The official route
Just as in France the English Tour de Manche uses a combination of small roads and greenways. From the ferry port at Poole the route takes to a cycle path through Baiter park and then alongside Poole Harbour to Sandbanks.
Poole Harbour
The Sandbanks chain ferry crosses to Studland and then the route goes to Corfe Castle.
Cyclists on the Sandbanks chain ferry
The route is not flat and after Corfe Castle, Creech hill is climbed before a descent to join Cycle Route 2 just east of Wool.
Tour de Manche on Route 2 in Dorset
Flat riding through quiet lanes on Cycle Route 2 brings you to Dorchester and onto Martinstown. There now comes an unavoidable Cat 4 climb over Hardy’s Monument.
Hardy’s Monument
Hardy’s Monument
The lovely Bride valley follows, still following Route 2 to bypass Bridport and start a series of steep climbs to Axminster.
Route 2 near Bridport
The route continues West along the Jurassic coast of Dorset and into Devon.
We found a lovely traffic free route through the city of Exeter emerging at Haldon, well on our way to Moretonhampstead and Dartmoor
Now we were in Devon who could resist a cream tea?
Cream tea
We chose to go across the middle of Dartmoor on the B3212. There are a few steep ramps on the climb onto the moor out of Moretonhampstead but it was very scenic and memorable.
The B3212 across Dartmoor
Beautiful view from Dartmoor down to the coast at Plymouth
On arrival at Plymouth there was time for a small celebration before catching the ferry to Roscoff.
Well deserved.
Old Bat On A Bike. 