Cycling in Bournemouth

Do you love rough and exhilarating downhill rides? Or speed-racing on roads with beautiful scenery? Or simply enjoying flat and safe cycling with the family and maybe teach your youngest how to ride? Bournemouth has all the options for every age and ability.

From scenic flats to strenuous hill rides, Bournemouth and the Dorset area is a magnet for cyclists. There are also several bike hire options if you haven’t got your own, making life easy. Bike hire and cycling is great for groups and can easily be catered for if organised in advance.

Relaxing cycling on flats

Bournemouth Promenade

Bournemouth beach has a great promenade for cycling which stretches from Hengistbury Head in the east, to Sandbanks in the west. However, it’s not permitted to cycle on the prom between 10am and 6pm in July and August due to the high amount of people. However, you can ride between the Piers on the road at all times throughout the year which still makes it a great way for getting around our wonderful coastline.

A useful map showing routes with approximate rides lengths - Download

This map shows all the cycle routes in Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch - Download

Nearby Poole has a variety of routes:

Poole Cycle Routes - Download

Poole Heritage Cycle Route - Download

Routes across Dorset - visit www.dorsetforyou.com

To the east – Mudeford and Christchurch

Or you can cycle the other way, ride from Bournemouth to Southbourne and decide how far you want to go; Hengistbury Head, Mudeford, Christchurch. All are cycle-friendly spots. If you cycle to the end of Hengistbury Head, through the woods, you can then hop on the little ferry (extra charge for bikes) and find yourself on Mudeford Quay which is great for watching the boats, kite-surfers and buying fresh seafood. 

Routes across Dorset - visit www.dorsetforyou.com

New Forest

Although it’s a little further afield, taking bikes on the train from Bournemouth to Brockenhurst is a great day out. There are over one hundred miles of way-marked cycle paths which are relatively flat and you can see the famous New Forest ponies and deer. There are lots of pubs and restaurants in Brockenhurst to keep your energy levels up.

Here's a useful New Forest Cycling Map -Download

A little more adventurous

To the west – Purbecks

You can’t beat a relaxing cycle from Bournemouth to Sandbanks. Then hop on the Sandbanks-Shell Bay Chain Ferry which is a 15 minute crossing across to Studland. From there you’re in the beautiful Purbecks, with stunning scenery and a number of stages so that you can decide on how long you want to ride for. There’s Old Harry Rocks, the countryside and Wareham or you can really challenge yourself and cycle to Corfe Castle and back.

Pedal around the Purbecks, a summary of different routes - Download

Corfe Castle Ride, Wareham to Corfe Castle - 12 miles. This route is on-road - Download

Priory Ride - Wareham to West Holme - 8 miles. This route is on-road - Download

Rempstone Ride - Norden Park & Ride to Studland village or Shell Bay - 12 miles plus extension to village or beach. This route is mainly off-road through heath and forest. - Download

Lawrence Ride - Wareham to Moreton - 22 miles. This route is mainly on-road - Download

Purbeck Ride - From Wareham around Purbeck - 47 miles. This route is on-road.- Download

Challenging - Great ups and downs

Nothing beats the Purbeck Ridgeway. Get yourself to the top of this challenging hill and then breeze down the paths for a really thrilling ride.

If you have vehicle transport for your bikes, then Lulworth and beyond to the west, or around North Dorset has great challenging options for those fit enough.

Recommended Reading - Coming to Bournemouth for a mountain bike holiday? Do you want to do a far more challenging route? Then we recommend Mountain Bike Guide – Dorset by Colin Dennis. It’s very easy to use (we often do at the weekends!) and provides a range of biking routes from easy-medium off-road scenic routes to the very challenging and tiring all-day rides.

Routes across Dorset - visit www.dorsetforyou.com

Bike Hire

Bournemouth has several options when it comes to bike hire and offer a great range of bikes. Enjoy beach cruisers, tandem cruiser, mountain bikes with trailers, seats and tag-a-longs for children.

Front Bike Hire - bike hire on Bournemouth Beach

On Yer Bike - a cycle shop in Charminster with bike hire