Woods Rat Run

[godivatrailrider]

https://bikepacking.com/routes/woods-rat-run/

This looks excellent.... it's now looking likely for a 4 day attempt first week of July, my Wimbledon Avoidance trip
What's wild camping like in the Corfe area? Maybe along the Purbeck Way / Brenscombe Down vicinity.
I'd be happy in a campsite tbh. Somewhere around there would break the route at the right place.

This should probably be in a different section..

[Dyffers]

What's wild camping like in the Corfe area? Maybe along the Purbeck Way / Brenscombe Down vicinity.

You shouldn't have a problem if you're outside the villages other than a possible late / early rambling dog walker.

A summer sunrise bivvy at Swyre Head would be ace.

[faustus]

It is a nice route, and the quieter end is Cranborne chase and North Dorset, which is easy to overlook but worthwhile for a bivvy. As Dyffers said, outside of the villages, should be fine to find a spot and it's a cracking area. Aside from Swyre Head, you can get down to Chapman's pool area if you want to lie down in the bracken and go for a dip in the sea! There's also Tom's Field which is a nice little campsite in Langton Matravers, if you wanted facilities.

[sean_iow]

The route looks like it goes along Bourmouth promenade, there are restrictions to cycling there in July/August.

https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/leisure-c ... e-seafront

Having ridden along there on a Saturday afternoon once in February there were so many people it was slower than walking, so probably best to avoid that section during the daytime. I have also ridden it early in the morning ans only saw a handful of people so it will depend on what time you get there.

[pete68]

Did this over 2 days in September. Mostly a good route but would avoid the Bournemouth prom if I was doing it again. It was a rainy September day bit was still a nightmare with so many people.

[godivatrailrider]

Did this over 2 days in September. Mostly a good route but would avoid the Bournemouth prom if I was doing it again. It was a rainy September day bit was still a nightmare with so many people.

I think I'd default to just riding the roads through Bournemouth Unless I can find a more interesting option inland slightly

[sean_iow]

I rode the seafront on the outward leg of this but avoided it on the way back, might be of help picking a way around.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2218045898

[dlovett]

I'm thinking about giving this a try next weekend as Lyndhurst is about 45 mins away from me.

I will aim for a very early start next sat morning to hit the sandbanks ferry when it opens at 7am so the prom should be nice and quiet then.

Not had a a full study of the route but assuming no issues getting food and drink en/slighty off route?

[Dyffers]

Loads of options on the route during more social hours after your dawn ferry: corfe castle probably has a bakery, supermarket and bakery in Wareham, lots of options in Blandford and pubs in most villages (I'd avoid the one in Tollard Royal though as it's a bit posh ).

[dlovett]

Loads of options on the route during more social hours after your dawn ferry: corfe castle probably has a bakery, supermarket and bakery in Wareham, lots of options in Blandford and pubs in most villages (I'd avoid the one in Tollard Royal though as it's a bit posh ).

Ta very much, will try to do some research this week. Aiming to go with min kit and will grab stuff as I go.

[godivatrailrider]

As I'm hoping to do this first week of July, I'm going to have to avoid the seafront
I've done a rework inland , skirting the conurbation. Flippin shame though

[sean_iow]

I've done a rework inland , skirting the conurbation. Flippin shame though

When I rode it early morning there was a 50mph headwind blasting sand into my face! Just ride round with your brakes on and tip some fine sand into your jersey to recreate the affect

[godivatrailrider]

I've done a rework inland , skirting the conurbation. Flippin shame though

When I rode it early morning there was a 50mph headwind blasting sand into my face! Just ride round with your brakes on and tip some fine sand into your jersey to recreate the affect

Are you local ... is there a reasonable inland alternative?

[sean_iow]

I'm not local (Isle of Wight) but I can see it from Freshwater... which isn't much help.

East of the pier there is a cliff-top road which I remember as being quiet but west of the pier it was much harder to pick my way through as the roads don't really align. I ended up on the main road going past the Bournemouth International Centre which wasn't ideal.

Hopefully a proper local can provide an alternative.

[faustus]

Worth noting that in summer the cycling ban is from 10-am each morning, so if you get your timing right you can still use it. But in summer it will still be busy from fairly early with dog walkers, people setting up camp in beach huts, and various vehicles cleaning up the seafront, lifeguards, land trains, etc. But it is a lovely easy bit of the ride, i'd say a bell is very useful. I worked on the seafront for 10 seasons back in the not too distant past, and know/knew all the various alternative options for riding and driving if not using the seafront.

Alternative route from E-W: from Hengistbury Head follow the cliff top roads instead of going down to seafront, Southbourne cost road/South Overcliff Drive/Boscombe Overcliff Drive/ The Marina brings you to Boscombe Pier. You can cycle at any time between Boscombe Pier and Bournemouth Pier (Until gates near the pier, where you have to push) as it's a road for the seafront car park. It is tricky from Bournemouth Pier, and there's no avoiding some not that pleasant roads (30mph but drivers are d1cks). Due to there being some small valleys (Chines) there's no straight-through cliff top route, and if you try sticking to the cliff top you have to detour round the Chines anyway so it's not worth it. So as you have to walk across the pier approach at Bournemouth, walk up the west cliff pedestrian path going past the BIC and West Cliff hotel until you get to a road (St Micheal's Road). Then use this route which joins up with the rest of the route on Banks Road on Poole Harbour to the chain ferry (hopefully the link works): https://www.google.com/maps/dir/50.7152 ... &entry=ttu

[godivatrailrider]

This is creeping up on me ! Only 4 weeks away.
I'm starting from Salisbury as that's the closest point to Ludlow.... Hoping to get to just short of Woods Cyclery in Lyndhurst on the first day so I can drop in there for a coffee on the morning of the 2nd day.
On down to the Sandbanks ferry by late afternoon on day 2, avoid Bournemouth seafront, and camping somewhere inland after the ferry.
Day three I want to detour down to Swanage for breakfast ( any recommended places in Swanage for a veggie breaky?) and collect the BCQ point there too, then along the Priests Way to Worth Matravers to pick up the route again which I'll follow until I bear off to detour to Milton Abbas to get that BCQ too, will stop in the area for day 3 camp.
Day 4 I'm heading north to Sturmington Newton for another BCQ point , then back along the disused railway to pick up the Rat Run again.
I might detour to get the BCQ at Broad Chalke too... will see. I should get back to Salisbury on day 4 and might grab an easy camp at the C&CC site there for food and beers in the town, rather than busting a gut to drive back after a day's riding, weather dependant.

Looking forward to it but not feeling the fittest or most motivated I've been. It'll be reet.

[faustus]

Had to google what BCQ point was, now understood. Sounds all very manageable itinerary to me, even if you're not feeling too fit. I think especially the bit from Lyndhurst to Sandbanks, as it'll be very flat and a fair bit of tarmac there. You could always get further as Swanage isn't far, and maybe get to somewhere like Swyre head to camp (after a drink at the Square and Compass), then Wareham for a late breakfast? The Salt Pig does nice veggie breakfast stuff, despite being a pig/meat fest otherwise. Milton Abbas to Sturminster Newton, there's not many good direct off road options unless you pick up the Wessex Ridgeway near Ibberton, but that takes you through Blandford Forest and down to the route at Shillingstone, so it'd be a bit of a boring out-and-back to Stur on the old railway. Might not be worth it. Otherwise, that part of the Dorset downs is lovely and fairly quiet, but also one of the hilliest parts of Dorset, just as a warning as it impacts riding time.

Enjoy it, it's a lovely route!

[benp1]

I would definitely recommended a minor detour on a bit of trail that I wasted time on and felt like I was fully trespassing through someones property - actually I was absolutely doing that, had to get the gates on their drive to open

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topi ... t-13275206

Couple of tips
- The route goes through past (but not through) the high street in Christchurch. This is an easy resupply point, I bought a load of food in M&S and you can park your bike up around the back
- The route goes past the front of an M&S in Blandford Forum, easy place to pick up food
- The hides in RSPB arne get locked so no use to stay in, but there are White Tailed Eagles and Ospreys around so worth a stop if you have time


Trails should be much drier than when I did it a few of months back, it's a nice route

[godivatrailrider]

I would definitely recommended a minor detour on a bit of trail that I wasted time on and felt like I was fully trespassing through someones property - actually I was absolutely doing that, had to get the gates on their drive to open

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topi ... t-13275206

Couple of tips
- The route goes through past (but not through) the high street in Christchurch. This is an easy resupply point, I bought a load of food in M&S and you can park your bike up around the back
- The route goes past the front of an M&S in Blandford Forum, easy place to pick up food
- The hides in RSPB arne get locked so no use to stay in, but there are White Tailed Eagles and Ospreys around so worth a stop if you have time


Trails should be much drier than when I did it a few of months back, it's a nice route

Thanks for this ... I hate nettles and saw the route calls the detour Nettle Alley or somesuch so I'd actually already detoured around it !
Thanks for the heads up on M&S stops ... I love their pasta & pesto ...

[godivatrailrider]

Had to google what BCQ point was, now understood. Sounds all very manageable itinerary to me, even if you're not feeling too fit. I think especially the bit from Lyndhurst to Sandbanks, as it'll be very flat and a fair bit of tarmac there. You could always get further as Swanage isn't far, and maybe get to somewhere like Swyre head to camp (after a drink at the Square and Compass), then Wareham for a late breakfast? The Salt Pig does nice veggie breakfast stuff, despite being a pig/meat fest otherwise. Milton Abbas to Sturminster Newton, there's not many good direct off road options unless you pick up the Wessex Ridgeway near Ibberton, but that takes you through Blandford Forest and down to the route at Shillingstone, so it'd be a bit of a boring out-and-back to Stur on the old railway. Might not be worth it. Otherwise, that part of the Dorset downs is lovely and fairly quiet, but also one of the hilliest parts of Dorset, just as a warning as it impacts riding time.

Enjoy it, it's a lovely route!

I'll take a look at the Swyre head option, if it'll be ok-ish for wild camping !

[godivatrailrider]

Had to google what BCQ point was, now understood. Sounds all very manageable itinerary to me, even if you're not feeling too fit. I think especially the bit from Lyndhurst to Sandbanks, as it'll be very flat and a fair bit of tarmac there. You could always get further as Swanage isn't far, and maybe get to somewhere like Swyre head to camp (after a drink at the Square and Compass), then Wareham for a late breakfast? The Salt Pig does nice veggie breakfast stuff, despite being a pig/meat fest otherwise. Milton Abbas to Sturminster Newton, there's not many good direct off road options unless you pick up the Wessex Ridgeway near Ibberton, but that takes you through Blandford Forest and down to the route at Shillingstone, so it'd be a bit of a boring out-and-back to Stur on the old railway. Might not be worth it. Otherwise, that part of the Dorset downs is lovely and fairly quiet, but also one of the hilliest parts of Dorset, just as a warning as it impacts riding time.

Enjoy it, it's a lovely route!

I'll take a look at the Swyre head option, if it'll be ok-ish for wild camping !

Looking at it, that buggers up my planning... makes day 2 25% longer and brings day 3 down to 23 miles.
I'm not in a race, just want to bimble along really, 45 miles a day is perfect.

[benp1]

The heathland to the west of the road from the ferry to Swanage would be a good spot to stop. As long as you pitch late and leave early I can't imagine you'll have any trouble there. Around Agglestone Rocks for example

Alternatively on top of the ridge that heads east from Corfe Castle. Slightly busier but if you do a late/early arrive and depart you should be OK

Both would leave you with an easy ride over to Swanage in the morning

[godivatrailrider]

The heathland to the west of the road from the ferry to Swanage would be a good spot to stop. As long as you pitch late and leave early I can't imagine you'll have any trouble there. Around Agglestone Rocks for example

Alternatively on top of the ridge that heads east from Corfe Castle. Slightly busier but if you do a late/early arrive and depart you should be OK

Both would leave you with an easy ride over to Swanage in the morning

Ahh excellent ! I'm sure I'll find somewhere suitable

[faustus]

Be aware that the beach and some heathland at Studland is a naturist area

[godivatrailrider]

Be aware that the beach and some heathland at Studland is a naturist area