This little bikepacking route is the one I used to get back after cycling around the French coastline from Cherbourg to Calais, its a route that combines some coastal riding, along the clifftops along some nice cycles paths and then also pops into the south downs for some hills from time to time not before a nice gravel finish across the new forest.

Although this ride is in the intermediate it’s probably somewhere in between beginner and intermediate really but as it does head into the south downs where the trails can get a little rougher, steeper and a bit soggy if its been raining, some of the south downs is along the south downs way, but I also included some of the lesser used trails to keep things interesting. You head into the hilly south downs 3 time along this route and 2 times after you have enjoyed the hills and got your heart pumping you will head back down to the coast for some cruising along the costal cycle paths.

You will need to be comfortable riding with some traffic for a couple sections, The main busy section here is when you drop into Portsmouth towards Southampton. There are “cycle lanes” if you know what I mean.

This route can be pretty tough because going in this direction you often have the wind in your face, but you can use the south downs for some nice wild camping and stop for some beach swimming if you feel like it.