Dorset is steeped in history; from over 500 ancient hill forts to the Tolpuddle Martyrs and the dark harsh world of Thomas Hardy. There is also inspiration to be found in T.E. Lawrence's stirring leadership and Admiral Hardy's ambiguous friendship with Lord Nelson. Dorset has lent much to the modern world both at domestic and global levels, but above all (as far as this book is concerned anyway) top class mountain bike trails! A contributing factor that led to the publication of this guide book is the place names to be found in this colourful county. Visitors are compelled to investigate places with quirky names; what's it like? Who lives there? Where did the name come from? And of course; what are the trails like? Just pull out an Ordnance Survey map covering any part of Dorset and you won't need to look too hard; Scratchy Bottom, Hell Lane, Knight's in the Bottom and Piddle are a few favourites!
The county of Dorset itself only stretches approximately sixty by forty miles; of which over fifty percent lay within an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty and include a wonderful network of bridleways, drove roads, permissive tracks and other rights of way disproportionate to its size and status; making route selection for the mountain biker in Dorset quite daunting. Until now of course.