National Cycle Route 25
National Route 25 is a signed Sustrans Cycle Path running from Longleat to Bournemouth on the south coast.
The route heads south from Longleat, passing Gillingham, Wimborne Minster and Poole before coming into Bournemouth.
The route follows a series of quiet country lanes and includes a traffic free section along the North Dorset Trailway which runs along a dismantled railway in the Child Okeford and Shillingstone area.
At the northern end of the route you can link up with National Cycle Route 24. At the southern end there's a nice traffic free run along the prom around Poole and Bournemouth on National Cycle Route 2.
See below for a selection of manageable day rides using part of the trail.
Scroll down further for the full gpx file.
National Cycle Route 25 Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
National Cycle Route 25 Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
National Cycle Route 25 OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
National Cycle Route 25 Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Cycle Routes along National Route 25
- Poole to Gillingham - Travel from Poole on the Dorset south coast northwards to Gillingham via Shaftesbury and Wimborne Minster.
The route follows National Cycle Route 25 for much of the way and includes a lovely stretch along the River Stour and a variety of quiet paths and lanes through the countryside.
You start in Poole near the train station and follow the path around Holes Bay and Upton Park before joining the Castleman Trailway to Wimborne Minster - Poole to Ringwood - Travel from Poole to Ringwood along National Cycle Route 25 and view some lovely coastal scenery, heathland and countryside.
Starting in Poole near the train station follow the path around Holes Bay and Upton Park before joining the Castleman Trailway to Wimborne Minster - Blandford Forum to Gillingham - This ride follows National Cycle Route 25 through the Dorset countryside
- Gillingham to Frome - This route follows National Cycle Route 25 and National Cycle Route 24 from Dorset to Somerset
- Gillingham to Warminster - This route follows National Cycle Route 25 from Dorset to Wiltshire
- North Dorset Trailway - This splendid walking and cycling path runs along a dismantled railway line from Stalbridge to Spetisbury in Dorset
Photos
Longleat House near the start
Holes Bay, footpath Footpath and cycleway from Poole to Upton. The cycleway is part of National Cycle Route 25; as seen at the north-eastern corner of the bay.
North Dorset Trailway, Sturminster Newton. Gradually, several parts of the former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway through North Dorset are being converted into recreational paths for horse-riders, cyclists and walkers. This is the start of a section of about a mile south from Sturminster Newton, running as far as Fiddleford, where a new footbridge has been provided across the River Stour.
North Dorset Trailway. Image taken from the recently opened footbridge over the River Stour looking towards Sturminster Newton
Eleven miles to Wimborne. Entering the village of Langton Long Blandford on Cycle Route 25 in the Stour Valley. The bicycle is a circa 1992 Giant steel-frame rigid.
The historic Wimborne Minster in Dorset near the end of the route.
Through the village of Shapwick in Dorset
Bournemouth Pier and beach at the end of the route.