New Forest Jaunts 2 - cycling from Lyndhurst to Bolderwood and Brockenhurst

About 15 miles on a fine cold day, with a bit of a wind and some hills to get the blood moving.

From Lyndhurst up Pike hIll, and via Emery Down to Bolderwood. We passed the Portuguese Fireplace on the way.

Next to the memorial is a plaque:

"This is the site of a hutted camp occupied by a Portuguese army unit during the first World War. This unit assisted the depleted local labour force in producing timber for the war effort. The Forestry Commission have retained the fireplace from the cookhouse as a memorial to the men who lived and worked here and acknowledge the financial assistance of the Portuguese government in its renovation." 

 In order to help with the timber production for the war, a Portuguese Army unit working for the Canadian Timber Corps helped the local population whilst local foresters were away fighting. 

Bolderwood is a very popular spot with a large car park - there was even an ice-cream van, but we were not tempted. 

Well wrapped up against the cold.

From Bolderwood there is a very pleasant and mainly downhill ride along the Bolderwood and  Rhinefield Ornamental Drive eventually arriving at Brockenhurst, where we stopped for coffee at the Buttery.

We took the main road for the three final miles back to Lyndhurst - rather too busy to be really enjoyable, but the whole ride was excellent.