryLymington Wightlink FerryNeedles Mix of road and tracks.tbaAD
29-Jun 0930Holmsley car park, Forest RoadShappens, BurleyAcross Holmsley Passage to old railway line and to Burley via White Buck, enclosures north of Lyndhurst Road, including the ‘Faerie’ woods. 10.3 milesNF