Bridleways & Cycling
The information below relates to cycle routes only.
Long Distance Routes
National Route 26:
This National Cycle Route will run from Portishead on the Somerset coast to Portland Bill on the Dorset coast via Wells, Castle Cary, Yeovil and Dorchester. The route is currently signed from Glastonbury to Dorchester. There is a signed spur (266) from Cadbury to Castle Cary.
The section from Sherborne to Dorchester is shown on the free Cycling in West Dorset - A guide to the National Cycle Network Route 26 in West Dorset. The sections close to Sherborne are also shown on the Active Travel leaflet (see below).
The guide is available from the Sherborne Tourist Information Centre or from West Dorset DC, tel: 01305 267992.
Regional Route 30.
This Regional Cycle Route is an 80 mile cycle route round South Somerset and a bit of Dorset. It starts from Yeovil Junction Station and runs through Sherborne, Castle Cary, Langport, Ilminster, Ham Hill, West and East Coker. It was originally signed anti-clockwise only, but the signing is being upgraded to read both ways. The sections close to Sherborne are also shown on the Active Travel leaflet (see below).
The guide is available from Tourist Information Offices in Sherborne or Yeovil, or can be downloaded from Visit South Somerset or tel: 01935 845946
Circular Routes in and around Yeohead and Castleton:
Cycling in Dorset. David Cheltham.
Published by Dorset Books. 1998.
ISBN 1 871164 40 0
The book includes 25 cycle rides across the county.
It includes a 12.5 mile circular route starting at Sherborne going north to Sandford Orcas and Rimpton, returning via Adber, Trent, Over Compton and Nether Compton.
A second 24.5 mile circular route starting at Sherborne goes south to Thornford, Yetminster and Leigh before returning through Alweston to Milborne Port and Oborne.
A third 28 mile circular route also starts at Sherborne and goes to North Wootton, Purse Caundle, Stourton Caundle, Bishops Caundle and Holwell, returning through Yetminster and Bradford Abbas.
This book can be purchased from Tourist Information Centres and bookshops. It is also available for loan from Dorset Library.
Leaflets with Circular Routes in and around Yeohead and Castleton:
Sherborne to Cattistock Cycle route
This 35 mile cycle road route starts at the Sherborne Tourist Information Centre and goes via Bradford Abbas, Chetnole, Holywell, Chalmington to Cattistock, returning via Wraxall, Rampisham, East Chelborough, Clarkham Cross, Closworth, Ryme Intrinseca, Yetminster, Thornford before returning to Sherborne. Note this route follows sections of the National Cycle Route 26. This leaflet is published by Sherborne Town Council and West Dorset District Council.
Sherborne to Nether Compton Circular Off Road Cycle Route
This 14 mile off road route uses mainly bridleways and minor roads and starts at the Sherborne Tourist Information Centre and goes via Sandford Orcas Road, Coombe Lane, Charlock Hill to Nether Compton, returning via Trent and Trent Path Lane. This leaflet is published by Sherborne Town Council and West Dorset District Council.
These leaflets are available free of charge from the Sherborne Tourist Information Centre.
Maps
Ordnance Survey Travel Map - Tour 9: Dorset, Somerset East, Bath & Bristol covers the area at a scale of 1:50,000 and shows National and Regional cycle routes.
This map can be purchased from Tourist Information Centres and bookshops.
Active Travel Sherborne – A Guide to walking and cycling
This leaflet contains two maps. One covers an area from Charlton Horethorne in the north to Leigh and Pulham in the south, and from Yeovil in the east to Stourton Caundle in the west. The second map is a larger scale map of Sherborne. The map shows signed cycle routes (including the national route 26 and regional route 30 described above) and highlights advisory cycle routes in the area. This leaflet is published by CycleCity Guides for Dorset County Council.
This leaflet is available free of charge from the Sherborne Tourist Information Centre.