Forum menu
Thinking of moving to the area. Any advice on good/bad places to live would be appreciated, especially the surrounding villages. Looking at Shillingstone, Durweston and Iwerne Minster at the moment.Clearly UK Bike Park and Blandford Forest is a bit of a draw, any other good riding in the area?
Is that where the Badger Brewery is ?
Good enough reason to move there from my point of view
It is 🙂
Okeford Hill Bike Park (formerly UK Bike Park) is close to Shillingston/Okeford Fitzpaine. Can be ridden to from Blandford though.
Puddletown forest is also good for riding. Wareham forest has some too, and for nice views, the Purbecks.
There are some bits in Blandford forest, but not loads, space to dig though.
Most of the local villages are all #fairly# similar, with most having a local pub, village hall and not much else. 😂 . I'd happily live in any of those listed, and would base it more on which had the best house. I would expect house prices to be similar in all.
Internet speeds are now pretty good, buses are not so good.
If you do move around there drop me a message and I can show you around.
Cheers mate, have only been to Blandford a few times but like the feel of the place as a local town, more so than Salisbury, where I'll be commuting to. Housing north of the A354 is also stupidly expensive in comparison...
Yes, Blandford is much smaller than Salisbury, but it does still have a decent buzz about it, many shops are independent and it doesn't have that "dying a death" feel that many small towns high streets have.
Really good bike shop Offcamber as well, they run a XC race series which is again ridable to from Blandford.
Not sure when you are planning on moving, but there are plans to build new houses in Charlton Marshall, the land of which is currently underwater. Unless they have some serious flood management plans I'd avoid those!
Yep, will be avoiding flood plains when possible! Viewing a house in Shillingstone on Friday, chain had fallen through due to flooding in Stourpaine putting the buyer off... Seems to be loads of new build on flood plain land. In Salisbury they wanted to build a supermarket on the Water Meadows FFS!
I’m about 30 mins north of you in south Wilts. If you ever want to get out for a pedal give me a buzz. I’d say road as the MTB isn’t that good around where I live.
In Salisbury they wanted to build a supermarket on the Water Meadows FFS!
Beggars belief, it has me wondering whether it’s the planners or the prospective inhabitants who are either illiterate or with poor reading skills, for not understanding what the word ‘flood’ means...
Funnily enough I was in Blandford on Friday after a meeting at okeford hill with the bike park tenant. Lovely area and lots of nice villages around there. The bike park itself is mega steep though. Opens again on April 4 th.
Sixpenny handley tollard royal are also nice. Okeford fitzpaine is off the main Rd and a bit quieter than shillingstone. Places like cranborne are nice. Like someone said. Pick any village with a pub and look for one without a mega busy through Rd.
Lots of forest tracks, farm tracks and bridleways around. Good gravel bike territory I reckon outside of puddletown and okeford hill.
Hey Rich if you do move to that neck of the woods you'll be able to join us on my Seaside Shuffle ride in the Summer. Starts at Corfe, Studland, Old Harry's out to the Square and Compass At Worth Matravers 😀😀😀😀Great 25 odd mile social day out on the bike.
A mate lives in Blandford so pop down a couple of times a year. Can't really comment on it too much as don't know the area but it seems dead nice. He lives on the north east side of town and apparently when its the steam fair its time to screw down anything thats moveable.
Oh and The Crickers in Iwerne Courtney does the best lamb shank I've ever had.
We had a week in a place in Iwerne Courtney / Shroton
Was a lovely place to stay, really enjoyed our trip. Did a little local loop on advice from a very kind member here. Lots of nice pubs around too
Inlaws live in Child Okeford, Some great riding up Hod Hill and Hambldon Hill, not forgeting Ashmore some really great tracks up that way
Bridleways get very overgrown in the summer, great for road riding as well, nice quite route to Wimborne from Blandford
Thought this would be about a chat room for old Sierras and Orions.
As you were.
I do own a Galaxy Tom. But it's fitted with a massive stereo system so less boring than when I got it 🙂 Thanks for all the comments, went to Shillingstone today and the general area is *iovely*. Iwerene Minster tomorrow and then a place in Blandford to see. Have added at least one vowel per word to my adopted Wiltshire accent. Definitely see you on the seaside ride Oldfart 🙂