Cycle From Brockenhurst to Burley Along The Old Railway Route

The New Forest is home to a comprehensive network of excellent cycling paths, but the Old Railway Route between Brockenhurst and Burley is one of the flattest and most family-friendly. Using the remnants of a former railway that once linked the two villages, this 9-mile cycle route offers picturesque, easy pedalling through the national park.

The route is also known as ‘Castleman’s Corkscrew’ thanks to the solicitor, Charles Castleman, who promoted it, and the corkscrew shape the railway cut across the forest. The railway closed in 1964 after less than a century of service, before being converted into a cycling path in the 1980s.

This blog post contains everything you need to know about the Old Railway Route, including a map, written directions, where to hire bikes on either end of the trail, and a little bit of history.

What is the history of the Old railway route between Brockenhurst and Burley?

The railway route between Brockenhurst and Burley was originally built in the late 19th century as part of the Southampton and Dorchester Railway. The line opened in 1888 and was primarily used for transporting goods and livestock between the two towns.

The railway route was closed in 1964 as part of the Beeching cuts, which saw many rural railway lines across the UK being closed due to financial reasons. The line was dismantled and the track removed, leaving behind a disused railway corridor.

In the 1980s, the disused railway corridor was transformed into a cycle path as part of the National Cycle Network, following in the shadow of where the tracks once were. The path now provides a scenic and (almost) traffic-free route between Brockenhurst and Burley.

Castleman’s Corkscrew Cycling Route Map

Click here to view the map in a separate window.

Directions

1. Start at Brockenhurst Railway Station: Begin your ride from Brockenhurst Railway Station. From the ticket office side, seek out the access gate at the rear of the car park. Pass through the gate and turn left onto East Bank Road. At the next junction, make a right onto Avenue Road.

2. Onto Sway Road and the B3055: When you reach the end of Avenue Road, make a left onto Sway Road. Continue along Sway Road, heading away from Brockenhurst. At the T-junction, turn right onto the B3055. 

3. Onto the Castleman’s Corkscrew: You’ll only be cycling along the B3055 for a short while. As you pass under a railway bridge, the road will curve round to the left. Don’t follow the road at this point — instead, take the gravel track on the right (waymarker 217).

4. Make a right: At waymarker 216, make a left past the gate and onto the straight railway track. Continue your journey, passing over bridges at waymarkers 214, 213, 208, and 207. 

5. Through Setthorns Campsite: The trail takes you through the Setthorns Campsite at waymarker 195. Keep pedalling straight along the railway track, passing waymarkers 194, 193, and 192. 

6. Onto Burley Road: The gravel cycle track will end at a road. Turn right here (waymarker 191) and then take a left at the triangle junction to merge onto Burley Road. It’s worth noting that Burley Road has reasonably fast traffic and might not be suitable for young children.

7. Back onto the cycle track: After cycling along Burley Road for a while, you should see the Holmsley Old Station Tea Rooms on your left. (Side note: I definitely recommend stopping here for tea or coffee). There is a left turn here, where you should see a pedestrian crossing. There is an access gate on the opposite side of the road, behind the pedestrian crossing. This gate will take you onto the next traffic-free section of the Old Railway Route.

8. Over Holmsley Passage: After continuing to cycle straight for some time, you’ll arrive at a small country lane called Holmsey Passage, with two gates on either side (waymarkers 160 and 159). Simply continue cycling straight, onto the gravel track ahead.

9. Through Burbush Car Park: After a while, the track will veer to the right, up a short but sharp incline. This will lead you into Burbush Car Park. Cycle through the car park to the road (waymarker 157), and make a right turn onto Pound Lane.

10. End at Burley Village: Pound Lane will take you right into the heart of the charming Burley Village, where the cycle route ends.

Where To Hire Bikes For Your Brockenhurst to Burley Ride

If you don’t have your own bike with you, you can hire one from Cyclexperience, located right by the railway station in Brockenhurst. They’re very friendly and will even kit you out with a helmet and puncture repair kit. I recommend you book your bike hire with them in advance during the busy seasons, which you can do via their website.

If you’re wanting to cycle this route in reverse and will need to hire a bike in Burley, I recommend New Forest Cycling. Their shop is located right at the end of Pound Lane on the triangle junction. This is a super convenient location, because you’ll need to cycle along Pound Lane anyway to get to the Old Railway Route. Again, booking in advance is advised during peak times and weekends.

Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support — Lauren.

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