The cycle way is 73 miles long and takes you on quiet country lanes in an anti-clockwise direction. Strong experienced cyclists will complete the route in a day, but for those who wish to enjoy the route in full we suggest you spend longer over the trip.

The Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty cross the southern and eastern sectors of the route, with high chalk land hills of up to 1000 feet. On the downs deer still remain from the original Royal Hunting Forest and, on the Chase the rare stone curlew may still be seen. The views from the downs are superb and from Bulbarrow on a clear day one can see seven counties.

The route also passes through part of Hardy’s favourite and somewhat flatter Blackmore Vale, through which the River Stour meanders. The villages along the route , mostly made attractive by thatched or tiled cottages, have many fine churches and manor houses, often with historic associations.