M25 J12 → M3 → A31 → Ringwood. ~100 miles, approximately 2–2.5 hours. Arrive Lower Barn around 8:30–9pm.
Options: takeaway before leaving Romford, or Fleet Services on the M3 (approximately 45 min in).
Converted barn, 2 bedrooms, 3 beds. 10 min drive to Burley. ⭐ 4.95/5 · 78 reviews.
B3347 from Ringwood to Burley — 10 minutes. Wild ponies are often visible in the village streets. Park at the main village car park.
1 mountain bike (size S, £27) — collect from the Cycle Hire Centre, The Cross, Burley BH24 4AB. Bring photo ID (left as deposit). The rest come from home on the car. Trails from Burley run through woodland and open heath. ☎ 01425 403584.
Village pub in Burley, 2 minutes' walk from Forest Leisure Cycling. Food served at lunch. Family-friendly.
Drive B3056 through open heathland toward Beaulieu or south toward Brockenhurst. Wild ponies graze on verges and cross roads freely — drive slowly. Optional stop: Beaulieu village with National Motor Museum.
Family-run vineyard growing, making and bottling wine in the New Forest. Farm shop open daily with their red, white, rosé and sparkling plus local produce. On the A337 Lymington Road, SO42 7UF — 2 min from the Brockenhurst charge stop. ☎ 01590 624682. Backup: New Forest Wines, an independent merchant in Ringwood town centre.
Table booked for 6:45pm. Pub on the River Avon next to Blashford Lakes nature reserve. Large beer garden, family-friendly. Named after Alice Lisle, last woman executed for political offences in England (1685). Rockford, Ellingham, Ringwood BH24 3NA.
Kids Brush-n-Ride session, booked 10–11am Sunday 2 August (ref C4NH7). Bashley Common Rd, New Milton BH25 5SH — ~20–25 min from Lower Barn, so leave by 9:30am. ☎ 01425 610278.
A35 west from New Milton. ~55 miles, approximately 1h15–1h30. Arrives Lyme Regis ~12:45pm.
66 Broad St, Lyme Regis DT7 3QP. Then a look at the sandy beach and the Cobb harbour wall. Allow 1–1.5 hours.
A35 west then A38 south, A385 past Totnes, then lanes to Stoke Gabriel. ~55 miles. Arrive ~3:35pm.
Home of the famous Sharpham wines, made in the Dart Valley since 1981. Cellar door shop with their wines and local produce; tasting barn on site. Lower Well Farm, Waddeton Rd, Stoke Gabriel TQ9 6RL. Allow ~40 minutes.
Back through Totnes to Harberton. Ruby Rose is at Tigley Tump smallholding, accessed by a Devon lane — the host sends full directions on booking. Check in from 3pm; arrive ~4:45pm.
Sheltered south-facing bay in a wooded valley. Clear water, privately managed (entry fee includes parking). Sun loungers and café on site. ~25 min from Ruby Rose.
Wide sandy south-facing bay. Walk the sand causeway to Burgh Island at low tide (~5 min). The Pilchard Inn is a 14th-century pub on the island. Sea tractor at high tide. ~25 min from Ruby Rose.
Ancient mossy oak woodland on the open moor above Two Bridges. One of the most atmospheric places in England. 2-mile round walk from the Two Bridges car park. ~30 min from Ruby Rose.
Harbour town on the Dart estuary. Walk the embankment, passenger ferry to Kingswear. Dinner booked: Rockfish, 6pm, table for 4 — 8 S Embankment TQ6 9BH. ~20 min from Ruby Rose.
Full day at Bigbury: morning on the beach and walk to Burgh Island at low tide, surf lesson at 2pm at Sedgewell Cove (TQ7 4AS). See Day 4 below.
South from Harberton via B3196 through Modbury, follow signs for Bigbury-on-Sea. ~25 minutes. Car park above the beach — can fill early on warm August mornings.
Wide sandy south-facing bay. Burgh Island 250m offshore. Swimming and rock pools at the south end at low tide.
At low tide walk the sand causeway to the island (~5 min, free). The Pilchard Inn is a 14th-century pub on the island. The Burgh Island Hotel offers cream teas. At high tide: sea tractor runs for £2pp. Check tide times before visiting.
Beach café at Bigbury-on-Sea — pasties, flatbreads, coffee. Alternative: Pickwick Inn, St Ann's Chapel, 5 min inland.
2-hour beginner surf lesson, 2–4pm (booking GEDKL, paid). Wetsuits and boards included. Tuition on sand first, then in the water. Sedgewell Cove is adjacent to Bigbury-on-Sea beach. ☎ 01548 853803.
Remaining beach time. Head back to Harberton around 5:30pm.
Sheltered south-facing bay in a wooded valley. Clear water, privately managed (entry fee includes parking). Sun loungers and café on site. ~25 min from Ruby Rose.
Harbour town on the Dart estuary. Walk the embankment, passenger ferry to Kingswear. Dinner booked: Rockfish, 6pm, table for 4, ground floor — 8 S Embankment TQ6 9BH. ~20 min from Ruby Rose.
England's most valuable fishing port by catch. Fresh crab and seafood sold by harbour fishmongers — crab sandwiches and dressed crab available. The Golden Hind replica (Drake's circumnavigation ship) is moored in the harbour. Allow 45 minutes.
The Great Western Railway main line runs along the seafront at sea-wall level. A small colony of black swans lives on the Brook stream through the town centre. Ice cream shops on the seafront. Allow 25 minutes. Free.
Ammonites and belemnites wash out of the cliffs regularly. Pick up pebbles from the beach and look for spiral shapes. The Heritage Coast Centre at the car park posts daily information on where to find fossils. Allow 40 minutes. Free.
Barely off the A35 at Puddletown — IWSC Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year 2020, beating the Champagne houses. Shop, tasting room and café. Pick up bottles for the Dorset stay. Crawthorne DT2 7NG. ☎ 01258 839095. Allow 30–40 minutes.
South through Wool to West Lulworth. Check-in from 3pm. Lulworth Cove is a 10-minute walk from the park.
Durdle Door: natural limestone arch on the coast, accessible by footpath from the holiday park. Lulworth Cove: circular natural harbour, safe swimming. Both within 10–15 min on foot or by car.
Sandy beach, swimming, fish & chip shops. Corfe Castle (National Trust) is 6 miles northwest — ruined Norman castle on a ridge, accessible to explore. ~35 min from West Lulworth.
Cliff-top path between Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove (~30 min each way). Alternatively, head east toward Kimmeridge Bay.
Quieter cove 20 min from Lulworth. Rock pools, fossil-bearing ledges, and a free marine reserve visitor centre (Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre). Less busy than the main Jurassic Coast locations.
Chalet at West Lulworth. 2 bedrooms (double ensuite + twin). Sleeps 4. Onsite bar, restaurant, SPAR. Lulworth Cove 1 mile.
Leave at 6am to be home in time for the kids' dance class. Pack the car and settle up (sauna/dog fees etc.) on Friday evening — quiet exit Saturday morning.
~135 miles via A31, M3, M25. Roads are empty at 6am — approximately 2.5 hours, arriving Romford by 9am, with slack before dance class.
| Day | Route / Activity | Miles | Charging action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 31 Jul | Romford → Lower Barn, Ringwood | ~100mi | Arrive ~175mi range. No charger at base. |
| Sat 1 Aug | NF bikes + forest drive + pub | ~50mi | ⚡ CHARGE: Brockenhurst station car park (during forest drive) or Ringwood town centre rapid. Target 230mi+ before Sunday's long leg. |
| Sun 2 Aug | Pony ride → Lyme Regis → Harberton | ~120mi | Top-up during lunch: Lyme Regis car park has rapid chargers. 60-min lunch stop = ~50mi added. |
| Mon 3 Aug | Bigbury-on-Sea + surf (Sedgewell Cove) | ~50mi | ⚡ CHARGE: Totnes town centre rapid chargers (10 min from Ruby Rose). Morning or evening run — 60–90 min. |
| Tue 4 Aug | Wistman's Wood → Blackpool Sands → Dartmouth | ~65mi | Totnes if needed (same as Monday). Target 200mi+ before Wednesday's long drive day. |
| Wed 5 Aug | Brixham → Dawlish → Charmouth → Lulworth | ~140mi | ⚡ CHARGE: Brixham main car park during 45–60 min harbour stop. 50kW rapid = ~70mi added. Essential before this leg. |
| Thu 6 Aug | Corfe Castle + Swanage loop | ~65mi | ⚡ CHARGE: Wareham station car park (20 min from Lulworth, on the Corfe route). 90 min stop = ~120mi added. Essential before home leg. |
| Fri 7 Aug | Lulworth Cove + Kimmeridge Bay | ~25mi | No charge needed if Thursday done. |
| Sat 8 Aug | Lulworth → Romford | ~140mi | Comfortable with Wareham charge done. Fleet Services M3 as backup if needed. |
| Total | ~755mi | 4 required charge stops · all during existing activity stops · no dedicated charging detours |