Routes in Purbeck

Quoted message said:

From Swanage, take B3351 or possibly unclassified road via Woolgarston
to Corfe, then the A351 to Norden. Unclassified roads to Stoborough,
East Stoke, Wool, East Burton.

Stoborough - E.Burton is mostly water meadows therefore easy and
scenic. Suggest coming through Holme to E.Stoke if you were thinking of
coming along the main road.

Quoted message said:

Unclassified road via Moreton or perhaps bridlepath to Crossways.

Nice, gently undulating road from E.Burton to Moreton.

Suggest carrying on through Moreton, crossing B3390 at Hurst Heath to
Woodsford. Road twists and turns a bit but keep going until you come to
the Crossways-Dorchester Road road at Lewell Farm. Turn right and head
towards West Knighton under the railway bridge.

After the railway bridge there's a straight level bit of road past
the quarry after which the road drops a bit with some woods on the
left. Towards the bottom on the right is a digger, JCB, lorry etc rental
place called Crooks(!). Immediately after Crooks on the right there's
a bridlepath which takes you in an almost straight line to the A352 at
Whitcombe.

Cross the main road onto the small unclassified lane. This lane will
take you straight to Weymouth (there is quite a climb along here, but you
have to climb over the Ridgeway somewhere to get into Weymouth!). At the
top of the climb you come to a crossroads from where you'll get a lovely
view of Weymouth and Portland beneath you. Go across the crossroads and
descend the (steep!) hill into Weymouth via Coombe Valley Road. You'll
come out at Preston in Weymouth and the descent will have cooled you
off nicely.

Hope this helps - if any of it isn't clear feel free to email.

Mike (lives at Broadmayne, commutes by bike to Weymouth)

Adrian Godwin said:

From Swanage, take B3351 or possibly unclassified road via Woolgarston
to Corfe, then the A351 to Norden. Unclassified roads to Stoborough,
East Stoke, Wool, East Burton.
Unclassified road via Moreton or perhaps bridlepath to Crossways.

From Crossways, head south on the B3390 to the roundabout where it meets the
A352, go right on to the A352 to Broadmayne (only a short stretch, and not
too busy). In Broadmayne, go left at the crossroads and up a fairly long,
but very gradual climb. Take the first right turn, signposted (I think)
Preston. This is a cracking road -- a long descent to Preston behind White
Horse Hill. At the bottom , go left at the T-junction and then right at the
roundabout, taking the A353 into Weymouth.

Route courtesy of the Dorset Coast Audax.

Adrian Godwin said:

or I might have
to head for Osmington using the B3390 to Warmwell and the A353.

The road through Osmington is not very nice -- busy, twisty and quite tight.

Mike Civil said:

Cross the main road onto the small unclassified lane. This lane will
take you straight to Weymouth (there is quite a climb along here, but you
have to climb over the Ridgeway somewhere to get into Weymouth!). At the
top of the climb you come to a crossroads from where you'll get a lovely
view of Weymouth and Portland beneath you. Go across the crossroads and
descend the (steep!) hill into Weymouth via Coombe Valley Road. You'll
come out at Preston in Weymouth and the descent will have cooled you
off nicely.

Thanks Mike - and Simon, for another vote for the Preston route.

What about the other end, around Corfe and Norden ?
Are the A351 and A352 best avoided ?

I think I may have driven the B3351 and found it narrow, windy and
full of holiday traffic so it doesn't look a good option.

-adrian

In article <[email hidden]>,

Simon Bennett said:

From Crossways, head south on the B3390 to the roundabout where it meets the
A352, go right on to the A352 to Broadmayne (only a short stretch, and not
too busy). In Broadmayne, go left at the crossroads and up a fairly long,
but very gradual climb. Take the first right turn, signposted (I think)

That'll be a left; right takes you to Whitcombe🙂)

BTW, the B3390 from Crossways to Warmwell roundabout isn't the nicest
of roads if you're looking for an easy ride. There's a few switchbacks,
a good climb to the roundabout from Warmwell village and the traffic
can be a bit rapid through the bends.

However it _is_ the quickest route to Weymouth from Moreton if you go
straight across the roundabout to Weymouth via Poxwell and Osmington
and don't go to Broadmayne.

Mike

Adrian Godwin said:

What about the other end, around Corfe and Norden ?
Are the A351 and A352 best avoided ?

The B3351 can be quite busy, but if you're on there early enough in the
morning, it won't be too bad. You'll have to climb from Ulwell over the
Purbecks to get to it. The road through Woolgarston is lovely -- it has
lovely views of the valley and an unusual view of Corfe Castle (almost from
above) -- but very undulating with lots of short steep climbs. You can also
go via Langton Matravers on the B3069 -- fairly quiet, again with fantastic
views over the valley (the road runs along the ridge), it has a really nice,
twisting descent from Kingston. A diversion off this road will take you to
Worth Matravers and one of the Best Pubs in the World(tm): the Square and
Compass -- never mind the Masonic associations (apologies to any
hand-squeezers out there): it's a cracker!

Between Corfe and Wareham, anywhere west of the A351 will involve hills. A
nice route this way (with one big climb) takes you through Church Knowle,
after which you take a right at the crossroads, climb over the Purbecks
(fairly gradual, then steep). From the top there are excellent views over
Poole Harbour. To the east of the A351 is the Arne Peninsula. Take the
second exit on the roundabout after Corfe and then the first left very
shortly afterwards. Follow this road in a semi-circle to Wareham.