This ride is entirely by road, and after the excesses of Christmas Day I would imagine that it’s best to start your Boxing Day ride gently, so head for the Poole/Bournemouth coastline and after purchasing your £1.20 return ticket take the Sandbanks Ferry south (maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=sandbanks%20ferry). After the five minute journey across the mouth of Poole Harbour it’s a pleasantly flat start flanking the yellow curves and dunes of Shell Bay and Studland, eventually climbing up and over the viewpoint by the Isle of Purbeck Golf Course, where you can take in the panorama of Studland Heath, Poole Harbour and the surrounding area (unless you’ve got your head down!).

 

Carry straight on the B3351, which climbs and descends a few times, to the villageof CorfeCastle (maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=corfe%20castle); when you reach the castle itself, turn left and cycle clockwise round it, climbing out of the village. Now comes the strenuous bit; after half a mile or so take a right on to the B3069 to Kingston Hill - a very steep and winding tree-lined road leads up the hillside to the Scott Arms at the top. Carry on out of Kingston, then after a mile or so take a right to Worth Matravers; if you started your ride mid to late morning then the Square and Compass (squareandcompasspub.co.uk/) should just about be open for a lunchtime pint and a pie (both guaranteed to be of exceptional quality).

 

After that, it’s a long fast descent down through the picturesque Purbeck villageof Langton Matravers(www.langtonia.org.uk/) and on to Swanage seafront, where you take a left along Shore Road, gently threading your way past the Boxing Day walkers, with the beach on your right. Climb back out of Swanage, past the pubs and hotels, and make your way back through Studland village and the return journey on to the ferry.

 

The entire journey is just under thirty miles and should only take a couple of hours’ worth of actual cycling. If you’re feeling both fit and adventurous the Purbecks can offer a number of off-road variations to this route, taking in most of the locations described, although time-wise it could take twice as long, depending on the course you choose.

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