CTC ride Blandford to Winterborne Tomson

We cycled from home to Wimborne Recreation Ground where we met up with the rest of the group before setting off for Blandford and coffee at Cafe 65. We take our usual route to Blandford along the back lanes through Cowgrove, Shapwick and Langton Long before arriving at Blandford Forum. We meet up with some other members at the cafe and the chat begins. It is during this break that Derek asks me if I will lead the ride next week which initially amuses me but then terrifies me as I realise I could be responsible for a group of cyclists going missing in deepest Dorset!! I say I'll think about it.

Anyway on with the ride and the rumour of a bit of a 'mother in law' climb (it keeps going on) to wet or dampen our appetites dependent on your view of hills. We head out past Bryanston and Bryanston school which is the old school of Ben Fogle, Cerys Matthews, Terence and Jasper Conran Lucien Freud and Phil de Glanville to name but a few. The road from here is a steady climb virtually all the way to Winterborne Stickland, evidently the Stickland bit is derived from the old English 'sticol' which means steep!

From here we continue our tour of the Winterborne's going through Winterborne Whitechurch and Winterborne Kingston before arriving at Winterborne Tomson and its Norman church.

Approaching the church

St Andrews

Interior towards the altar

looking to the rear - pews and gallery

St Andrews at Winterborne Tomson is a very rare example of a Norman single cell church and has been beautifully restored, it's well worth a visit.

After lunch we drag ourselves away from this glorious piece of Dorset and ride on towards Bere Regis which  featured in several novels of Thomas Hardy, most notably, Tess of the D'Urbervilles. The village was portrayed as 'Kingsbere' and the D'Urberville family was based on the Turberville Family of Bere Regis.

From here we turn east towards Bloxworth and our route to home via Whitfield and West Morden before, much to the dismay of some in our number, the climb at Dullar Lane! After this we head to Sturminster Marshall to catch the last of this seasons charity tea rooms at the village hall. 

While here it crossed my mind that it is possible to go to the pub, have a couple of beers and Sunday lunch and then cross the car park for a cream tea. Now there's an interesting idea!

After tea and cake we head for home which takes us back to Wimborne where the group splits and goodbyes until next time are said after another enjoyable day in the saddle. 

Oh, by the way I did agree to lead next week's ride but not before I had engaged Dave Bs assistance. 

So next Sunday if you hear tell of missing cyclists last seen leaving Wimborne ............................................!