Cycling in Poole

Flat ground, traffic-free shoreline stretches and a chain ferry that drops you into the Purbeck lanes.

Poole is kinder to cyclists than the cliff-backed towns east of it, for the simple reason that it is flat.

Around the harbour

The shoreline from Baiter round to Hamworthy is level and largely traffic-free in stretches, with the Twin Sails and lifting bridges to cross. Poole Park and Upton Country Park add car-free riding.

Out to the beaches

The run from the town out along the peninsula to Sandbanks is flat and, in summer, considerably faster than driving it.

Into the Purbecks

Take the chain ferry and you are in quiet lanes within minutes, with Studland, Corfe Castle and the Purbeck hills ahead of you. This is the ride worth planning a day around.

See walking and trails and days out without the car.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Is Poole good for cycling?

Yes. The land around the harbour is flat, there are traffic-free stretches along the shoreline and through the parks, and the chain ferry puts the quiet Purbeck lanes within minutes of the town.

Can you take a bike on the Sandbanks ferry?

Yes, the chain ferry takes bicycles as well as cars and foot passengers, which makes it the quickest route from Poole into the Isle of Purbeck.

Where can you hire a bike in Poole?

Cycle hire operates in and around Poole, including seasonal provision near the seafront and harbour. Availability varies through the year.

Planning your visit?

Where to stay in Poole

Sandbanks hotels, harbourside flats a street back from the Quay and the quieter beds out at Hamworthy and Broadstone, with the areas each one suits.

Where to stay →