Combining walking and cycling, this tour has it all as it leads you along the beautiful Jurassic coast into deepest Dorset, an inspiration to the likes of Thomas Hardy and Lawrence of Arabia and far from the madding crowd.
Our carefully tailored route gives you two night stays in unique inns and hotels nestled in rural hideouts and characterful small towns. Discover the full variety of this unspoilt area: ancient hill top forts, the cliffs, stacks and arches of the dramatic limestone coast path, soaring downs and valleys and the thatched hamlets and hidden bridleways of quiet rural Dorset. With E bikes available and a flexibility to enjoy days off, we know you will love this trip.
Holiday details
Price
- Classic
-
from £2,335 per person
- Luxury
-
from £3,595 per person
Based on two people sharing a room
What’s included?
Transfers as detailed, steam train from Swanage, Train hop on Day 3. See what’s included as standard
Duration
9 nights
Start & Finish
Starts Mondays or Wednesdays and is circular from Wareham. Wareham is 2.5 hours from London Waterloo by train
Hotels
- Classic
-
A historic inn, one boutique hotel and two centrally located inns
- Luxury
-
One 5 star hotel and three 4 star hotels
Holiday type
Self-guided
This tour is priced without a guide and you are free to explore on your own. If you would like a guide for part or all of your trip, we are happy to provide a knowledgeable, local guide
Activity level
Gentle cycling (5) More info...
Electric bikes
Available
Mileage
4 days of cycling 16 - 27/32 miles (26-43/51 km), 1 day of optional cycling or walking and 3 days of optional walking 5 - 8 miles (8- 13 km)
Terrain
Flattish cycling routes with hills one day, on walks rolling terrain and a couple of strenuous sections
Traffic-free
Cycling route is 20% traffic free and the rest on quiet lanes
Itinerary day-by-day
Classic
-
1. Day one
Arrive Wareham
Arrive in Wareham and check into your overnight stay where you spend 2 nights in this small and charming market town. With over 200 listed buildings and the River Frome providing the centre piece of the town with a pretty quay and boats to hire if you wish, there is plenty to explore here. You Host will meet you tonight or tomorrow morning to brief you and answer any questions you may have.
-
2. Day two
Circular walk to Swanage
Start your trip with a stunning walk to the coast at Swanage along the top of the Purbeck Ridge with panoramic views over the rural Dorset countryside and towards the Isle of Wight. The walk begins in Corfe Castle where we transfer you after breakfast. Here you can explore the majestic ruin of a Royal castle and a charming village before heading up to the ridge and enjoying the wind in your hair. As you approach the coast, walk along the sandy seashore to Swanage and saunter into this old-fashioned town for an ice cream. Here you pick up the steam train (or a transfer if you are unlucky) for a dramatic haul back up to Corfe Castle and a transfer to your hotel for a 2nd night.
If you prefer to cycle today we have a 21 mile flat circular ride to the unspoilt beaches at Studland through woodland, sandy heaths and back lanes which must be booked in advance.
Optional 6 miles (10 km)
-
3. Day three
Wareham to Blandford
This first day of cycling is a gentle gem and begins with an 8-minute train hop from Wareham. Then pedal a disused railway line to the charming town of Wimborne Minster worthy of a long coffee stop and a poke around. Beyond lie tiny back lanes in the beautiful Stour valley with old water mills, weeping willows, ice creams we adore and grand Kingston Lacy house and garden. Cross the river Stour as you enter Blandford and find your hotel for the next 2 nights in the heart of this characterful county town.
21 miles (34 km)
-
4. Day four
Hambledon Hill to Blandford
For something completely different, today’s walk takes you up two of Dorset’s most iconic sights. The 5,000 year old hill forts encircling Hambledon Hill and Hod Hill dominate the scene for miles and give you wonderful views as you walk atop these ancient chalk hills. Many butterflies and a number of orchids are to be spotted here along with skylarks and kestrels just to mention a few. This is your reward for a steep climb early on in the walk from a tiny hamlet where we transfer you at the start of the day. Beyond the drama are a cosy village pub, the delights of the Stour river and a 17th Century landscape with magical trees which lead you back to your hotel for a 2nd night in Blandford
Optional 7 miles (11 km)
-
5. Day five
Blandford to Evershot
Deepest Dorset beckons today with a delightful cycle ride through a rural patchwork of downs and thatched hamlets that inspired Thomas Hardy and in some ways is little changed today. This is a day of ups and downs, the most demanding ride of the trip as you pedal quiet back lanes, the odd bridleway and a soaring disused railway path through an area so far from the madding crowd that refreshment stops are few but glorious when you reach them! The day ends in charming Evershot, where the Acorn Inn, your hotel for the next 2 nights, features in Tess of the D’Urbervilles.
27 miles (43 km)
-
6. Day six
Evershot circular walk
Relax at your atmospheric inn and enjoy picture postcard Evershot. For an attractive half day circular walk in this backwater of West Dorset we have just the ticket! Saunter through the Melbury Park estate, where you may spot the deer as well as grazing sheep. Take in the village nearby where Hardy’s parents were married with his mother's old cottage close by and return through gentle rolling terrain via Lucerne Lake, fields and woods. Perhaps enjoy a Dorset cream tea at Summer Lodge, a stone's throw from Evershot High Street.
Optional 5 miles (8 km)
-
7. Day seven
Evershot to Dorchester
Your pedal to Dorchester is downhill through the pretty Frome valley and its isolated villages set against a backdrop of rolling hills and ridges supporting a patchwork of woodland and pasture. Take a picnic to enjoy enroute as this is remote country with a beautiful traffic free ride to reach the edges of Dorchester. Forever linked with Thomas Hardy – visit the house he designed as well as adjacent Poundbury conceived by King Charles. Dorchester where you spend 2 nights, is a historic gem with many Roman features remaining.
16 or 19 miles (26 or 30 km)
-
8. Day eight
Lulworth Cove coast path walk
Your last walk is a stunner. We transfer you to Lulworth Cove on the Jurassic coast where wonderful rock contortions form the tiny circular bay. From here you follow the path along the Dorset coast, known for its beauty and unspoilt nature, with this section considered one of the most outstanding. The walking is quite demanding so we have adjusted the distance accordingly with a famous smugglers pub your rendezvous for where we meet you (and your booty?) at the end of the walk and return you to Dorchester
Optional 6 miles (10 km)
-
9. Day nine
Dorchester to Wareham
Today is one of our favourite rides as you make for Wareham freewheeling along two river valleys. Weave along bridleways and across fords and forests to find hamlets and churches far from the madding crowd. Drop into Hardy’s birthplace or Lawrence of Arabia's country retreat and return to Wareham refreshed by the delights of deepest Dorset.
23 miles (37 km)
-
10. Day ten
Depart Wareham
At your leisure depart from Wareham after a delicious breakfast.
Luxury
-
1. Day one
Arrive Wareham
Arrive in Wareham and check into your overnight stay where you spend 2 nights in this small and charming market town. With over 200 listed buildings and the River Frome providing the centre piece of the town with a pretty quay and boats to hire if you wish, there is plenty to explore here. You Host will meet you tonight or tomorrow morning to brief you and answer any questions you may have.
-
2. Day two
Circular walk to Swanage
Start your trip with a stunning walk to the coast at Swanage along the top of the Purbeck Ridge with panoramic views over the rural Dorset countryside and towards the Isle of Wight. The walk begins in Corfe Castle where we transfer you after breakfast. Here you can explore the majestic ruin of a Royal castle and a charming village before heading up to the ridge and enjoying the wind in your hair. As you approach the coast, walk along the sandy seashore to Swanage and saunter into this old-fashioned town for an ice cream. Here you pick up the steam train (or a transfer if you are unlucky) for a dramatic haul back up to Corfe Castle and a transfer to your hotel for a 2nd night.
If you prefer to cycle today we have a 21 mile flat circular ride to the unspoilt beaches at Studland through woodland, sandy heaths and back lanes which must be booked in advance.
Optional 6 miles (10 km)
-
3. Day three
Wareham to Sturminster Newton
This first day of cycling is a gentle gem and begins with an 8-minute train hop from Wareham. Then pedal a disused railway line to the charming town of Wimborne Minster worthy of a long coffee stop and a poke around. Beyond lie tiny back lanes in the beautiful Stour valley with old water mills, weeping willows, ice creams we adore and grand Kingston Lacy house and garden. Cross the River Stour as you enter Blandford, a characterful county town and enjoy a soaring traffic free ride beyond courtesy of a defunct railway line with far reaching vistas over downs and meadows. Not far out of the little town of Sturminster Newton, find your country house hotel where you stay 2 nights
32 miles (51 km)
-
4. Day four
Hambledon Hill to Blandford
For something completely different, today’s walk takes you up two of Dorset’s most iconic sights. The 5,000 year old hill forts encircling Hambledon Hill and Hod Hill dominate the scene for miles and give you wonderful views as you walk atop these ancient chalk hills. Many butterflies and a number of orchids are to be spotted here along with skylarks and kestrels just to mention a few. This is your reward for a steep climb early on in the walk from a tiny hamlet where we transfer you at the start of the day. Beyond the drama are a cosy village pub, the delights of the Stour river and a 17th Century landscape with magical trees which lead you to Blandford where we meet you and return you to your hotel.
Optional 7 miles
-
5. Day five
Sturminster Newton to Evershot
Deepest Dorset beckons today with a delightful cycle ride through a rural patchwork of downs and thatched hamlets that inspired Thomas Hardy and in some ways is little changed today. This is a day of ups and downs as you pedal quiet back lanes and the odd bridleway through an area so far from the madding crowd that refreshment stops are few but glorious when you reach them! The day ends in charming Evershot, where the Acorn Inn features in Tess of the D’Urbervilles and you stay 2 nights in a wonderful country house hotel.
17 miles (27 km)
-
6. Day six
Evershot circular walk
Your hotel has a lovely swimming pool and there’s also tennis and a sauna so chilling here for the day will be wonderful. For an attractive half day circular walk in this backwater of West Dorset we have just the ticket! Saunter through the Melbury Park estate, where you may spot the deer as well as grazing sheep. Take in the village nearby where Hardy’s parents were married with his mother's old cottage close by and return through gentle rolling terrain via Lucerne Lake, fields and woods for a refreshment at the atmospheric Acorn Inn.
optional 5 miles (8 km)
-
7. Day seven
Evershot to Dorchester
Your pedal to Dorchester is downhill through the pretty Frome valley and its isolated villages set against a backdrop of rolling hills and ridges supporting a patchwork of woodland and pasture. Take a picnic to enjoy enroute as this is remote country with a beautiful traffic free ride to reach the edges of Dorchester. Forever linked with Thomas Hardy – visit the house he designed as well as adjacent Poundbury conceived by King Charles. Dorchester where you spend 2 nights, is a historic gem with many Roman features remaining.
16 or 19 miles (26 or 30 km)
-
8. Day eight
Lulworth Cove coast path walk
Your last walk is a stunner. We transfer you to Lulworth Cove on the Jurassic coast where wonderful rock contortions form the tiny circular bay. From here you follow the path along the Dorset coast, known for its beauty and unspoilt nature, with this section considered one of the most outstanding. The walking is quite demanding so we have adjusted the distance accordingly with a famous smugglers pub your rendezvous for where we meet you (and your booty?) at the end of the walk and return you to Dorchester
Optional 6 miles (10 km)
-
9. Day nine
Dorchester to Wareham
Today is one of our favourite rides as you make for Wareham freewheeling along two river valleys. Weave along bridleways and across fords and forests to find hamlets and churches far from the madding crowd. Drop into Hardy’s birthplace or Lawrence of Arabia's country retreat and return to Wareham refreshed by the delights of deepest Dorset.
23 miles (37 km)
-
10. Day ten
Depart Wareham
At your leisure depart from Wareham after a delicious breakfast.