Routes in Dorset

themyers

Just started MTB after years on the road - where should I ride in Dorset (I live in Southbourne) - I hear the Purbecks are decent? Is the New Forest any good or are you only allowed to stick to the marked trails? Further I am meant to be meeting my mate on Saturday and need to find somewhere to ride, as he is coming down the a31 we were gonna meet somewhere like Ringwood but not sure where to ride round there?

Many questions in one

Apologies:)

Dorset_Bins

Hi there. I can vouch that the Purbecks are good. Where you are, you could take the chain ferry at Sandbanks and park up on the 'ferry road'. Plenty of options from there.

I'm now local to the New Forest. It's ok as a local ride: drains well, etc. One should stick to the waymarked routes, which are fire roads. Does get very busy with ramblers in the summer and the first sign of sun at weekends.

But out of the two, I'd take the Purbecks - hands down.

See you about

themyers

ah coolio cheers. maybe i will try purbecks soon and go to the new forest this weekend as it is most convinient a31 and all

cheers!

Dorset_Bins

I believe that Fordingbridge is a half decent start point: bridleways into the forest

Laters

VerwoodAsh

Hello and welcome to Dorset. Yes the Purbecks are good (not brilliant but good) and there is plenty of cheeky trails around the palce as well. My mates also live in Southbourne, so we sometimes ride from there and go off round St Katherines and then off over to Avon forest etc. Nothign to write home about I'm afraid.

Over at Moors Valley there is now a familiy friendly waymarked singletrack that is good for all-weather fun. It is 4.75miles long and although I take around 20 mintues at a good pace to go round there are stories of close on 15 minute loops being done now. There is also the Freeride (northshore & pump track) also in the Moors Valley compound over by the Ringwood corner. On the other side of the B3081, there is Verwood Forest which also has some tracks in and is much less used.

Then to the North of the county is actually some of the better riding as it gets hillier.

May I also suggest trying the Dorset Rough Riders - A very friendly club with lots of rides a week (especilay midweek evening ones involving beer) -

http://www.dorsetroughriders.co.uk

VerwoodAsh

If you are meeting your friend, then I suggest you comae off the A31 onto the B3081 towards Verwood and then park in one of the carparks on your left once you come into the forestry bit and opposite the turnoff towards Alderholt.

You will then start near the frerride bit (known as Watchmoor Wood) .

Also on this map is the marked out trail which will take you to the visitors centre (in pink). You can always drive to the centre itself, but the parking as around £6.

themyers

hi verwoodash, that is great info thanks for laying that out, i will defo check out the moors valley trail!

also re. southbourne and going to avon forest, is avon forest the bit round the airport and where is st katherines? i was wondering if you got there by taking what looks like on gmaps, a trail running by the river from southbourne area?

cheers for your help and will also check out the club:)!

andy

miss notax

Hello

We ride in the New Forest each week from Fordingbridge - not a formal club, but a bunch of about 6 or so MTBers (and more roadies who go off and do their thing!). We ride on a Wednesday night from 7pm, until about 9.30pm. We're a pretty fast paced group, and riding is technical - having said that, it's a sociable ride and we always re-group and won't leave anyone behind!

'Technically' you can only ride on fireroads in the New Forest, but that aside there is some GREAT singletrack and technical riding to be had....

PM me if you would like more details - we ride all year, rain or shine (or snow!)!!

themyers

hi miss notax - sounds cool though may need to ride a bit first, though i work in winchester so drive past the start point most days! would be cool to learn some routes!