Spending a weekend near Salisbury, early July

[kitty kat]

I am setting off early Friday and returning Sunday afternoon, so will have half of Friday and all day Saturday free to tour.
Can anyone suggest any good biking roads around this area? I am going to try and see a couple of the white horses and Stonehenge, but where else can I go whilst I am down there?
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[Tonka]

It's nearly my neck of the woods if you head West a bit! I know the Salisbury roads ok, but probably not as well as some folks on here, as I tend to know driving routes there rather than riding routes. The Woodfords are stunning and I used to run those roads and think they'd be quite nice on a bike. Another is the route up alongside the Wylye Valley through Great Wishford towards Warminster.

There are the Fovant Badges that you can see from the A30 the road is nice but you do get quite a bit of traffic and overtaking is not always easy. I can recommend a little trip across to Compton Abbas Airfield which is a Sunday Bike Meet place and there are some lovely roads to get there. How about A354 out of Salisbury pick up the B3081 to Wimborne St Giles, then B3078 to Wimborne. The B3082 through the Kingston Lacey Avenue is just lovely (Clanger can recommend ) then up to Blandford where you want to pick up the little road that runs East of the A350 - this is one of our favourites if you fancied a round route.

I'm just off out but I'll have a think and let you know some more possibles, so that you have a choice
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'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
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[kitty kat]

thanks Tonka, I am sure I will ride the routes you suggested. I will obviously have to post back and let you know what I thought of them



edit: I have just googled that route, I am actually staying at sixpenny handley which is right on that circular route. That one will be a definite for the Sunday morning, what time do bikes start to arrive at the airfield?
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[Tonka]

My Bad - Rubbish Information Alert!

Apparently the official bike night at the airfield is Wednesday, Sunday is an unofficial rollup for a cuppa when riding through, so no set times/arrangement and weather dependent, as fewer out if it's not nice! Sunday meets are on the coast - so Bridport and West Quay.

The B3081 is a lovely route all along - the bit from Sixpenny Handley though Tollard Royal is ok but once you're through the skinny bit (20mph) the road is great and if you keep going to Shaftsbury you get to 'experience' ZigZag Hill Fantastic views from the top with a pull-in before the zigzags - Win Hill is the highest point in Dorset - if you get a clear day it's stunning, if it's a bit iffy watch for it being misty! Also, if it's been raining there's a fair run off that leaves loose stuff on the hilly bits, so beware!

Thinking hat on for the Stonehenge/Salisbury routes!
____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[Clanger]

Sixpenny Handley is where one of the best music festivals is held every year...Endorse-It in Dorset!!! The roads around there are small but plenty of fun...

Be careful on most of the roads around Salisbury, as they have speed camera's - so it is best to either stick to the speed limit, or follow another fast driver, keeping your eyes peeled.

The road past Stonehenge and beyond, is the A360, is a fun bouncy little road, which takes you up to Devises, you could turn off up the A361 past Bourton to Beckhampton then right to Avebury (and see the stones there) and then head along to Marlborough, which is a very cute little town with some smart shops and river in which to while away some time.

Although the road from Devises across the Wilsford Down is lovely too, it's open and twisty turny with beautiful views, head towards the A338, turn right towards Tidworth. Again a beautiful area with white stone buildings and huge rolling parks. Good for a mooch about.

That whole area is a playground, and very very beautiful. If I were you, I'd just head off down a road and see where it takes you. Not do too much planning.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[kitty kat]

That's great, I was going to see the stones at Avebury, so will do your route but I will do the route Tonka suggested as well and then play around the little roads. Hopefully I will take loads of pictures. I am looking forward to my weekend away now and having a play somewhere other than the North West.

Thanks guys
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
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[Clanger]

Maybe give us a heads up on your weekend...maybe we could meet up somewhere...maybe Tonka would provide the rest room and lemonade?
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Tonka]

Absolutely!

All very welcome, you just need to be happy with the dogs, the kittens will make themselves scarce!
____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[kitty kat]

Thanks guys, that would be great You name a time and a place, I will be there



edit: forgot to say I will be there from Fri 3rd July until Sunday 5th July
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
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[Clanger]

I hope to be at Goodwood on the Friday...but Saturday so far is free!!!
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[kitty kat]

I will now be returning home on the Monday, so I have 2 whole days in Wiltshire
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
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[kitty kat]

Thank you Tonka & Clanger, I did some of the routes you suggested, loved the zig zag bit of the B3081 after Tollard Royal. I saw the military badges at Fovant and also did the route you suggested into Cheddar Gorge. I was lucky there, bumped into a load of Nortons going the same way, so I tagged on the end and had marshalls holding up traffic to let us through. I did go up and down the gorge several times as it was just too breathtaking to take it in in one go.

I had a fantastic weekend and even went to Ace Cafe & Boxhill on the Sunday. Yes a lone female biker made it into London on her own without getting lost or going the wrong way on the M25

Thanks for your help with routes, what a beautiful area of the country you live in and there are some great biking roads there too
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
Life is too short to fall out with people

[Tonka]

Really pleased you had a good weekend and you certainly had some lovely biking weather to enjoy it at its best
____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[kitty kat]

some pictures I took from my weekend. I actually took about 90, but I won't post that many lol
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
Life is too short to fall out with people

[Clanger]

I thought about you coming over at the weekend, but we didn't exchange numbers, so I had no way of contacting you. Shame you didn't go to the ACE on Saturday, you could have met Hellkat as it was the NCC Diamond Day (like a donkey I missed it!)

Glad you enjoyed your stay...haven't we just got some lovely roads, and didn't WE have the best weather to boot!!!
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[kitty kat]

Wish i had known that hellkat was going on Saturday, I would have changed my plans around and done the gorge on sunday instead.

Weather was absolutely fantastic, I ended up still sitting outside my tent at 9.30 each night wearing shorts and a t-shirt. yes your roads are great, glad the B3081 was recommended, I did it 4 times as I found it fun. I also deviated from my route and went down some lanes that I can't remember now, but they looked good from the road i was on. One was a single track road with loads of grass growing in the middle.
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
Life is too short to fall out with people

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I've run out of karma otherwise its a big SMART ONE from me.

Pat
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[Tonka]

[Clanger]