Critique my route to Weymouth

[S10GTA]

I'm riding to Weymouth tomorrow, but don't really know the area. Can anybody critique my route please?

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/466421088

[Highway Star]

Once you leave the Forest, The B3078 is fine, though parts of the route from Wimborne St Giles to Witchampton can get quite narrow with a few unsighted bends. A friend got knocked off and killed on that road, though many, many years ago. The Tarrant Valley is very pleasant indeed.

Looks like you are taking a short section of the A31. This is the main trunk road through Dorset, and although is SC in this section, it is straight, flat and relatively wide, but will be busy. Same for the sections of the A35 which is generally a bit narrower, but not quite so busy.

Next part is nice around Clouds Hill and Bovingdon Camp. The B3390 is quite well used for a B road, watch out on the straight sections for hooners mixed in with caravans as there are quite a few holiday parks around there between Crossways and Warmwell.

Nothing too challenging really and on a weekday in term time, should be quite quiet for most of it. Enjoy!

[S10GTA]

Thanks Highway Star. Is there any better alternatives?

[Silver940]

You after scenery or a more direct route? You'll have a pretty stiff headwind tomorrow for some of that. You can cut a corner off at Alderholt

[S10GTA]

Silver940 said:

You after scenery or a more direct route? You'll have a pretty stiff headwind tomorrow for some of that. You can cut a corner off at Alderholt

A mixture of both. I'm aiming to get there around 10.30, which currently means leaving around 6am, so if it could be shortened a little whilst keeping away from the really crap roads I'd be open to the suggestion.

[Silver940]

There's a corner cut at Alderholt and I think I'd stay on the 3078 until the Witchampton turn. It's a fairly fast road but visibility is pretty good, I've ridden it a few times.

Other way is ride to Hengistbury Head, Along the prom to the ferry and over past Corfe Castle. There's a fair lump at Corfe but the views are great.

[Highway Star]

Can't think of too many other alternatives other than Silver940's. Riding along the prom from Hengistbury Head to Sandbanks could be a PITA though if you are wanting to make progress.

If you can stick that though, a ride from Studland to Corfe, Church Knowle, up over the ranges to West Lulworth will be extremely scenic, if rather lumpy (going Studland, Swanage, Langton Matravers, Worth Matravers, Corfe is a further detour but takes in my favourite pub, the Square and Compass at Worth and a great hill down from Kingston into Corfe).

That said, I can't remember a great route from West Lulworth over to Weymouth without taking in the A352 at some point, which is ok, but does have a DC section for a short stretch.

[S10GTA]

I did think about the coast route, but it's not great in places from what I have ridden.

Slightly amended the route now http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/466421088

[S10GTA]

Here is the ride http://www.strava.com/activities/163778445

[Silver940]

Nice, thought you might have a challenging headwind! I find that area between Wimborne St Giles and Witchampton very disorientating for some reason and I'm pretty good with directions