Starting the Wessex Ridgeway in Dorset at Ashmore, the highest village in the county, make your way through woodland and down into the Tarrant Valley. Pass an ancient hidden deer park and use historic smuggling routes that linked the coast to town via Cranborne Chase. Climb the mighty Iron Age hillfort of Hambledon Hill, to then travel down into the valley of the River Stour, passing under the old Somerset and Dorset railway. Finally ascend another Dorset peak of Okeford Hill before finishing the ride at the car park.
Distance – 14 miles/22.5 km
Duration – 4 hours.
Exertion – Completely dependent on fitness. Three hard climbs up out of Stubhampton, Hambledon Hill and Okeford Hill. The terrain can get rough too, and may require dismounting and pushing.
Terrain – Track and road. Can get very muddy after rain. Can become hard, and rutted with tractor tyre tracks and hoof prints during the summer.
Dogs – Be aware of livestock and keep to the countryside code. Not really advised for this ride.
Maps – OS Explorer 118 Shaftesbury and Cranborne Chase, OS Explorer 117 Cerne Abbas and Bere Regis. Also cutting a small corner on OS Explorer 129 Yeovil and Sherborne.
Start – At the pond in Ashmore. (Postcode: SP5 5AF, Grid Reference: ST912178, What Three Words: stealthier.propose.juniors)
Finish – At the parking area at the top of Okeford Hill. (Postcode: DT11 0RD, Grid Reference: ST812093, What Three Words: district.political.tasks).
Refreshments – None on route but you can divert off to The Cricketers in Shroton (Iwerne Courtney) or The Old Ox Inn in Shillingstone.
The route – Unfortunately it is not possible to cycle the whole Wessex Ridgeway as it is based mainly on footpaths. Instead Dorset County Council advises you to take a slightly different route, which is what I follow.
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today.
9 thoughts on “Bike ride. The Wessex Ridgeway, part one. Ashmore to Okeford Hill.”