BIGRIDE SUN, SEA AND SINGLETRACK

Max and Russell explore South West England's Jurassic Coast, with bonus seaside routes in South Wales and on the Isle of Skye

- Max Darkins

In our quest for a lovely coastal route to celebrate the arrival of summer, we've decided to head a little further west along the famous Jurassic Coast than our regular Isle of Purbeck haunt. We hit the busy town of Bridport on market day, before edging our way slowly out of the western side and following the signs that guide us along the roads of Symondsbury Estate to the busy car park. Symondsbury is home to 1,500 acres of farmland and ancient woodland. The hub of the estate, Manor Yard, is where we start our ride, and has shops, a cafe, a bike shop and free parking, making it an ideal kick-off point for an adventure. The estate have also opened up some tracks through their land to create an 8km trail that lets cyclists avoid the roads.

King's road

Sadly, the MTB skills/jump park that was being built here never really got off the ground and has now disappeared altogether, but Symondsbury still welcomes cyclists, and the on-site shop can provide hire bikes, should you be on holiday here without your own. Although the 'trail' isn't a purpose-built track (just a field-edge one, which can get pretty muddy in winter), come the summer, when the ground is dry and firm, it provides a useful off-road link to the local bridleways. It delivers us straight out into quiet and pretty countryside and farmland, with colourful wildflowers and not a person in sight.