Last year over on XRV.org Dave (dod) was kind enough to tell us of an old book that he had found entitled 'The Quiet Road'. I was lucky enough to find a copy and was very happy as it had many routes in it that looked perfect for a nice ride.
Today I decided to follow a run entitled 'Old Dorset' but instead of just sticking to the 'quiet roads' I decided to add a few trails as it's an area where I haven't done many 'green lanes'.
I took a back road route to Bruton and then tried to follow the run where possible, first trail of the day was this one, pretty typical of the lanes in this area, flat and very mucky with a lot of agricultural use...
After another lane which made it's way across open fields at one point, I arrived at the small village of Fifehead Magdalen. The little chuch here has an entrance porch and tower dating back to Norman times according to the book...
I made my way to the next trail via Stalbridge and found this sign where the lane started, I've never seen a lane waymarked with that term before...
Further on down the lane there was a bridge so you could cross the River Stour...
After crossing the A357 and passing through Broad Oak I made my way up this lane, a bit further on from this photo it ran up a gully which was just the width a the bike, I had to keep my toes well tucked in
At the end of this lane was the village of Okeford Fitzpaine...
After another couple of lanes I arrived in Child Okeford, here is the impressive war memorial with the church in the background....
This is typical of the 'quiet roads' I rode today...
Next I rode up to Cranbourne Chase, here was the greenest of 'green lanes'....
and then I rode back down this lane to the A350 and straight across it to more backroads...
Here's another back road that I used today, it looks like an old Droveway judging by the width of it....
I did a couple more trails that I was familiar with on the way back north and then used 'quiet roads' to make my way home. It was a great day out and one I plan to repeat
Today I decided to follow a run entitled 'Old Dorset' but instead of just sticking to the 'quiet roads' I decided to add a few trails as it's an area where I haven't done many 'green lanes'.
I took a back road route to Bruton and then tried to follow the run where possible, first trail of the day was this one, pretty typical of the lanes in this area, flat and very mucky with a lot of agricultural use...
After another lane which made it's way across open fields at one point, I arrived at the small village of Fifehead Magdalen. The little chuch here has an entrance porch and tower dating back to Norman times according to the book...
I made my way to the next trail via Stalbridge and found this sign where the lane started, I've never seen a lane waymarked with that term before...
Further on down the lane there was a bridge so you could cross the River Stour...
After crossing the A357 and passing through Broad Oak I made my way up this lane, a bit further on from this photo it ran up a gully which was just the width a the bike, I had to keep my toes well tucked in
At the end of this lane was the village of Okeford Fitzpaine...
After another couple of lanes I arrived in Child Okeford, here is the impressive war memorial with the church in the background....
This is typical of the 'quiet roads' I rode today...
Next I rode up to Cranbourne Chase, here was the greenest of 'green lanes'....
and then I rode back down this lane to the A350 and straight across it to more backroads...
Here's another back road that I used today, it looks like an old Droveway judging by the width of it....
I did a couple more trails that I was familiar with on the way back north and then used 'quiet roads' to make my way home. It was a great day out and one I plan to repeat
