This route starts from a Sainsburys located on the A4174; this is part of the ring road around Bristol and easily accessed from the M4 / M32 motorway. As you approach the end of the A4174 and cross the river Avon, (RP 2) you may just catch a glimpse of the old Cadburys chocolate factory in the distance to your left, this has now been turned into a new housing estate called the “Chocolate Quarter”. A 17th Century building, The Globe (RP 5) has been an integral part of the heritage of Newton St. Loe; the old colliery was even named after the building. The west side of the two-storey pub was added in the 1800's, with the east side still containing remnants of the original building. There is a history of coal mining in the area as part of the Somerset coalfield but all mines have now closed. Lower and Middle Coal Measures at depths between 500 and 5,000 feet (152-1,525 m) of the Pensford Syncline, were worked at the Globe Pit in Newton St Loe in the 19th century.

As you climb up from Newton St Loe and through the villages of South Stoke and Midford, you will get glimpses in the distance to your left of the distinctive stone buildings of Bath and see for yourself why the Romans chose such a place with its high vantage point. From here we start to drop down through Hinton Charterhouse to Woolverton, where we join the main A36 south from Bath.

The 1st coffee stop or meeting up point, if required, is the Warminster services, where the A36 and the A350 join- it’s a small service station but will meet your needs. As we carry on with our trip, we peel off the A36 and pick up the A350 towards Shaftesbury. (RP 11)

Shaftesbury is one of England’s most charming and historic market towns, famous for its picturesque Gold Hill (of Hovis fame!), with extensive views of the unspoilt Dorset landscape. Shaftesbury Abbey Museum is situated in a commanding position overlooking the beautiful Blackmore Vale and close to the famous Gold Hill. Shaftesbury held one of the most important and influential religious houses for women, it was founded by King Alfred the Great in AD888 as England’s foremost Benedictine nunnery first led by his daughter, Æthelgifu as the first abbess. The Abbey was instrumental in the prosperity of the town for over 650 years. Only the foundations survive after the destruction ordered by Henry VIII in 1539. The newly redeveloped museum brings to life the story of the Abbey and the people who lived here. The museum is decorated in dramatic medieval colours chosen to reflect the interior of the original Abbey church and houses a fascinating collection of carved stonework; including samples of Saxon carving, medieval floor tiles and other excavated objects.

An admission is charged, please see website for details.

Leaving Shaftesbury behind us and venturing further south, we pass various Roman remains, one being the site of Hod Hill. (RP 12) The superb terrain of Hod Hill was not ignored by the Romans who valued both its excellent view of the surrounding area and its proximity to the adjacent River Stour (a main trading route and also the primary method of supplying the garrison). They built a fort within the parameter of the former hill fort configuring it in the standard Roman 'playing card' shape, i.e. a rectangular configuration with rounded corners. The original Western entrance was re-used whilst a new double ditch and rampart protected the east and south sides of the Roman compound portioning it off from the remainder of the fortification. The Romans also added a new penetration in the hill fort's southern rampart improving access to the River Stour. The Romans garrisoned a Legionary cohort here (around 500 men) who were augmented with a cavalry detachment around 250 strong. It was abandoned in AD 51 as military priorities changed. Sadly, the fort no longer remains.

Again, moving on south our history changes from the Romans to today’s armed forces. (RP 13) The Royal Signals Museum which is within the confines of Blandford Camp. From ultra-secure cyber to stately ceremonial, modern day Royal Signals troops, squadrons and regiments play a vital role in keeping the country safe and in touch. With online deemed the new frontline, they’re always at the heart of the action. That’s why no visit to the museum is complete without a look at the Regiments and their roles – past, present and future. The museum has a wide range of equipment and displays from an assortment of regiments covering history, heritage and the very latest in ultra-sophisticated communications for you to explore. Regimental displays at the museum vary and are changed and updated on a rolling programme. Not all the regiments have exhibits in the museum at any given time. Additionally, there are displays from former regiments which have either disbanded or amalgamated to form new
An admission is charged, along with security checks, please see website for details.

After leaving Blandford Forum, we head to Dorchester, Dorchester is a historic market town with its roots in Roman times; however, it is most famously associated with Thomas Hardy. With its elegant 18th century houses, broad walks and bustling shopping streets, Dorchester has much to offer. Its history can be traced back to the Iron Age, like nearby Maiden Castle. The Romans built a town here in AD 43 (Durnovaria) and you can see reminders of Dorchester’s Roman past in the County Museum and the Roman Town House.

Maiden Castle (RP 16) is the largest Iron Age hill fort in Europe and covers an area of 47 acres. ‘Maiden’ derives from the Celtic ‘Mai Dun’ which means ‘great hill’. It is truly an amazing place: even after more than 2000 years, the earthworks are immense, some ramparts rising to a height of 6 metres (20 feet). It is thought that the construction of Maiden Castle began around 3000 BC and flint tools and other object dating from that time have been found. The late Stone Age/ early Bronze Age people who lived there built a massive ditch and bank some 545 metres in length. There are Bronze Age burial mounds on the right-hand end of the castle. The present hill fort as you see it today, was started during the Iron Age around 450 – 300 BC when the area of the fort was extended and the ramparts and ditches were enlarged. Three ditches were dug, the earth removed being used to build the ramparts. A wooden fence would have been built along the ramparts with wooden gates at the entrances. The entrances were not aligned therefore making it more difficult for opposing forces to gain entry. Again sadly, the fort no longer remains.

Leaving history briefly behind us once again, we head towards Weymouth, where we ride along the esplanade from Bowleaze cove to Weymouth central beach, before passing the harbour and onto Portland.

Arriving at the start of the Isle of Portland, we pass Castletown, this is where Portland Castle, (RP 18) an artillery fort constructed by Henry VIII, between 1539 and 1541. It formed part of the King's programme to protect against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire, and defended the Portland Roads anchorage. The fan-shaped castle was built from Portland stone, with a curved central tower and a gun battery, flanked by two angular wings. Shortly after its construction it was armed with eleven artillery pieces, intended for use against enemy shipping, operating in partnership with its sister castle of Sandsfoot on the other side of the anchorage. During the English Civil War, Portland was taken by the Royalist supporters of King Charles I, and then survived two sieges before finally surrendering to Parliament in 1646. Portland continued in use as a fort until the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, when it was converted into a private house. Fresh concerns over invasion led to the War Office taking it over once again in 1869, but the castle was not rearmed and was instead used as accommodation for more modern neighbouring fortifications. During the First and Second World Wars it was used as offices, accommodation and as an ordnance store. In 1949, the War Office again relinquished control,
An admission is charged, please see website for details.

We now move further up the hill through Fortuneswell, the gateway to the island of Portland. The village's intriguing streets wind their way up the steep hills of the island, which rise from sea level near the amazing Chesil Beach to a height of 500 feet at the top of the isle. Portland Harbour was the venue for the 2012 Olympics sailing events and Fortuneswell (RP 19) takes advantage of the best of the majestic views that Portland has, the Olympic Rings and a view that stretches for dozens of miles from Devon, around Lyme Bay in the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, across to the resort of Weymouth, and over the rolling hills into the rest of Dorset beyond.

After the stunning views of the Dorset coastline, we carry on to our main destination Portland Bill and its Lighthouse, but before we arrive, we pass some of the Portland Stone quarries from which many of the local buildings were built and again see more spectacular clifftop views.

The lunch stop is at the Lobster Pot café, which is next to the site of the Portland Bill Lighthouse (RP 21) this is a functioning lighthouse operated by Trinity House, it has been standing proudly for the past one hundred and fourteen years at a height of 41 metres (135 ft). The distinctive red and white tower first shone its famous four flashes of light every twenty seconds on 11 January 1906 and had a range of 25 nautical miles which has guided passing vessels through the hazardous waters around Portland Bill as well as acting as a waymark for ships navigating the English Channel. The station was re-engineered in 2019 and the optic had been removed from the lantern room and re-erected in the tower base as a display. The range of light is now 18 nautical miles. The lighthouse and its boundary walls are Grade II Listed.

Now homeward bound, we head up to Yeovilton (RP 24). Here you will find the Fleet Air Arm Museum which opened in 1964, it has become Europe's largest collection of Royal Navy aircraft in a naval aviation museum. This contains the history on legendary Royal Navy aircraft within its large halls containing dozens of aircraft from all eras of naval aviation. The eclectic mix of aircraft makes the Fleet Air Arm Museums’ collection the largest in Europe. From the development of Royal Navy air power and technology as a formidable air power to the epic Concorde 002, you learn about the theory of flight.

(RP 25) Kilver Court is an historic house and garden in Shepton Mallet in the county of Somerset. The River Sheppey powered textile mills and it later became a factory, the headquarters of the Showerings brewing business, with its famous Babycham chamois mascot displayed outside the factory entrance.

As we head back towards Bristol, we arrive at Farrington Gurney and can stop off at the Farrington Inn which is a lovely pub that welcomes bikers.

I have awarded this route with 4 stars **** The roads are good, the scenery is very good and the attractions are very interesting.