NCN 25 - Dorset

92.8 km 818 m climbing A day 12% off road Road cycling Wessex & the South

The route runs south from Horningsham across Cranborne Chase, losing height gradually through a long string of small settlements before the land flattens as you approach the Stour valley.

The middle section threads through Shillingstone, Durweston and Blandford St Mary on what is largely road. Beyond Shapwick the route works through the fringes of Poole before finishing in Bournemouth. Around a tenth of the distance is off road.

The figures

Distance	92.8 km
Climbing	818 m
Off road	11 km, about 12% of the route
Riding time	about 4 hours, a long day
Region	Wessex & the South
Route from	Sustrans

Worth knowing before you go

The early miles between Horningsham and Huntingford are thinly settled, so carry what you need. Poole and the coastal towns give you options late in the day. The route is tagged as road throughout, but the off-road fraction means surfaces will change.

Put your own dates on this and TourTrax splits it into days at your pace, finds somewhere to sleep at the end of each one, estimates what it will cost and gets you to the start without flying.

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Other route guides

NCN 25 - Dorset is an official route from Sustrans (their website).