Argo’s two highest summits of Dorset ride

Note the date – this ride is now taking place on Thursday!

UPDATE

Ride now cancelled and replaced with a shorter ride starting at  [///tragedy.shepherds.spots]

This is a car park on a minor road just south of the A354 which in turn is south of Sixpenny Handley.  It’s a ride down Ackling Dyke with lunch at The Drover’s Inn.   Note the car park is quite small so you have an option to park at Sixpenny Handley’s Sports Pavilion [///companies.heave.scrubbing] (The Village Hall car park) which is where I’ll start the ride.  We’re be riding past the smaller car park both outwards and on the return so handy if for any reason you arrive late – after 10 am.

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This is a re-run of the ride I did in the summer.   As a winter ride I’ve modified the route slightly to remove some of the heavier going sections but even so expect to climb 4000 feet.   The start is [[///kebabs.convinced.stencil] which is a siding off the A35 on the Symondsbury turn off.  The easiest access is to simply drive straight through Bridport town centre until you reach the A35 again at which point you should see the parking area ahead of you (park on either side).   If instead you choose to arrive via the Bridport bypass (A35) then take care turning right as it’s an accident black-spot.

As well of the two highest summits (Pilsdon Pen Hill Fort & Lewesdon Hill) the route also takes in Thorncombe Beacon, Seatown, Golden Cap, Coney’s Castle & Lambert’s Castle finishing with downhill down the atmospheric Hell Lane – likely in the dark!!   Plenty of ascent on this ride making a slow pace so we are unlikely to finish before 5 pm.  This is definitely not for beginners but if you’re reasonably fit then you should be fine.  We’re a nice friendly bunch and we don’t leave people behind!

IMPORTANT:  Lights are mandatory on this ride as it’s very likely we will finish the ride in darkness (any mechanicals will make this a certainty). Please check lights are charged the night before and being a winter ride make sure adequate clothing is taken along with energy bars etc.

Lunch stop will be at the Bottle Inn.

Please be at the parking area by 9:45 am for 10 am prompt start