Dorset

[heatonrider]

We are looking at a camping holiday in Dorset. Single base. Anyone any experience of riding in that area. Ta

[ymfb]

It’s hilly, but beautiful. We live near Salisbury so it’s on the doorstep but have stayed at Beaminsster and cycled a circular route to West Bay. There is good camping at Portesham.

There are NCNs, also the North Dorset Trailway.and cycle route.

King Arthur’s Cafe in Shaftesbury is a favourite as is Reeves bakery in Blandford.and Shaftesbury, also the Hive Beach cafe both in West Bay and in Hive Beach itself.

https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/sport- ... s-and-maps

[eileithyia]

Beautiful area but some short sharp hills.... Maiden's camp, Cerne Abbas Giant.... the Swannery... some great places to visit, We spent a wet day at the Fleet Air Arm museum.

[jgurney]

We are looking at a camping holiday in Dorset. Single base. Anyone any experience of riding in that area. Ta

Most of Dorset is good cycling country.

Do you want to camp near the coast or in the more rural north?

My experience of camping on public sites there is limited. We used the Blackmore Vale Camping & Caravan Park site at Sherbourne Causeway (between Shaftesbury and Gillingham) some years ago and liked it. Near Swanage I have used the Burnbake site (www burnbake.com), nice but a long ride to the nearest shops or pub, and Swanage Bijou Camping (www.swanagecamping.com), inside the town suburbs, who had no objection to my pitching a bivy bag and had secure cycle storage. NB all of these were pre-Covid stays and things may have changed.

[Paulatic]

A few years ago we spent two weeks on a small C&CC site at Wooton Fitzpaine. Had a wonderful stay and loved the area. Cycling as already said was very hilly! I don’t mind going up them but what annoyed me most was on most descents I had to brake as there’s rarely a full view of a clear road ahead.

[groberts]

Here's a review of our cycling trip to Dorset in 2022, in this case camping based at Moreton just east of Dorchester + day rides. https://roundthebendpart1.wordpress.com ... -delights/

[heatonrider]

Thanks for the advice folks ..that is really helpful