Shaftesbury to Poole/Bournemouth/Winton/Ferndown

[LosingGrip]

All going well I'll be moving to Shaftesbury with the other half some when. Three or four months time I should think if things go smoothly.

Its going to be near the A30/A350 roundabout so don't have to drive across town thankfully. However, I'll working at Ferndown until December, then Winton until March and then not sure...either one of them or Poole (maybe Weymouth...I'm hoping not to though!). Monday to Friday whilst at Ferndown 0800 to 1600. December onwards will be shift work.

I'm trying to think of the best commute. I'm thinking of the following.

Shaftesbury - Six Penny - Horton - West Moors - Ferndown
Shaftesbury - Six Penny - Horton - Ashley Heath - Bournemouth/Winton via A338 (summer time I might change this)
Shaftesbury - C13 to Blandford - Badbury Rings or maybe A354 until Winterborne turning to A31 then down the A35 from Bere Regis.

Have I missed another route? I want to avoid the A350 as no real places to overtake.

I'm looking at around a hour to Ferndown and Poole. A little longer to Bournemouth and Winton. Any suggestions would be welcome .

[Saleen836]

Do not even think about using the A350 to Blandford, I had to use it a few times recently to drive to Poole when the C13 and Zigzag hill were both closed, if it were me I would be driving both routes and see which one you feel is better..
Shaftesbury - Six Penny - Horton - West Moors - Ferndown
Shaftesbury - C13 to Blandford - Tarrant Keyneston - Wimborne Minster - Little Canford - Ferndown

For Poole just use the C13 to Blandford then stay on the A350

[Zetec-S]

Just for info the C13 has been reduced to 50mph for most of stretch between Melbury Abbas and Blandford...

LosingGrip said:

Shaftesbury - Six Penny - Horton - West Moors - Ferndown

Admittedly the road to Sixpenny is much nicer, but going out past Larmer Tree/Farnham down to Horton is far more direct and there are a few good overtaking opportunities. Just have to avoid the numpties at the single file sections who don't understand the concept of give way
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Shaftesbury/Fern...

Edge of Shaftesbury to Ferndown Industrial Estate will take no more than 45 minutes... on a bad day

Likewise for Bournemouth/Winton I'd go this route except straight on at Three Legged Cross down to Ashley Heath/A338.

[LosingGrip]

Thanks all . Think it will be a case of doing them for a bit and see which one I prefer at those times. Don't really know North Dorset that well to know other routes other than the above.

[Siggy61]

Whatever you do avoid Canford bottom hamburger roundabout at rush hour. Occasionally the lights work in sync until some trained chimp rolls up and mashes his head on the control box. Result chaos for weeks.

[LosingGrip]

Siggy61 said:

Whatever you do avoid Canford bottom hamburger roundabout at rush hour. Occasionally the lights work in sync until some trained chimp rolls up and mashes his head on the control box. Result chaos for weeks.

Annoyingly i think I'll be hitting that roundabout at rush hour .

Especially whilst im still living in Poole. Anyone know what it will be like at 4pm? Been a while since I've been that way at that time.

[greenarrow]

LosingGrip said:

Siggy61 said:

Whatever you do avoid Canford bottom hamburger roundabout at rush hour. Occasionally the lights work in sync until some trained chimp rolls up and mashes his head on the control box. Result chaos for weeks.

Annoyingly i think I'll be hitting that roundabout at rush hour .

Especially whilst im still living in Poole. Anyone know what it will be like at 4pm? Been a while since I've been that way at that time.

At 4PM it will be starting to build up. Depending on where in Poole you are travelling from, it may be easier to go down the Ringwood Road and then Ham Lane at Longham, Stapehill and into Ferndown that way, bypassing Canford Bottom.

I agree BTW with the route suggested going past Larmer Tree. Just take care on the fast road to Horton. The road has crumbled badly in places on that stretch meaning traffic can be driving quite near the middle of the road, a bit unnerving when passing other stuff at 60 MPH+ Also look out for lunatic overtakers on that stretch as you can really get a move on!!

[Sk00p]

Zetec-S said:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Shaftesbury/Fern...

Edge of Shaftesbury to Ferndown Industrial Estate will take no more than 45 minutes... on a bad day

Likewise for Bournemouth/Winton I'd go this route except straight on at Three Legged Cross down to Ashley Heath/A338.

This..

By far the best option, used to do it daily for months

[LosingGrip]

greenarrow said:

At 4PM it will be starting to build up. Depending on where in Poole you are travelling from, it may be easier to go down the Ringwood Road and then Ham Lane at Longham, Stapehill and into Ferndown that way, bypassing Canford Bottom.

I agree BTW with the route suggested going past Larmer Tree. Just take care on the fast road to Horton. The road has crumbled badly in places on that stretch meaning traffic can be driving quite near the middle of the road, a bit unnerving when passing other stuff at 60 MPH+ Also look out for lunatic overtakers on that stretch as you can really get a move on!!

Will be going to Gravel Hill. Leaving Ferndown at 4ish.

Might just get a cheap bike ha.

[LosingGrip]

Bump!

Any suggestions on Stur Newton to Winton? I'm thinking down to Blandford - Wimborne (badbury rings) - Gravel Hill - Magna Road - Wimborne road Kinson - Castle Lane West.

Timings won't be too bad. Need to be there for 0630 or 1430, so hoping to avoid major traffic.