Enid Blyton once said, “My imagination contains all the things I have ever seen or heard, things my conscious mind has long forgotten. I don’t think that I use anything I have not seen or experienced — I don’t think I could.”
As the creator of the Famous Five adventures, many of the places in Enid Byton’s stories, are to be found in Dorset, more specifically in the beautiful Studland area where she often holidayed and where she and her husband bought property.
This walking and cycling tour discovers the places in Dorset that inspired her. We’ve designed the itinerary to be largely traffic free and gentle to enable young readers to follow in her footsteps. Where will your imagination take you?
Holiday details
Price
- Luxury
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from £1,435 per person
Suites available for families
Based on two people sharing a room
Duration
4 nights
Start & Finish
Starts daily in Studland. Available at this hotel until mid July and after early September
Hotels
- Luxury
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A family hotel where Enid Blyton often holidayed in the 1960s
Holiday type
Self-guided so you are free to explore at your own pace. More info...
Activity level
Gentle cycling (2) More info...
Electric bikes
Available
Mileage
3 days of cycling 5 - 10 miles (8 - 16 km) and 1 day of walking 8 miles (13 km)
Terrain
Flat cycling, easy walking
What’s included?
Ensuite accommodation every night with breakfast. The services of our friendly local Hosts. Luggage transfers between hotels. Touring bikes and accessories. 24/7 phone contact number. Adventure Handbook with our local tips. GPS Routes on an App with waterproof phone holder. Guidebook or OS maps. Protection of your funds. Advice, help and guidance planning your trip.
Read About Our Trips for further details
Traffic-free
50% with very low traffic on the rest
Options
- Enjoy the assurance of our local guide cycling with you and sharing their knowledge on your first day
- Let us book you a boating, fishing or horse riding experience
- Add on a ride or transfer to include Stonehenge
Itinerary day-by-day
Luxury
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1. Day one
Arrive Studland
Settle into your hotel in Studland where Enid Blyton holidayed in the 1960s. This will be your base for the next 4 nights. Your bicycles will be waiting there for you so if you wish, you can explore the pretty village of Studland and the wonderful National Trust sandy beach of Studland Bay. Enjoy a short pedal to the local golf club which Enid and her husband purchased and pass the tiny cottage nearby that she espied and wrote about.
Optional 5 miles (8 km)
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2. Day two
Studland to Swanage and back
Today begins with a cycle ride north on level, traffic- free forest tracks to the stunning village of Corfe Castle, often used by the writer in her tales with its dramatic castle. Detour enroute if you wish, to the unusual Blue Pool, the stud and moorland of Middlebere Heath and the nature reserve at Arne for stunning views of Poole harbour, all beloved by the author. Step back in time to her children’s adventures which often began with a steam train ride from school by boarding the steam train from Corfe Castle to Swanage. Discover the hotel there where Blyton stayed and explore this old fashioned town where she made regular visits, returning by steam to Corfe Castle and pedalling back to Studland
Optional 10, 17 or 20 miles (16, 27 or 32 km)
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3. Day three
Kimmeridge to West Lulworth
We transfer you to Kimmeridge today so you can walk the Jurassic coast following in Blytons footsteps. Take a bridleway to reach the coast from the village of Kimmeridge and then head along the cliff top footpath on this wonderous section of coastline. The walk west includes Kimmeridge Bay with its 'Tower', Lulworth cove and Stair Hole, all of which feature in Enid’s stories. We meet you in the village of West Lulworth to return you to Studland
8 miles (13 km)
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4. Day four
Studland to Brownsea Island
Heading east from Studland, you ferry hop with your bike to Sandbanks and then take a further boat to Brownsea Island to explore on foot. This unspoilt gem, owned by the National Trust, sits in the middle of Poole harbour and is ‘Whispering Island’ in the Blyton books. Those wanting to pedal on, can cycle traffic free along the mainland shore and in front of all the colourful beach huts to Bournemouth Pier. Retrace the route and ferry back to Studland for your last night.
5 or 14 miles (8 or 22 km)
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5. Day five
Depart Studland
At your leisure, depart from Studland