Butties, Bikes and Beaulieu: A New Forest Adventure

Thursday 24 July saw a record turnout for the Newbury Road Club away day, with 23 riders descending on the New Forest for a glorious day in the saddle. With the Bell Inn in Bramshaw as our launchpad, several of us got things rolling the proper way — with a hearty breakfast. The bacon butties come highly recommended (fuel for champions).

Two routes were on offer: a scenic 32-mile Green ride and a more adventurous 65-mile Blue ride. Centenary jerseys were out in force, giving the day a splash of club pride — and ensuring no one got lost in the Forest.

The New Forest is always a treat to ride: lush, peaceful, and surprisingly sneaky. No alpine climbs here, but the elevation still crept up on us — nearly 3,000 feet on the Blue route. Fortunately, the pace was civilised and the conditions sublime: cool breeze, quiet lanes, and views that made you glad to be out on the bike.

Lunch was at Stef’s Kitchen in Beaulieu, where we were greeted by wasps with a particular fondness for jam. (Blame the EDI officers’ scones.) Despite the buzzing chaos, the staff were friendly and impressively efficient.

Post-lunch, things heated up — both in terms of weather and road traffic. A few miles on busier roads gave way to wide-open stretches across the windswept common. Donkeys and New Forest ponies provided the only real holdups — though arguably more photogenic than a red light.

As the Blue groups converged in the final miles, the pace picked up. A full-on sprint finish broke out, with Linda Green proving that summer training in Crete is not just for postcard pictures — she left the bunch gasping.

Everyone was back at the Bell by 2:15pm, where the remaining Green riders were busy conquering a different kind of endurance challenge: getting to the bottom of another beer.

Keep an eye out for more away days and special event rides here and on our Club ride app, Spond.