Isle of Purbeck, Dorset

Distance 47.9km (29.8 miles) Climbing 1,190m (3,904ft) Time 2hrs 30mins to 5hrs

Start/ inish Corfe Castle car park (grid ref SZ 959/825, postcode BH20 5DR)

Route summary A big ride all around this stunning peninsula, with amazing views. Although the route isn’t very technical, the singletrack is great fun 1 Turn right on the A351. Go over the roundabout, then left, to Norden Farm campsite. Look for a bridleway in the far right corner. Follow this towards East Creech. Turn left on the road and follow it ahead/left, to the top. Go right on the bridleway. 2 Continue through a gate, keeping the fence to your left. At the track crossing, go left, through a gate, on a grassy bridleway, with the fence to your right. Turn left at the car park, towards Steeple. Go left on the road. At the crossroads, carry straight on, on a gravel track. Pass Steeple Leaze Farm, uphill. 3 Go through a gate and across a field, to the far left corner. Pass through another gate and join a grassy track heading east (fence on your right). Turn right on the road, left at the T-junction and then right on a bridleway. Follow the ridge to Swyre Head. Turn hard left at the viewpoint, to a car park. Go left on the road, into Kingston, then right on the B3069.

4 Turn right, onto the Purbeck Way. Keep ahead if you fancy a paddle (Chapman’s Pool). Or turn left, up a steep climb, to Worth Matravers. Go left on the road, by the pub. Cross the B3069 and join a bridleway. Keep left, downhill, to go over the A351. At the road T-junction, turn right. After 1km, go left on a wide (bridleway) track, just past West Ower B&B. 5 Follow the main track up to the top and down into the woods. Keep left near the bottom and cross the B3351. Go right at the junction of multiple tracks (‘Foxground’). Bear left, exit the woods and pass a house. Keep right at two junctions. 6 Continue straight ahead, on what becomes singletrack (‘Frank’s Tank’). Pass the golf clubhouse and carry straight on, towards the sea. Keep right at the forks, then go left, downhill. Turn right on a track, into Studland. Go left on Heath Green Road and cross the B3351 to join School Lane.

7 Join the bridleway at the end (by the toilets) and follow it around the coast/cli top. Bear left by the stone seat, down to Whitecli Farm. Join the road into New Swanage, then go right at the crossroads. After 1km turn left, on a bridleway, uphill. When the trail steepens, join the singletrack on the left, which follows the foot of the hill.

8 Keep ahead, joining some doubletrack. After a wide track on the left, go left, onto a long section of singletrack. When you reach more doubletrack (which you rode up earlier), go right on it, then almost immediately left, onto more singletrack. Keep ahead on this trail as it becomes a road. After passing under the railway, go right on the A351, back to the car park.