CTC six go mad in Dorset

It's a ride out to Compton Abbas again and once again the sun is shining and the skies are blue, so it's a bit of a surprise that there are only six of us heading out on the ride. We meet at Wimborne recreation ground and head off along the back roads to Witchampton where we pause at the junction to admire the beautiful bench that circles the trunk of the tree. It would be a wonderful place to sit in the shade and while away an hour or two but we have lanes to cycle and places to be. We continue on our usual route and the steady climb up to Compton Abbas airfield. There is one unscheduled stop on the way for a puncture that is quickly fixed with the usual help, support and banter from the group.

Tiger Moth

At the airfield the Tiger Moths are flying taking people up for joy rides over Dorset in the full 'Biggles' flying kit. We are also here for the airfields annual microlight fly in day so as we sit  outside with coffee and cake we get to enjoy lots of microlight activity. The cafe is certainly very busy but on lovely days like this it is possibly one of the best places to come and enjoy a coffee in this part of Dorset.

Start of the descent

Once coffee is over we drag ourselves away from the airfield and head off in the general direction of Margaret Marsh for our lunch stop. We negotiate a short stretch of the main road before turning right and the fabulous decent off the escarpment down into Sutton Waldron. From here we pedal on through East and West Orchard in our search for Margaret Marsh. The search takes us initially down the wrong road quite literally as we have to climb back up it once we realise our mistake! Eventually we find the churchyard and stop for lunch under the shade of the trees.

Dorset lanes

A shady spot for lunch

After a restful lunch we continue on our ride now slowly working our way back home via Sturminster Newton, home to the Dorset Cheese festival,  to join the North Dorset trailway and a stop at the old station at Shillingstone for ice cream and a cold drink. We also take a look at the weather forecasting stone and decide that it is probably ................. sunny!













After the stop its on to  Blandford where we leave the trailway and use the back roads to Wimborne. At Wimborne we bid farewell to the rest of the group and continue home looking forward to a cold refreshing drink and a shower after 70 miles in 24 degrees heat.

cycling the trailway.

re-hydrating?