Top Cycling Climbs in the New Forest : lyndonthompson.com

(1) Blissford Hill

Short but steep wall of a climb SE of Fordingbridge that some hate and some love.

16%

79ft

0.1mi

(2) Pipers Wait

With sections in excess of 10%, this climb is both long enough and steep enough to become a challenge and split many groups. When ridden from the B3079 to Pipers Wait, its taken up another notch.

4%

229ft

1mi

(3) Hungerford Hill

Short wooded incline, initially gradual but with a kick after the right turn half way up. You can go for this but with a max gradient of 15% near the top, its going to hurt if you do.

7.1%

127ft

0.3mi

(4) Stuckton Hill

This climb is tempered by the fact that the road is winding and you can't see all the way up it. Never the less, its gradient and length rank it as one of the hardest in the New Forest.

6.2%

132ft

0.4mi

(5) Buddle Hill

Long enough and steep enough to test, Buddle Hill is perhaps slightly forgiving in that is narrow and rural which at least makes it look like you are progressing.

6.1%

140ft

0.4mi

(6) Woodgreen

Longish semi rural, semi wooded climb from Woodgreen up past the cricket pitch towards Hale.

4%

215ft

0.9mi

(7) Whiteshoot Hill

A gentle 4% slope with a nasty but short 10% kick at the end.

4.8%

177ft

0.6mi

(8) Bolderwood (West)

Beautiful wooded climb near Lyndhurst. Fairly long but gradual climb with a steep section in the middle.

3%

226ft

1.5mi

(9) Bolderwood (East)

The other Bolderwood climb starting from Emery Down also has a kick but this time its a little further along.

3%

223ft

1.5mi

(10) Braggers

Popular and reasonably easy wooded climb North of Bransgore.

4%

160ft

0.8mi

(11) Abbotswell Hill

This alternative to Blissford Hill isnt exactly easy but it doesn't have the intensity of Blissford.

6%

88ft

0.3mi

(12) Red Shoot Hill

A long gradual slope with some short decsents and some steeper ramps. Starts in the valley by Moyles Court School and goes past the Red Shoot Pub to the old airfield at Fritham.

2%

210ft

2.6mi

(13) Hale Lane

Narrow, winding and lumpy, Hale Lane is probably more of a challenge than its rating indicates although there are areas of respite.

2.7%

219ft

1.4mi

(14) Brook Hill

Short but reasonably steep climb up to the Roger Penny Way from Brook. Can feel hard when you have a long ride into a westerly wind at the top.

5%

103ft

0.4mi

(15) Hightown Hill

A longish steady climb up to the A31 at Ringwood. There are some steeper sections at the bottom but because its a road to nowhere for cyclists, its rarely ridden.

3%

205ft

1.1mi

(16) Charles Lane

A little used road which can tend to be gritty and leafy on the outskirts of Ringwood. With sections around 5% its worthy of being called a hill but unlikely to test most riders.

3.3%

156ft

0.9mi

(17) Forest Corner

Flattish to start and finish but then averaging out at 5% for 1/2 a mile with a steeper section in the middle make this a mid range New Forest climb.

3.4%

129ft

0.7mi

(18) Bramble Hill

Fairly consistent wooded climb up to the Roger Penny Way from Bramshaw.

5%

103ft

0.3mi

(19) Barrack Lane

Short, sharp and relatively little used. Barrack Lane is short enough to be sprinted up but with sections approaching 10%, its going to hurt if you do.

5%

92ft

0.3mi

(20) Pentons Hill

Added by Graham Lenton, Pentons Hill is a narrow lane that rises through a hamlet to Hyde C of E School. Interesting and attractive rather than challenging.

5%

85ft

0.3mi

(21) Crow Hill

With 7% ramps at the start and finish, Crow Hill can test your lactic threshold if you go all in, but the gradual slope in the middle makes it easy to roll up and a fast climb overall. Situated East of Ringwood.

3%

156ft

0.8mi

(22) Sandy Down

A wooded lane up from the Lymington River north of Boldre.

3.8%

120ft

0.5mi

(23) Slufters

This climb is on a straight, wide road which makes it feel harder than the ratings suggest. Located near Fritham its often into a headwind too.

4%

100ft

0.4mi

(24) Hatchet Lane

Easy climb out of beautiful Beaulieu towards Hatchet Pond. The hardest thing is possibily its straight after the Beaulieu coffee stop, and spelling Beaulieu!

3%

106ft

0.7mi

(25) Godshill

A long climb with a short steep section past Sandy Balls and a longer climb which extends along the Roger Penny Way.

1%

407ft

5.4mi

(26) Thorney Hill

Semi Urban climb heading out of Bransgore towards Burley. A good percentage of the early climb is over 4%.

2%

160ft

1.4mi

(27) Burnt House Lane

Semi urban climb on the edge of Bransgore.

3%

1ft

0.6mi

(28) Hincheslea Hill

Gradual slope between Brockenhurst and Burley with a sharp 8% central section. Can be difficult when the west wind blows.

2%

103ft

1mi

(29) Beaulieu Hill

Gradual climb on a wide fast road NE of Beaulieu. Included to keep Phil happy.

2.7%

81ft

0.5mi

(30) Mogshade Hill

Shortish climb up to the Canadian War Memorial which feels a lot steeper than it is as your speed plummets from a fast decsent.

2.7%

69ft

0.4mi

Top cycling climbs of the New Forest

My road cyclists guide to cycling climbs in The New Forest, Hampshire.

(1) Blissford Hill

Short but steep wall of a climb SE of Fordingbridge that some hate and some love.

(2) Pipers Wait

With sections in excess of 10%, this climb is both long enough and steep enough to become a challenge and split many groups. When ridden from the B3079 to Pipers Wait, its taken up another notch.

(3) Hungerford Hill

Short wooded incline, initially gradual but with a kick after the right turn half way up. You can go for this but with a max gradient of 15% near the top, its going to hurt if you do.

(4) Stuckton Hill

This climb is tempered by the fact that the road is winding and you can't see all the way up it. Never the less, its gradient and length rank it as one of the hardest in the New Forest.

(5) Buddle Hill

Long enough and steep enough to test, Buddle Hill is perhaps slightly forgiving in that is narrow and rural which at least makes it look like you are progressing.

(6) Woodgreen

Longish semi rural, semi wooded climb from Woodgreen up past the cricket pitch towards Hale.

(7) Whiteshoot Hill

A gentle 4% slope with a nasty but short 10% kick at the end.

(8) Bolderwood (West)

Beautiful wooded climb near Lyndhurst. Fairly long but gradual climb with a steep section in the middle.

(9) Bolderwood (East)

The other Bolderwood climb starting from Emery Down also has a kick but this time its a little further along.

(10) Braggers

Popular and reasonably easy wooded climb North of Bransgore.

(11) Abbotswell Hill

This alternative to Blissford Hill isnt exactly easy but it doesn't have the intensity of Blissford.

(12) Red Shoot Hill

A long gradual slope with some short decsents and some steeper ramps. Starts in the valley by Moyles Court School and goes past the Red Shoot Pub to the old airfield at Fritham.

(13) Hale Lane

Narrow, winding and lumpy, Hale Lane is probably more of a challenge than its rating indicates although there are areas of respite.

(14) Brook Hill

Short but reasonably steep climb up to the Roger Penny Way from Brook. Can feel hard when you have a long ride into a westerly wind at the top.

(15) Hightown Hill

A longish steady climb up to the A31 at Ringwood. There are some steeper sections at the bottom but because its a road to nowhere for cyclists, its rarely ridden.

(16) Charles Lane

A little used road which can tend to be gritty and leafy on the outskirts of Ringwood. With sections around 5% its worthy of being called a hill but unlikely to test most riders.

(17) Forest Corner

Flattish to start and finish but then averaging out at 5% for 1/2 a mile with a steeper section in the middle make this a mid range New Forest climb.

(18) Bramble Hill

Fairly consistent wooded climb up to the Roger Penny Way from Bramshaw.

(19) Barrack Lane

Short, sharp and relatively little used. Barrack Lane is short enough to be sprinted up but with sections approaching 10%, its going to hurt if you do.

(20) Pentons Hill

Added by Graham Lenton, Pentons Hill is a narrow lane that rises through a hamlet to Hyde C of E School. Interesting and attractive rather than challenging.

(21) Crow Hill

With 7% ramps at the start and finish, Crow Hill can test your lactic threshold if you go all in, but the gradual slope in the middle makes it easy to roll up and a fast climb overall. Situated East of Ringwood.

(22) Sandy Down

A wooded lane up from the Lymington River north of Boldre.

(23) Slufters

This climb is on a straight, wide road which makes it feel harder than the ratings suggest. Located near Fritham its often into a headwind too.

(24) Hatchet Lane

Easy climb out of beautiful Beaulieu towards Hatchet Pond. The hardest thing is possibily its straight after the Beaulieu coffee stop, and spelling Beaulieu!

(25) Godshill

A long climb with a short steep section past Sandy Balls and a longer climb which extends along the Roger Penny Way.

(26) Thorney Hill

Semi Urban climb heading out of Bransgore towards Burley. A good percentage of the early climb is over 4%.

(27) Burnt House Lane

Semi urban climb on the edge of Bransgore.

(28) Hincheslea Hill

Gradual slope between Brockenhurst and Burley with a sharp 8% central section. Can be difficult when the west wind blows.

(29) Beaulieu Hill

Gradual climb on a wide fast road NE of Beaulieu. Included to keep Phil happy.

(30) Mogshade Hill

Shortish climb up to the Canadian War Memorial which feels a lot steeper than it is as your speed plummets from a fast decsent.