Great Rides – Poole

For seaside cycling and Dorset charm, Poole can’t be beaten.

A maritime getaway – think Jurassic Coast scenery, golden-sand beaches and tall ships – pretty Poole is also an ideal spot for a relaxing ride. Its cycle network tops 50 miles, with 28 away from traffic, and nearby Christchurch and Bournemouth add another 100 miles. Much of Dorset is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so you really can’t go wrong in these parts.

Start with a 10-mile beachy cruise on the promenade from Sandbacks to Hengistbury Head, and if you still have the legs, hop on the chain ferry to Studland to explore the gorgeous Isle of Purbeck countryside. Or follow the Castleman Trailway railway line to Winborne. The Purbecks offer some of the best mountain biking in England, too, with a huge variety of terrain, an extensive collection of bridleways, ridgetop views and singletrack descents.

Back off the peninsula, head to Redhill for open heath, Surrey Hills for (obv) hills and Arundel for long ascents and long, rooty downhills. The New Forest, proclaimed as such by William the Conqueror way back in 1079, is a great place for both road and gravel – follow the woodland two-tracks and bridleways and you can rack up close to 100 miles of riding.

The best supported rides take advantage of Dorset’s natural charm: Gravel grinders love the Dorset Dirt Dash 5050 and 100, and roadies swoon for the Dorset Bike Ride (with five routes, from 22 to 108 miles) and the New Forest Tour.

Sika Trail, Wareham Forest

Distance: 6.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 132 ft

Poole

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Okeford Hill Bike Park

Distance: 1 mi
Elevation: +/- 397 ft

Poole

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Puddletown Forest

Distance: 7 mi
Elevation: +/- 1,965 ft

Poole

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Moors Valley Country Park

Distance: 12 mi
Elevation: +/- 1,035 ft

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Lyndhurst

Distance: 12.8 mi
Elevation: +/- 2,949 ft

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Sandbanks via Agglestone Rock and Old Harry

Distance: 40.3 mi
Elevation: +/- 2,713 ft

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Poole – 260 km Loop

Distance: 162.6 mi
Elevation: +/- 10,270 ft

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Poole – 72 m Dorset loop

Distance: 69.5 mi
Elevation: +/- 3,869 ft

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Bulbarrow via Horton

Distance: 67.1 mi
Elevation: +/- 3,255 ft

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Christchurch Loop

Distance: 27.8 mi
Elevation: +/- 1,030 ft

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Corfe Castle Loop

Distance: 103.9 mi
Elevation: +/- 5,722 ft

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Cranbourne Chase Loop

Distance: 107.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 6,986 ft

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Lymington Loop

Distance: 59.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 2,352 ft

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Rockford Loop

Distance: 45.8 mi
Elevation: +/- 1,519 ft

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Seafront Loop

Distance: 41.7 mi
Elevation: +/- 1,495 ft

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Studland loop via Wareham and Arne

Distance: 29.8 mi
Elevation: +/- 1,268 ft

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Swanage Loop via Ferry

Distance: 32 mi
Elevation: +/- 1,833 ft

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Tarrant Loop

Distance: 35.7 mi
Elevation: +/- 1,561 ft

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Wareham Loop

Distance: 48.6 mi
Elevation: +/- 2,551 ft

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East Morden Loop

Distance: 37.3 mi
Elevation: +/- 1,523 ft

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Salisbury Loop

Distance: 73.1 mi
Elevation: +/- 3,453 ft

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Baiter Park Loop

Distance: 3.1 mi
Elevation: +/- 83 ft

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Around Holes Bay Loop

Distance: 6 mi
Elevation: +/- 165 ft

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Poole Parkrun

Distance: 3.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 118 ft

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Sandbanks Loop

Distance: 13.5 mi
Elevation: +/- 559 ft

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Parks Family Loop

Distance: 4.9 mi
Elevation: +/- 177 ft

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Hamworthy Park Loop

Distance: 3.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 104 ft

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