Wilts/Dorset border
Discussion
Depends where in Devon you're going.
The B3081 going south east after Zig Zag is very nice, but it's taking you the wrong way. If you decide to follow it, after Sixpenny Handley get on to the A354 and follow it past Blandford towards Dorchester, down to Weymouth and then get onto the coast road.
Route to Exeter from Zig Zag:
Map
At this time of year I would suggest taking a detour from the A354 at Winterborne Whitechurch to see some bluebells, a nice hilltop view of Dorset at Bulbarrow and a beautiful village called Milton Abbas.
Detour
Marker C is a nice viewpoint of a very large house (private school) with a large abbey right next door.
However, if you come back through Shaftesbury instead, the A30 to Sherborne isn't bad and then follow it through Yeovil > Crewkerne > Chard > Yarcombe > Honiton > Exeter.
At Yarcombe there is a garage on the road that sells old American cars and pickups.
Route:
Map
The B3081 going south east after Zig Zag is very nice, but it's taking you the wrong way. If you decide to follow it, after Sixpenny Handley get on to the A354 and follow it past Blandford towards Dorchester, down to Weymouth and then get onto the coast road.
Route to Exeter from Zig Zag:
Map
At this time of year I would suggest taking a detour from the A354 at Winterborne Whitechurch to see some bluebells, a nice hilltop view of Dorset at Bulbarrow and a beautiful village called Milton Abbas.
Detour
Marker C is a nice viewpoint of a very large house (private school) with a large abbey right next door.
However, if you come back through Shaftesbury instead, the A30 to Sherborne isn't bad and then follow it through Yeovil > Crewkerne > Chard > Yarcombe > Honiton > Exeter.
At Yarcombe there is a garage on the road that sells old American cars and pickups.
Route:
Map
Edited by V8S on Tuesday 21st April 16:29
Edited by V8S on Wednesday 22 April 17:06
I'm making for Axminster basically (I grew up in Dalwood in between Axminster and Honiton, if that rings any bells, and I'm heading back for the weekend).
I've taken the A30 before and found it to be quite entertaining in places.
Basically I'm coming from the M25 and fancied doing Zig Zag hill enroute. I'd like to keep it reasonably direct but anything that fits in before or after is a possibility.
I've taken the A30 before and found it to be quite entertaining in places.
Basically I'm coming from the M25 and fancied doing Zig Zag hill enroute. I'd like to keep it reasonably direct but anything that fits in before or after is a possibility.
Excellent, thanks. I shall arm the TomTom. 
On a related note. Can you think of any good photo locations (preferably closer to the destination)? The main reason for going down is to take some shots of my dad's M-Series for a book it's due to appear in. One suggestion was somewhere we could get close to the sea front. Lyme is out I reckon. Being AYC memebers we can get onto the beach at Axmouth so that's a distinct possibility. I guess there's always those bluebells....
On a related note. Can you think of any good photo locations (preferably closer to the destination)? The main reason for going down is to take some shots of my dad's M-Series for a book it's due to appear in. One suggestion was somewhere we could get close to the sea front. Lyme is out I reckon. Being AYC memebers we can get onto the beach at Axmouth so that's a distinct possibility. I guess there's always those bluebells....
Chris71 said:
Excellent, thanks. I shall arm the TomTom.
On a related note. Can you think of any good photo locations (preferably closer to the destination)? The main reason for going down is to take some shots of my dad's M-Series for a book it's due to appear in. One suggestion was somewhere we could get close to the sea front. Lyme is out I reckon. Being AYC memebers we can get onto the beach at Axmouth so that's a distinct possibility. I guess there's always those bluebells....
Well, you pass right by West Bexington on the coast road between Chickerell and West Bay. There is a large(ish) car park right on the Chesil beach. If you pick your angles well, you should be able to get some good shots of car, beach and sea.On a related note. Can you think of any good photo locations (preferably closer to the destination)? The main reason for going down is to take some shots of my dad's M-Series for a book it's due to appear in. One suggestion was somewhere we could get close to the sea front. Lyme is out I reckon. Being AYC memebers we can get onto the beach at Axmouth so that's a distinct possibility. I guess there's always those bluebells....
Aerial View - West Bexington
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Option 2 is Burton Bradstock. These is a grassy car park right on the beach.
Aerial View - Burton Bradstock
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Option 3 is the harbour at West Bay - if you park in the car park on the east side of the harbour, you should be able to get the car with some fishing boats behind without too much crap in the way.
Aerial view - West Bay harbour
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Option 4 is Eype (pron. EEP) - there is a small grassy car park overlooking the sea:
Aerial view - Eype
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Option 5 is Seatown which has a grassy car park and a nice pub. You could park the M by the pub, climb the hill to the east and take a wide pic of it along with some stunning coastline:
Aerial view - Seatown
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There's also Charmouth but it's not very good for a pic of a car in front of the sea.
Why is Lyme out? You're not supposed to park on the area around the slipway but I've never been told off. You could also see if you could drive around the Cobb - not sure who to ask though.
As you say you lived in Axminster, I don't need to tell you about Branscombe... if you could get a pass to drive out along the lane to the holiday huts, it would make a good picture.
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If you want pics amongst bluebells on a very quiet road you can try a detour to Hooke Park which is a private forest with a forestry college. Be aware that the unusual wooden gates are sometimes locked, but not often.
Here is the detour route from West Bay / Bridport to the entrance gate (marked B)...
Route
If you do visit Hooke Park, slightly further on you'll find one of the highest hills in Dorset - Eggardon Hill which is an iron age hillfort. There is a road along one side that is very little used that plunges down the hill to Powerstock and I've always thought it would be a great place to take a car picture as it is high, no hedges and looks out over some lovely landscape. The photo point is marked A in this route:
Route from Hooke Park to the road I'm on about
Any more info, just ask.
Edited by V8S on Wednesday 22 April 16:48
Sorry, I forgot to add the famous place to take a picture on the coast road looking east across the Fleet lagoon to Portland.
Aerial view of car park
ETA:
Aerial view of car park
ETA:
Edited by V8S on Wednesday 22 April 16:44
Last one, I promise!
What about an action shot of the M blasting along this avenue?
You would need to take a 2 mile detour from Blandford on the route I gave you. The beech avenue is about 2 miles long, with a cool undulating road.
Here it is:
Aerial view of beech avenue
What about an action shot of the M blasting along this avenue?
You would need to take a 2 mile detour from Blandford on the route I gave you. The beech avenue is about 2 miles long, with a cool undulating road.
Here it is:
Aerial view of beech avenue
Hi,
Zigzag hill doesnt have the greatest road surface and if you are going down watch the very first tight right at the top; I have several cars planted in the trees there in the last couple of year.
If you get to the bottom of zz hill and through the village you can then turn left and head that way past compton abbas airfield and on towards dorchester..... Stop in at the airfield for a nice cup of tea.
S
Zigzag hill doesnt have the greatest road surface and if you are going down watch the very first tight right at the top; I have several cars planted in the trees there in the last couple of year.
If you get to the bottom of zz hill and through the village you can then turn left and head that way past compton abbas airfield and on towards dorchester..... Stop in at the airfield for a nice cup of tea.
S
Yes, ZigZag is deteriorating and under trees, so be careful. It really is about time they resurfaced it... like most of Dorset's roads in fact.
If I was coming from Wiltshire, I think I'd choose to blat along the B3081 rather than down past Compton Abbas but that's just personal preference. However, no doubt Chris will want to go down Zig Zag as well as up it so it might be more convenient to go Compton Abbas way if he is doubling back.
What day are you doing the trip, Chris?
If I was coming from Wiltshire, I think I'd choose to blat along the B3081 rather than down past Compton Abbas but that's just personal preference. However, no doubt Chris will want to go down Zig Zag as well as up it so it might be more convenient to go Compton Abbas way if he is doubling back.
What day are you doing the trip, Chris?
V8S said:
Yes, ZigZag is deteriorating and under trees, so be careful. It really is about time they resurfaced it... like most of Dorset's roads in fact.
If I was coming from Wiltshire, I think I'd choose to blat along the B3081 rather than down past Compton Abbas but that's just personal preference. However, no doubt Chris will want to go down Zig Zag as well as up it so it might be more convenient to go Compton Abbas way if he is doubling back.
What day are you doing the trip, Chris?
It'll probably be a Saturday morning.If I was coming from Wiltshire, I think I'd choose to blat along the B3081 rather than down past Compton Abbas but that's just personal preference. However, no doubt Chris will want to go down Zig Zag as well as up it so it might be more convenient to go Compton Abbas way if he is doubling back.
What day are you doing the trip, Chris?
I don't doubt there are better driving roads around than Zig Zag Hill, I just quite wanted to visit Britain's twistiest road.
Okay, apparently the author wants an uncluttered backdrop and he's keen to get a shot of the car by the sea. So... any other beach suggestions in the East Devon/Dorset type area?
Also, now the OH is coming along it looks like any zig zag hill frollics have been ruled out. She's a slightly nervous passenger.
Let me know if you fancy a mini TVR meet V8S!
Also, now the OH is coming along it looks like any zig zag hill frollics have been ruled out. She's a slightly nervous passenger.
Let me know if you fancy a mini TVR meet V8S!
Chris71 said:
Okay, apparently the author wants an uncluttered backdrop and he's keen to get a shot of the car by the sea. So... any other beach suggestions in the East Devon/Dorset type area?
Also, now the OH is coming along it looks like any zig zag hill frollics have been ruled out. She's a slightly nervous passenger.
Let me know if you fancy a mini TVR meet V8S!
Chris - the only beaches where you can get a decent shot of the sea behind the car are the ones I've listed above.Also, now the OH is coming along it looks like any zig zag hill frollics have been ruled out. She's a slightly nervous passenger.
Let me know if you fancy a mini TVR meet V8S!
If you don't mind the sea being in the background but not at close range, there are a couple of places where you can park along the Chickerell to Burton Bradstock coast road. The fields fall away towards the sea, so any photo will not be cluttered.
One outside chance would be Kimmeridge on Purbeck, but it's a bit far out of your route - there is a small toll to pay to get to the car parks. One is on a grassy bank on the cliff edge but there is scrub and posts that may clutter your shots; the other is by the marine nature reserve hut and slipway. You could perhaps ask to park on the slipway (or just do it).
There's also a private road that goes to Chapman's Pool near Worth Matravers. I've never actually been down there so I've no idea if it would be suitable, but with a very wide angle lens I'm sure any shot would be great with the car centred and the curve of the coast coming in on both sides.
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Zig Zag.... she gets out and stands on the side of the road. Like she should, the miserable bint.
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Meeting up: would love to, but depends when it is. Can't do it this weekend (not in Dorset), nor next Sunday (TVRCC meet).
Edited by V8S on Friday 1st May 14:44
V8S said:
Last one, I promise!
What about an action shot of the M blasting along this avenue?
You would need to take a 2 mile detour from Blandford on the route I gave you. The beech avenue is about 2 miles long, with a cool undulating road.
Here it is:
Aerial view of beech avenue
ahhh, good ol badbury rings. theres a lot of cars in those tree'sWhat about an action shot of the M blasting along this avenue?
You would need to take a 2 mile detour from Blandford on the route I gave you. The beech avenue is about 2 miles long, with a cool undulating road.
Here it is:
Aerial view of beech avenue
V8S said:
Don't forget to post the pics! 
Took over a hundred in the end, but I've put some of the better ones here:http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
(Obviously heavily compressed so they lose some of the quality, but you get the idea)
The first one is just in the farmyard back home, but after that we have Shute Barton, someone's rather nice Mediteranian-looking stone wall next to Shute Common and the beach front at Axmouth.
It seems the brightness is different on my work PC and here a lot of the other photos which looked good at home look underexposed, so keen to get feedback from third parties if any of the photos in the link stand out?
V8S said:
At this time of year I would suggest taking a detour from the A354 at Winterborne Whitechurch to see some bluebells, a nice hilltop view of Dorset at Bulbarrow and a beautiful village called Milton Abbas.
Thanks for the heads-up - despite the iffy weather yesterday, it was definately worth the trip:
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