Sunday, September 6, 2026 -
Bournemouth and Poole MGOC (1020) has announced exciting plans to host a brand-new regional event in 2026 – the inaugural ‘Dorset Dawdle’ an extended literary themed one-day road run for MG owners traversing some of the county’s most picturesque countryside.
This first Dawdle is being sub-titled ‘Following the Hardy Trail’. It will visit towns, villages and other locations that appear in many of Dorset author Thomas Hardy’s famous Wessex novels such as Tess of the D’Urbervilles, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Return of the Native and Far from the Madding Crowd.It will also include Hardy’s birthplace cottage and Max Gate House where he wrote some of his famous books (both now run by the National Trust). The route book will feature extensive notes to explain the significance of the locations and where they appear in the classic works by the Victorian novelist and poet.
Start and finish point will be the club’s regular meeting place, the Hamworthy Club at Canford Magna near Wimborne where there will be reserved parking – there will be the optional extra of pre-booking breakfast baps before starting the road run.
After signing-in, cars will set off at regular intervals on a leisurely 87 mile circular journey that will take them west into the heart of Hardy Country, passing the county town of Dorchester (the fictional Casterbridge in the Hardy novels) and journeying through among others the chocolate box villages of Milton Abbas and Cerne Abbas before returning to Wimborne. Participants will be given advance information on varying refreshment stops along the way (including in Cerne Abbas and at Athelhampton House) but there is no formal lunch venue being arranged.
The event replaces the club’s previous annual event at Athelhampton House, but the house will be included on the run as it features in a Hardy text and was visited several times by the author as his father worked on restoring the manor house.
On the return to the Hamworthy Club everyone will be able to enjoy a traditional Dorset Cream Tea (included in the entry fee). The venue will also be the base for 1020’s popular attractions such as a grand tombola, jigsaw sales and a hamper draw. All profits are going to the club’s two charities Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Macmillan Caring Locally – it is hoped that both will be in attendance on the day.
Entry fee will be £35 for a car and two occupants or £27.50p for a car and driver only. This will include a rally plate, route book / event programme, finisher’s certificate and the Dorset Cream Tea. The optional breakfast baps with a hot drink can be pre-ordered for £6 a head.
Full details and an entry form can be found at: www.1020mg.org.uk
| Click HERE to be added to this event |
