TOURING
Hardy’s Monument has nothing to do with Hardy’s Wessex.
ABOVE: Well worn A352 is small and twisty for an A-road. BELOW: Red is far too garish, don’t you think?
Back to the road and swoop downhill to Winterbourne Steepleton. At the T-junction turn right then immediately le, and on a couple of hundred metres to the busy A35. Again, it’s right and almost immediately fork le on to a minor road, which climbs over more chalky hills giving great views to east and west. Watch for the Roman road crossing, ancient burial mounds and one muddy farm yard. At the T-junction with the A37 turn le for a change of mood. is major A-road climbs back up on to the chalk and offers a fast route north with magnificent views on both directions as it follows the top of a ridge. For those interested in military history, the road used to twist its way up through the village of Maiden Newton, the site of a US Army camp in the run up to D-Day. Trouble was, Mack trucks hauling Shermans couldn’t manage the narrow twisty descent, so army engineers bypassed the whole thing. e three lane stretches of A37 climbing up on to the hill are their legacy. About five miles on, you’ll see what looks like a giant golf ball on stilts, just off the road. is marks the Clay Pigeon, a cafe that has a Wednesday bike night through the summer. It also features a go-kart track, and don’t be alarmed by people strolling around with rifles perched on their shoulders – they’ve come here for the shooting range. Out of Clay Pigeon, turn right on to a minor road (signed for a vehicle recycling centre) and follow for half a mile to the next T-junction, then right again. Now we’re running along the top of Batcombe Hill, with superb views to the north, but aer a couple of miles we drop sharply (watch for washed out gravel) to the A352. Turn le and head downhill again, with views of Blackmore Vale on the horizon, through Middlemarsh (Hunters Moon is a nice pub) before turning right on to the B3146 for Glanvilles Wootton, which twists uphill aer passing through the village. Turn le on to the B3143, through the villages of Pulham and Kings Stag. At the A3030, turn right and pillions can keep an eye out for deer at Stock Gaylard park on the le. Right
B-road west out of Weymouth is a corker.
It’s all downhill for about five miles. again on to the A357, and we’re into flatter, more featureless countryside than we’ve seen so far. ere’s another snippet of military trivia at Lydlinch, where the road crosses the River Lydden on Two Fords Bridge. Here again, the old bridge was too narrow for tank transporters so army engineers (Canadian this time) built a steel one, which eastbound traffic still uses. We bypass the small town of Sturminster Newton, but you’ll almost certainly get a good look at the 17th century bridge over the River Stour, as the traffic lights are invariably red. It’s spectacular here when the river’s high and lapping the top of the bridge arches – I’ve seen wind surfers scudding over the meadows. A couple of miles on, turn right on to a minor road (signed Okeford Fitzpaine) though if you fancy a cuppa and like old railways, carry on into Shillingstone and follow brown tourist signs for the station. Once part of the old Somerset and Dorset, the station buildings are nicely restored and the railway’s a long-distance cycle path, though the cafe isn’t always open. rough Okeford Fitzpaine, and just the other side of the village, fork le (signed Winterbourne Stickland) and climb on to the high chalk. Stop at the top for more views, this time of the Stour valley and of the hill forts at Hod Hill and Hambledon Hill. Now it’s all downhill for about five miles, following a valley down through yet more Winterbourne villages, coming to an end at the A354. Turn right and head for Dorchester, joining the A35. At Dorch, either take the ring road or ride into town to look round the county’s capital, strong on Roman heritage and a busy high street. From here, follow signs back on the A354, which takes you over a final chalk ridge, giving views of the Naples of England. mslmagazine.co.uk 59