| 1. Moderately hilly Route on Dorset/Wiltshire Borders relatively traffic free.Care is needed crossing the A354 mid route. Park either in Martin Down Nature Reserve where there is a free car par or use the layby about 200 metres north of the starting point at Woodyates. There is usually a mobile refreshment (Burger) van in the layby which makes for a nice cup of tea before you start. The routes climbs gently from Woodaytes on an unclassified road before rewarding you with a long fast desent into Bowerchalke. Then a quiet C road follows the Chalk valley into Broadchalke where you turn to climb a challenging long drag to Hut and Lodge where you will be rewarded with another long, fast decent with views across Hampshire to the IOW, on a clear day. Cross the dual carriageway of the A354 carefully at the bottom of the hill before further gentle and quiet roads take you through the village of Martin, probably one of the prettiest villages in Hampshire. At Tidpit, you will turn right to climb through woods with Martin Down on your right before a gentle decent through the hamlet of Boveridge and into Cranborne Village. The shop selling organic produce from the area and the Garden Centre Tea Rooms are popular fuel stops for cyclists. Two pubs, the Sheaf of Arrow and the Fleur D'Lee both provide excellent food.
Climbing out of the village, you will follow very quiet roads to Edmundsham and into Wimborne St Giles. The village has pub and Post Office. A flat, quiet road then takes your across the ancient Roman site of Bockerly Ditct, the boundary between the counties before crossing (with care) the A354 again and into the unusually named Sixpenny Handley. Follow the signs for Bowerchalke out of Handley and, after passing a house on your left take the bridleway sign to your right, following a tarmac road. Keeping left at the entrance to East Woodyates farm will eventually bring you out onto the A354 and back to your start point. |