A run along parts of the Jurassic Coast we meet at Osmington Mills, just to the east of Weymouth. The route starts along the Coastal Path until we pass the Burning Cliff before heading inland to the village of Holworth.

A climb and descent to Moigns Down before heading further west passing ancient field systems around Poxwell. There are many ancient features in the landscape here if you know where to look! We are on the Hardy Way now and run uphill until we reach White Horse Hill, so called because a white horse has been carved out of the chalk hill. The Osmington White Horse was created in 1808 as a tribute to King George III who regularly visited his seaside residence in Weymouth.

There is now a steep descent into the village of Sutton Poyntz as we head south back towards the coast passing the site of a Roman Villa before re-joining the Coast Path. A stunning last section tales us past Black Head Ledge and Goggin’s Barrow before we arrive at the Smugglers Inn.

The Smugglers Inn is a Traditional English Pub with stunning views overlooking the Isle of Portland. The Inn was the headquarters of the French Smuggler Pierre Latour and one of the main landing places for smuggled goods in the 17th Century

The New Forest National Park is a popular destination for holiday makers and day trippers who visit to enjoy the scenery, nature and free roaming cattle, pigs and horses. Of course most visitors head to the popular car parks and around these, paths can get a bit busy.

Off the beaten track however, peace and quiet can be found along with superb views from Hampton Ridge. Meeting in the village of Frogham the route joins the ridge for a gentle climb to the top from where on a clear day you can see for miles. After the flat top section we descend into the woods at Amberwood Inclosure and the another short climb up to Fritham.

Next the route runs across Fritham Plain and then enters Holly Hatch Inclosure before reaching the Splash Bridge. A gentle sandy climb to Hallickshole Hill before turning into Sloden and the Alderhill Incloures. One more steep climb back onto Hampton Ridge and a retrace of the early part of the route, flat and downhill….mostly!

Refreshment will be in the Foresters Arms known locally as the donkey pub. But recently it's been spruced up, given a stylish, rustic and rather chic update, and painted muted shades of dappled woodland greens.

The look is comfortably eclectic - a mix of tartan and exposed brickwork, antlers and lampstands, in-vogue character cushions of Geisha faces and traditional pews, old pine tables and auction finds. Think it sounds dandy-meets-country? Well, it is!

This stunning run is just under 13 miles in length. Arriving in Yarmouth after crossing the Solent from Lymington we drop our kit at the Off the Rails Cafe before setting off. We join the Coast Path and head towards Fort Victoria, a former military fort built in the 1850’s to guard the Solent. The earliest fort on the site was a coastal fort known as Sharpenode Bulwark built in 1545–1547 by Henry VIII, but these defences had fallen into disrepair by the 17th century.

The path drops down to Colwell and Totland Bay before climbing again to Headon Warren from where there are great views across Christchurch Bay and the Hurst Narrows. A short descent to the Alum Bay visitor attraction, no time to stop here, before a gentle climb towards the Needles a series of chalk stacks. For may sailors the Needles are a welcome sight after the sometimes bumpy English Channel and the first indication that the quieter waters of the Solent are not too far away.

Back onto the coast path, there is a gentle climb to the highest point of the run at the Tennyson Memorial. On a clear day the views are spectacular! And what goes up must come down and the gentle gradient of the grassy cliff top is great for lengthening your stride and picking up speed!

Back to sea level at Freshwater Bay the course heads inland along Afton Marsh and the terrain is flat all the way to the finish. After the Marsh, the Causeway, the route of the long defunct railway line which runs alongside the River Yar. The next station stop is the Off the Rails Cafe for a superb lunch.

When happily refuelled, we head back to the ferry for a short hope back to the mainland.

The Solent is the stretch of water running between the Hampshire coast and the Isle of Wight. A mecca for sailing enthusiasts it is usual to see many white sails of different sizes making best use of the wind.

Lymington is a port at the western end of the Solent and a popular stopping off point for yachts before they sail into the English Channel. The Isle of Wight ferry runs across the Solent from Lymington to Yarmouth and is the starting point for another of our runs.

The Solent Run starts in front of the Lymington Town Sailing Club which offers a range of sailing opportunities for novices and experienced sailors. The Club occupies the old town bath house and is adjacent to the oldest open air salt water swimming pool in the Country.

Using local lanes and footpaths the first part of the run is a little inland. After 3 miles we join the ancient highway an historic route linking the village of Keyhaven with Lymington. The route skirts Keyhaven harbour and brings us up on to the top of Hurst Spit.

The Spit is a mile long shingle bank which protects Keyhaven from storms that blow up the Channel. It was breached in the 1990’s causing severe flooding and is now maintained regularly. From the Spit there are great views along the Hampshire coast to Milford on Sea and across Christchurch Bay to the impressive Needles, a series of chalk pillars.

At the end of Hurst Spit is Hurst Castle. Built by Henry VIII at Hurst Narrows to protect the Solent and the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth from invading French fleets. Charles I was held in the Castle for a while before his execution.

The route back to Keyhaven is by sea. Rather than tackling the shingle bank again we hop onto a small ferry for the 10 minute ride back to Keyhaven quay.

Back on dry land the route follows the sea wall all the way back to Lymington. The Solent on the right and the old saltmarshes, now a wildlife reserve on the left. 

The final stretch passes to through Lymington Yacht Haven before finishing at the Sailing Club where lunch will be served whilst enjoying a stunning view over the Solent towards the Isle of Wight.

You may have heard of Boxhill in Surrey, famous for being the climb on the cycling race at the 2012 London Olympics. But a less well know hill lies on the other side of the Mole Valley Gap. Ranmore a more peaceful stretch of the North Downs. Nestled at the foot is the Denbies Wine Estate and established in 1986, Denbies is now one of the largest producers of wine in the UK. Many of their wines have won international acclaim and several awards particularly for sparkling and rose wines.

The start of this run is from Denbies. A short climb to the top of Ranmore past St Barnabas Church. It is not long before the view opens up and there is a wonderful vista of the rolling Surrey Countryside. In the distance you can see an 18th Century Gothic Tower, built on Leith hill to make the top of the tower 1000 feet above sea level.

After taking in the view, the run joins a section of the Pilgrims Way, a route linking Canterbury to Winchester before dropping down White Down, through Deerleap Wood and St John’s Church at Wotton before turning for home along the valley floor.

But valley floors can be dull so soon we are back onto the Pilgrim’s Way and climbing up Ranmore through woods known locally as the Spectacles. Difficult to appreciate from close up but from a distance the name is a perfect fit!

Once the climb is over it is a gentle descent towards the market town of Dorking and onto the Mole Gap Trail for a final push back to Denbies.

Once recovered there is a tour of the Winery, a little wine tasting and lunch in the café.