MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
We normally head off away for 2 weeks at the beginning of September and the last few years we’ve done a week in Charlestown in Cornwall, then a week in Devon - a few different places but we really liked Beer. This year Mrs Binners is fancying a change and doing the second week in Dorset.
We’ve never really done that coastline so don’t know it at all. It looks lovely though. As Mrs Binners said… ask the Singletrack lot, they’ll know someone good to stay. So over to you.
We’re after somewhere not too big or busy (it’s not school holidays, so this shouldn’t be an issue) but with maybe a few decent pubs or restaurants. We’ll be spending the days doing coastal walks, so we’ll need access to coastal paths. I’ll be taking a bike, though advice on which type to take would be good too
I defer to your infinite wisdom on such matters oh wise and knowledgeable ones
Wareham is as good a place to stay as anywhere - close to plenty of walking (including coastal) plus Wareham forest and heath. Loads of restaurants and great pubs. Pretty enough without being twee. Easy access to Swanage, Corfe, Studland and Poole.
Duke of Wellington is recommended for a pint and a smokie
Square and Compass ain't what it used to be now its been featured in all the w**nker colour supplements and they don't make the pasties there anymore. Still do good beer though - and Dog on the Roof is a classic local bottled ale from the nearby micro.
I'd take a gravel bike if you have one - or a hard tail with fast tyres
My mum moved to swanage about a decade ago. It's a really nice place, just a bit isolated. Loads of nice pubs and restaurants. Nice walks too. Fortes in town does cracking ice cream. Close to the tank museum too, or monkey world if that's more your thing. They're dangerously close to eachother though, if we have a planet of the apes style situation.
It’s a great place for a bike ride or walk. I love the Isle of Purbeck. I can’t tell you where to stay as I’ve usually popped over from Bournemouth visiting my daughter.
The riding there is on the Gravel old school xc crossover. I’ve enjoyed rides in a hard tail, light fs ace gravel bike. So probably the hard tail is the best compromise
We stayed in the village of Portesham a couple of years ago. It's not Scotland but it was pretty good.
Purbeck again
Ticks all those boxes
Xc/gravel vibe is strong
Thanks for the replies everyone. I really appreciate the local knowledge. I knew I could rely on you. Mrs B is now on the case looking for suitable houses to stay in
My hardtail, which is basically set up like a gravel bike, has been what I’ve taken with me to Cornwall and Devon, so looks like it’ll be coming with me next year too
Thanks again!
Bankes Arms or Mortons Manor in Corfe are nice but there's not much going on there.
Priory in Wareham is meant to be lovely but £££.
Somewhere in Wareham would be my choice with lots to do close by.
Not sure why everyone goes on about the Square and Compass, it's mediocre at best but I guess there is not much else close by and it's close to the climbing quarries.
Thanks for the replies everyone. I really appreciate the local knowledge. I knew I could rely on you. Mrs B is now on the case looking for suitable houses to stay in
My hardtail, which is basically set up like a gravel bike, has been what I’ve taken with me to Cornwall and Devon, so looks like it’ll be coming with me next year too
Thanks again!
Also have a look at Wool. It's just west of Wareham. There are a number of holiday cottages on Bindon Lane that I used to ride past on my commute when I worked out that way. I can give you a load of routes from Wool/Winfrith going in every direction which can include the main parts of Purbecks but will also have a much wider range of riding with less tourists.
Corfe or Swanage if you want more than 1 pub and walks on the doorstep, Swanage has a Greg’s, as does Wareham but the immediate surroundings are nothing special and you’d need to drive a few miles to get to the coastal path.
The Pig in Studland might also be worth a look.
If I was you, I’d stay in Swanage.
As for riding, there’s loads of good stuff away from the well known stuff, but you want to plan a route bearing in mind the wind direction, happy to share some routes, or take you for a lap somewhere.
Haven caravans on west side of Weymouth are decent, we did them Oct '23, only downside for us was the site was around middle of inland side of lagoon, so it was too much of a walk for us to get to Chessel Beach proper. But the walks around the east side of the lagoon were nice.
The riding there is on the Gravel old school xc crossover. I’ve enjoyed rides in a hard tail, light fs ace gravel bike. So probably the hard tail is the best compromise
Sounds ideal for a lightweight steel single speed hardtail! 😁
I noticed Kimmeridge on the map, so it’s always worth putting an afternoon aside for some fossil hunting around Charmouth and Lyme Regis.
Sounds ideal for a lightweight steel single speed hardtail!
Well that’s what’ll be coming with me, with the addition of some gears 😃
Thanks for the continued advice everyone. I’ll definitely be taking up the offer of some route advice. Fossil hunting sounds right up Mrs B’s strasse
Yes well worth getting to Lyme Regis for fossil hunting snd the fossil museums. Ideally you want a falling tide after a storm. But there are always big fossils to see. It’s less good as a cycling walking base. Another good day trip would be Lulworth Cove and the walk over to Durdle Door
I'm a big fan of Lyme Regis, having stayed close in Seaton and Sidmouth previously (yeah there devon I know). Red Panda is the biggest draw for me, oh and you can go fossil hunting.
We’ll be spending the days doing coastal walks, so we’ll need access to coastal paths.
Purbeck is a top spot, I love the landscape and a ride on the steam railway, I have stayed in Swanage a fair few times, good for a weekend but a week might get a bit tedious if you're trying to get out and about, coastal walk is of course class.
An alternative might be to go for somewhere more west Dorset, by the coast, like Bridport, gives days out options along the coast towards Charmouth for your fossil hunting, and plenty of pubs etc in the town?
Dorset is one of my fave English counties, enjoy!
Another +1 for Lyme Regis. Lots of history, small but big enough to support loads of independent places, not so much on the radar that it goes the full St Ives.
Worth or Langton Matravers. The former is where the Square and Compass is. I didn't know it had gone downhill... was my favourite pub bitd. Used to kip in the garden opposite - very handy.
A friend took me on a coastal walk from Swannage to Chapmans pool. We parked in Worth Matravers and used the no 40 bus to get to Swannage. Cracking day out. Saw loads of fossils!
Worth or Langton Matravers. The former is where the Square and Compass is. I didn't know it had gone downhill... was my favourite pub bitd. Used to kip in the garden opposite - very handy.
Visited there every year for the last 25 or so years. It’s not really changed, just got busier as word got around which can impact on the experience if bar queue is big and you can’t find a seat. The amazing view never changes though.
The Pig hotel is fantastic but spendy and you need to book well in advance.