This ride can be reached either by driving all the way to Corfe, or in the past some members have parked in Poole and taken the Sandbanks ferry and ridden the short distance to the start point. Whatever your point of origin, the ride will start officially from the Norden Park and Ride facility just near Corfe Castle and that is the map reference given above. Please note that there is a car parking charge payable at meters in the Park and Ride facility. The start time will be the usual 10.00am roll out of the car park. Please allow a bit of extra time to get to the start as the roads may well be busy if the weather is good and the tourists will be out in force.
Last year some of us camped near the start of the ride and did a coastal walk and sea swim on the Saturday. The plan is to do something similar this year. Keep an eye on the forum/facebook for more info.
This is a lovely area to ride in with a major climb up onto Watership Down - watch out for rabbit holes as it was the inspiration for the Watership Down Book! The views and downhill make the climb worth-while. We use Bell Street carpark.
This start point can take in Wilverley Inclosure, Holmsley, Brownhill, Setthorns and the old railway line between Burley and Brockenhurst and any number of loops can be added to this basic framework and distance can be easily altered to match the composition of the various ride groups. No really nasty hills but lots of good fast tracks.
The ride has no major hills and the tracks are forgiving and the surfaces hold up well, although there can be some persistent sticky patches even in the driest of conditions.
NB there will be 3 groups out on this ride. Usual Fast and Medium plus a slower group ideal for those who want to try out the club or those who have not ridden with the Club for a while.
(ref SZ 250 997)
Fordingbridge Town Centre Car Park
(ref SU 147 143)
We could ride the rolling ridges above Micheldever and the Candovers and link up with the Oxdrove above Alresford or we could head out westwards towards South Wonston and Sutton Scotney and not forgetting the tracks in Micheldever Wood itself. Whichever way we go there are good tracks, nice downhills, and interesting single track. Please note that gravel fire roads in the woods will be good going. Off-piste will be a bit muddier.