About The Dorset Gravel Dash 100

 How to get there

We highly encourage you to take the train or cycle to the event. If you cycle in, you’re extending your adventure by a couple of days, and don’t clogg up the roads. Pretty cool, eh?

By bike: Swanage is accessed from the east via the Sandbanks Ferry from Bournemouth and Poole area. It’s £1 each way for a cyclist and bike and runs until around 11pm. www.sandbanksferry.co.uk

From the west and north, just ride into town via Corfe Castle.

From the south…. Well that will be France then. Cross-channel ferries sail into Poole harbour daily.

By train: Swanage Railway now operates from Wareham to Swanage. There are limited spaces for bikes on the trains. You can find out more at www.swanagerailway.co.uk. You will find the nearest mainline station is Wareham, about 10 miles to the north. Poole, Branksome and Bournemouth have stations around 10-12 miles away, but you will need to take the Sandbanks ferry across the harbour entrance and onto the ‘Isle’. Check out the ferries times here. For rail enquiries check here.

By car: Swanage is accessed from the east via the Sandbanks Ferry from Bournemouth and Poole area. It’s £5.20 each way for a vehicle and runs until around 11pm. As a driver you can expect delays of up to several hours during peak bank holiday times. More info at www.sandbanksferry.co.uk.

From the west and north, just drive into town via Corfe Castle.

From the south…. Well that will be France then. Cross-channel ferries sail into Poole harbour daily.

Parking: DO NOT PARK at the Red Lion. Swanage is a tourist town and is geared up for short term/high price parking. Free on-street parking is all around. However, the area on the hill above Swanage hospital has wide streets, and plenty of parking. The north end, Northbrook Road, has on street parking, but can get busy on beach days. As you will be leaving your car for a day or two park considerately and keep your valuables out of sight.

Accommodation
For accommodation please visit the Virtual Swanage website, where you will find everything from camping to fine hotels.