Ramble and ride in deepest Dorset

Classic

1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 10. Day ten

    Depart Wareham

    At your leisure depart from Wareham after a delicious breakfast.

Luxury

1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 10. Day ten

    Depart Wareham

    At your leisure depart from Wareham after a delicious breakfast.