Puddletown Woods
 

Puddletown Woods

 Olly
Posts: 5259
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Topic starter
 

On the road tommorow, and looking for somewhere to ride between Exeter and Poole.

 

Puddletown woods, just NE of Dorchester looks kinda dense on trailforks, and strava heatmap. 

https://www.trailforks.com/region/puddletown-forest/

https://www.strava.com/maps/global-heatmap?hl=en-GB&sport=MountainBikeRide&style=hybrid&terrain=false&labels=true&poi=true&cPhotos=true&gColor=blue&gOpacity=100#12.25/50.72317/-2.38456

 

Anyone ridden there? worth a stop? liklihood of getting Filthy?


 
Posted : 05/02/2026 10:22 am
Posts: 428
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I live just down the road (4 miles south of Puddletown) and rode thru the woods last Friday. Trails were ridable (I have an e-bike) but  very wet and muddy, streams of water on the main ascents/descents. Doesn't matter where you ride in Dorset/Devon unless its on tarmac you will get very muddy. Hardly had a day without rain for the past couple of weeks and the forecast for today/Friday/Saturday is more heavy rain. We aren't in as a bad a state as Devon/Cornwall, but still loads of flooding and some roads blocked in Dorset.

 


 
Posted : 05/02/2026 11:18 am
Posts: 13
Free Member
 

I second gazzab’s comment – plenty of trails but they will be boggy as hell. A better bet would be Gore Heath near Organford. Park at the car park on the left if you’re coming from the A35, ride to the trig point at the top and you’ll find plenty of short, fun, well drained trails to explore.


 
Posted : 05/02/2026 3:32 pm
Posts: 9951
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I’ve ridden once at Haldon, just beyond Exeter. From memory the Trails were armoured in the typical trail centre style. So that might be worth further investigation 

 

https://www.forestryengland.uk/haldon-forest-park/cycling-and-mountain-biking-trails-haldon-forest-park


 
Posted : 05/02/2026 7:13 pm