YOUR DETAILED ROUTE DESCRIPTION

Set off from the Top-o-Town car park, which is off Bridport Road, Dorchester. Turn left out of the car park and go ‘straight across' the roundabout and down the hill, past the clock tower on the Corn Exchange, down to the bottom of town. Ride straight through the lights and over Grey's Bridge (river Frome) and on up to the roundabout. This is a very busy roundabout - take great care!

Take the second exit signposted Kingston Maurward and Tincleton and you are now on quiet Dorset Byways.

You stay on this road for about six miles as it winds its way past the ‘Pine Lodge Farm' tea rooms and the turn off for Rhododendron Mile, on through Tincleton and various hamlets until you get to the cross roads at Waddock Cross. This is a very busy main ‘A' road, please take care.

You cross straight over here, signposted Wareham. This road continues on through Moreton Forest and eventually to Clouds Hill, passing Lawrence of Arabia's cottage on your right. Keep straight on past the tank training grounds.

You are now approaching another fast main road junction. At the ‘Gallows Hill' ‘T' junction turn right and then almost immediately (about 100 metres) turn left signposted Worgret Heath and Wareham. Follow this long straight road and turn left at the ‘T' junction onto the main A352 at Worgret. You are back on a main road again - take care! 
Continue on to the big roundabout and take the second exit heading into Wareham town centre.

At the traffic lights in Wareham town centre  turn right and head out of town, over the river Frome (again) and across the water meadows towards Stoborough.

Just after you get into Stoborough you turn left just 50 metres past the red star ‘Texaco' garage into Nutcrack Lane. This is a narrow entrance and is not signposted - I think they want to keep the Arne peninsula secret!

Over the next seven miles or so you will be riding some of Dorset's finest undulating heathland byways - enjoy it.

Follow the Arne road through Ridge for approximately 1.5 miles, then at a fork in the road take the right fork signposted ‘Corfe Castle'. (You may wish to head straight on at the fork for some lovely picnic spots at Arne & Shipstal Point). Follow this lovely, twisting and largely unfenced road over cattle grids and past a few farms to a ‘T' junction. Turn right here and then left at the roundabout (first exit) then down the hill towards Corfe Castle. Congratulations you have made it to the halfway point!

Some of your fellow riders may leave the route here and make the short trip up the hill into Corfe Castle village itself. It is a very picturesque village with lots to see and lots of Cafes, hotels and pubs to choose from.

Take the first right turn just before the Castle ruins opposite the National Trust Visitor Centre, and ride on through Church Knowle and past The New Inn pub. Just out of the village (100 metres) turn right at the mini crossroads, signposted Stoborough and Wareham and head on up the rides steepest hill, Creech!

The road passes through Cocknowle and on up to East Creech. It is steep and most people will be walking up it but the reward is some fine views over Dorset countryside from the top. Many people have their picnic lunch here on top of Creech Hill! There are no ‘amenities' here but there are lots of bushes and the view is great!

Follow the road, it's now a brilliant twisty descent! Take the next left turn, signposted East Creech, go on through East Creech village, look out for ducks and geese as you ride past the duck pond. Stay on this road as you wend your way through the hamlet of Cotness to the ‘T' junction where you turn right signposted Wareham and Stoborough.

Follow this straight (Roman?) road, under the railway bridge for about 1.5 miles towards Stoborough. Turn left here (signposted East Holme & Lulworth) opposite The Springfield Country Hotel for the 5 mile byway ride that will eventually take you to Wool.

Lots of cross roads and turn-off's on this stretch but stay on the ‘main' road and keep heading for Wool. You will pass the East Holme turn off and then reach the crossroads with the B3070 at West Holme. Turn right on to the B3070 (signposted Wool) for 0.6 mile if you wish to make use of your discount voucher for a lovely lunch or tea at the Orchard at Holme, if not continue straight across towards East Stoke. Follow the twisting road past the ruins that was once Bindon Abbey and on into the village of Wool.

Turn right at the junction...only about fifteen miles to go!

Ride on up to and turn right across the level crossing. Immediately turn left just behind the railway lines, signposted East Burton, through East Burton and ‘The Seven Stars' pub and then along lovely byways towards Moreton.

As you enter Moreton the Cemetary where Lawrence of Arabia is buried is on your left. There is a great tearoom ‘The Old School House' in Moreton, it is just opposite you as you bear left through the village. You could stop for a ‘cuppa' or have a paddle in Moreton ford before the last stretch back to Dorchester. ...only ten miles to go!

Leaving Moreton, stay on the main road, ignoring the right hand turn-off's and continue along this road. Straight over at the crossroads, signposted Woodsford, and on past Woodsford Castle, the only thatched castle in England!

At the ‘T' junction (more of a ‘Y' really) turn right, signposted West Stafford and then after about 100 metres turn right towards West Stafford village Follow the road as it winds through the village. Don't be tempted by the "Wise Man Inn" it will doubtless be full of wayward fellow riders! ...only five miles to go now!

After leaving the village the road bears left, ride up the hill, over the railway line and turn right onto the cycle path towards Dorchester. At the end of the cycle way it turns sharp right through a gap and then left onto a disused road on through a gap by a five bar gate, continue along the road  following it round onto a roundabout. Take the third exit then it's only 100 metres or so to the next roundabout that you must go ‘straight over', signposted town centre

On to the next (mini) roundabout (about 100 metres!) take the first exit into Prince of Wales Road and follow this past the Mini/BMW Garage, through the traffic lights, into Dorchester town centre.

At the ‘T' junction turn left then after just 50 metres take the second right into Great Western Road leaving the Junction Hotel on your right, up to the traffic lights having passed Dorchester's No 1 bike shop! Turn right at the lights and follow this twisting road past the park to the top o Town roundabout. 
Take the first exit off the roundabout then first right into the car park and the finish! 

Congratulations!

The whole route is covered by Ordnance Survey Landranger maps  194 and 195

Links are available from our website and Facebook page for Google Maps, MapMyRide, Garmin Connect and GPX file showing the route

PS: you can print a "clean" copy of this route description by right-clicking somewhere within the route text and then left-clicking on "Print".