For my big 5-0 I am planning to ride Exeter via Corfe castle, New Forest, IOW downs then back from Portsmouth to Dorking in 3 days. I am hoping some helpful STW folks might help me with route planning.
The whole section from Exeter to south of Dorchester I have no idea about other than pawing over Komoot looking for photos etc. Dorchester to the Poole ferry looks good (to me). Then again I have no idea about Bournemouth to NF. I have never ridden the final section from Portsmouth to Haslemere either.
I plotted an approximate route on Komoot but have only accurately planned the sections I know .
Any advice would be hugely appreciated.
Thx!
Rich
Looking at the distance, the whole 1st third of the route looks quite lumpy, so I might need to streamline the whole section to south of Dorchester using leafy country roads to knock out some early miles, otherwise the distance might be too great for 3 days without making it less pleasant for my riding chums.
Do you have access to commute. Bizarrely I’ve planned quite a lot of that thinking I’d do it this summer. A few bits I know others I’ve used the Strava heat maps. I’m happy to share but you need to understand I’ve not ridden it. My plans are for shortish days based on about 1000m of ascent per day then time for a swim
Clearly you have access to Komoot and I actually meant Strava
I think my route won’t help as I was winding around looking for good bits of off road. After a brief scan of your route I’ll made 2 comments. You might as well cut the loop to Exmouth out and cut across Woodbury Common
Secondly you need to find out about range closures around Lulworth. A mate back packed through there and had to take a huge detour
Portsmouth to Haslemere
There are really nice lanes following the railway between Rowlands Castle and Buriton. Then you can go via qe park to get to Petersfield. Then after Liss it's the KAW route to n of hindhead, which I think is pretty much what you plotted.
Don't you need to get to Lymington rather than Poole if you want a ferry to the IOW!?
Follow the Shipwrights Way to get from Portsmouth up to Petersfield, Bentley etc
TheGingerOne
Full Member
Don’t you need to get to Lymington rather than Poole if you want a ferry to the IOW!?
Did you look at his route?
Try the guys at Woods Cyclery or check their Komoot for the NF to Bournemouth leg.
No I didn't, as life is too short, but he clearly wrote 'to the Poole ferry'.
Down in these parts we call it the sandbanks ferry tbh. It’s a different ferry to the one that goes to the IoW though.
Route through the Purbecks looks good and is beautiful.
If you want to reduce miles cut out the NF northerly detour and go through Highcliffe and Milton on Sea to Barton on sea. Ride along the beach to keyhaven and then take the coastal path into lymington.
Iow Route looks spot on.
Have a look at the East Devon Trail, that would get you as far as Lyme Regis from Exeter on a pretty good gravel route.
Shipwright’s Way from Portsmouth to Bentley (just outside Farnham) North Down’s Way (KAW route) from Farnham to Dorking - not sure if this bit is all bridleway now as it wasn’t a while ago, but it is all rideable. There is the Greensand Way from Haslemere that will take you all the way to Dorking, but it is a footpath and there are some tricky gates to negotiate, but of course I’d never condone cycling on a footpath 😉
Happy to help with a little bit of alternate routing near Petersfield.
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1132912520
Happy to help with a little bit of alternate routing near Petersfield.
Thanks for the suggestions, and the komoot routing Littlenose and everyone else.
If you like climbs and want to divert a bit for them on this ride, Sheet to Warren Corner https://www.strava.com/segments/27561586 (~636 feet over 4 miles) is as big as they come in Hampshire. Pleasant lanes then dropping down/up the other side to get to Hawkley and join up with LittleNose's route.
Lovely around Harting Combe Rd (near Rogate cycle centre) and Rake Rd approaching Milland, tarmac through a wood/forest, Milland Hill is a fun challenge https://www.strava.com/segments/25545019 that hits ~20% towards the top.
East Devon local here. What bike are you using and are you happy going off road or just sticking to b roads where possible?
Gravel bikes thanks. Sorry, I wasn’t clear on that
I took the liberty of just copying and tweaking your version for the Havant to Thursley section, its all gravel friendly, stays out of the more built up areas after Havant and takes in a nice way through the South Downs over to Milland Valley as mentioned before (nice little shop/cafe in Milland for a break) but then climbs out via Vann Road in Fernhurst (its as steep as the one mentioned before from the valley which takes you up and out to Shottermill, up to the Punchbowl via Polecat and down the ROW to Thursley. If you want more of an off road route let me know and I'm happy to help.
A minor point in the grand scheme of the route, but from Newlands Corner, once you reach Staple Lane/Combe Lane I personally would take the North Downs way across Netley Heath, picking up the Drove Road and then out on to Ranmore Road, rather than going down Greene Dene and up the b/w at Honeysuckle Bottom?
I was going to suggest exactly what bugpowderdust has done from Haslemere to Thursley, but you may as well bump right a few yards to take in the view at the Gibbet Hill high point before you roll down the hill to Thursley.
I'll ping you a link to a strava route of a ride I did a few years ago, Guildford - dorking ish - Haslemere. Might be useful, might not!
I took the liberty of just copying and tweaking your version for the Havant to Thursley section, its all gravel friendly, stays out of the more built up areas after Havant and takes in a nice way through the South Downs over to Milland Valley
Thank you very much. This section from coast to Surrey hills I had little in the way of experience. Also Ned thanks or the message and offer!
Think we are now going to start in Axminster because 260 gravel miles in 3 days might be requiring too many beans.
IoW local here, few tips:
If you’re on an MTB Brighstone forest has a tonne of amazing trails, be a shame to ride through without trying a couple out
Brighstone is also a great camp spot
Once you reach Newport head up St George’s down via Shide instead of joining the cycle track to Newchurch and follow to Hare & Hounds pub, turn right just after the tip and head through Coombley woods to Havenstreet then on to Ryde for the boat, or to Fishbourne via Firestone Copse and get the boat there
The coastal path round the South is also a great option but does add a fair bit of distance and elevation and involves some footpath so may not be what you’re after
Looking at the distance, the whole 1st third of the route looks quite lumpy,
Some of those lanes in Dorset have killer hills. I went out once from Weymouth, along the caost path, then back inland toward Dorchester. I wish I hadn’t, I was pretty fit at the time, but some hills just went on and on, others were so steep I walked.