I suggest a circular route, with variations for journeys by car (to speed the outward trip) or bike (to avoid all main roads).
The outward journey for car drivers
Turn left out of our drive onto the main road to Southampton, turning right at the roundabout onto the A326.
Continue along the A326 and at the third roundabout turn left for Cadnam.
At Cadnam roundabout take the second exit for the M27, and at that roundabout go under the motorway, taking the second exit for Brook.
After about a mile you'll find the Green Dragon on your left just before the Bell Inn on your right. Keep straight on here, signposted to Downton. That means avoiding the left turn for Rufus Stone, but leaving the main road towards Landford and Salisbury that bears round to the right.
After almost a mile and a half, at a minor crossroads, turn left for Fritham. Less than a mile further on, join a road coming in from the right, and soon afterwards at a triangular green with oak trees, bear right, leaving the red brick expanse of Fritham House - now a nursing home - on your left hand side.
The road winds about a lot. At the road junction bear right an then carry on till you see The Royal Oak on your right. Now you have two options. Either find somewhere to park in the neighbourhood, or continue for another half mile to the car park at Eyeworth Pond. That would be the sensible option if you plan to walk before lunch.
The outward journey for cyclists
The round trip is about fifty miles, mostly through forest, so allow plenty of time before lunch!
Turn right out of our front drive and follow Beaulieu Road past the shops on your right and Hythe Hospital on your left to the small roundabout. Turn right there up Mullins Lane.
Continue on the same road [the newer part is called Challenger Way] and look out for a good view of the cruise ships in Southampton Docks on your right. Then you start your descent towards Applemore through well wooded housing till, at the end of a flat or slightly rising section you find Cumberland Way on your left. Turn down there and wind your way towards a small roundabout. If you missed the turn into Cumberland Way, turn left at the first roundabout and then right at the T junction to get to the same point.
At the roundabout keep going straight on past Applemore Leisure Centre and find the cycle track on your right. Take that to the main road and use the cycleways to get across into the New Forest. Do take care here: someone walking his dog was killed crossing this road a few years ago. The traffic comes thick and fast.
Once on the forest road (signed to Lyndhurst) carry on only as far as the crossroads at Ipley. Turn right there and keep going for a mile or so till you see a pub, The Bold Forester, on your left. Turn left into Arters Lawn. Continue up the hill to Longdown and then through trees to the main Southampton to Christchurch road, A35, at Colbury. You'll have passed Nature Quest, Longdown Farm and Colbury Church on your right by then.
At the main road, turn left and cycle on the pavement past the pub and into Ashurst. Before you get into the centre of Ashurst there's an official cycle path on the opposite side of the road, so you should cross over somewhere convenient.
Carry on to the top of the railway bridge, but then immediately turn right towards Woodlands. You'll find detached houses on your right and open forest on your left.
At the T junction by the cattle grid turn left and follow that twisting road for about a mile till, at a church, you have the opportunity to cut a corner by branching left. At the end of that road turn left again and in a very short while at the crossroads turn right for Cadnam.
At the main road, cross carefully by the garage and continue towards Winsor, but shortly after a right hand bend turn left for Newbridge. Cross the main road and carry on almost into Newbridge itself. Follow the road as it bears round to the left by a phone box and takes you across the open forest to Furzley Common.
At the crossroads turn left aiming for Bramshaw. The after another mile or so go straight over the awkward crossroads called Stock's Cross. You have to avoid being seduced by signs to Brook or Bramshaw.
Another mile and a half mostly through woodland takes you to another crossroads: Long Cross. Cross the major road and continue, following signs to Fritham.
Less than a mile further on, join a road coming in from the right, and soon afterwards at a triangular green with oak trees, bear right, leaving the red brick expanse of Fritham House - now a nursing home - on your left hand side.
The road winds about a lot. At the road junction bear right an then carry on till you see The Royal Oak on your right.
The return journey [cyclists, notice the variation at the end, avoiding the A326]
Start off from the Royal Oak the way you arrived, but after just half a mile at the road junction turn right. [If you miss this turning turn right past Fritham House]
At the T junction turn right along Janesmoor Plain. Just after passing Janesmoor Pond with its car parks on your left, watch out for a minor road on the right. Take this, and carry on 'staright as a gun barrel' over wartime airfield concrete for more than a mile [almost certainly into the wind, cyclists!]
The road carries on with a few slight bends for another mile and a half to a T junction in the middle of nowhere - well, heather and distant pines, actually. Turn left and join the route home from the High Corner Inn . . .
The road takes you through Slufter's Inclosure and under the A31 to the Canadian Memorial Cross on your left: maybe worth a look. At the fork before Bolderwood car park bear left towards Lyndhurst. You'll be coasting downhill most of the way till you reach the Portuguese Fireplace, a rather disappointing landmark, and then the road rises and falls to the New Forest Inn (another suggested venue) at Emery Down.
Bear right past the Inn, crest the hill and coast down to the main road past one of the most photographed thatched cottages in England. At the junction join the traffic into Lyndhurst, past the Queen's House where the Verderers' Court sits, the Church and the Crown Hotel. Straight on at the traffic lights down the High Street, and straight on again towards Southampton till you see the Lyndhurst Park Hotel on your right.
Just past the hotel turn right across open forest towards Beaulieu. Pass Matley Passage on your left and at the corner, Denny Wood on your right. Soon you'll be over the hump-backed bridge at Beaulieu Road Station. The Beaulieu Road Pub (yet another venue!) is there for a drink if you're parched.
In 500 metres take the left turn signposted Hythe. Watch out at Ipley crossroads for traffic on the other road, which has right of way; carry straight on to the roundabout on the A326 where, if in a car, you turn right along the straight stretch to the large roundabout for the left turn back past Dibden Purlieu to Arden House. But not cyclists!
Cyclists will recognise where they are now. Follow the cycle track signs towards Applemore Sports Centre, then ride between the centre and Tesco to a small roundabout: straight on along a residential road that becomes Cumberland Way. At the T junction turn right into the serpentine Challenger Way and up the short sharp hill to the back of Orchard School (from where you may again be able to see cruise ships in Southampton Water away to your left) and on to the mini-roundabout on Beaulieu Road. Turn left and you're almost home.
We hope you enjoyed your journey through the New Forest.
Map reference: SU 232 142
Postcode: SO43 7HJ
Telephone: 023 8081 2606
