The inaugural Dorset Dawdle, organised by Bournemouth & Poole MGOC on Sunday 06 September 2026, proved to be a big success with universal praise for the innovative new one-day format and the literary themed route through the less travelled countryside of the rural county.
In near perfect early autumn weather, a total of 80 cars arrived for the start of the event at the recently re-named Canford Magna Complex near Wimborne. Participants came from across the region from as far afield as Devon and Cornwall and Sussex and Hampshire, there were large contingents from Solent MGOC, Chichester MGOC and Blackmoor Vale MGOC.
The selection of cars on display covered 75 years of MG production from an early 50s TD, MGA and Magnette through the usual ranks of MGBs and GTs plus a strong showing of MGCs and V8s supplemented by a colourful collection of MGFs and TFs alongside a MKII ZS and a supercharge ZT-T while an MG3, MG4 and HS brought the Octagon range up to date.
After consuming breakfast baps, the eager entrants set-off on an 83 mile exploration of the places and landscapes that inspired the literary genius of Victorian author and poet Thomas Hardy. This included Max Gate, the house designed and built by Hardy in 1885 where he lived and worked (including penning his masterpieces Tess of the D’Urberville and Jude the Obscure) until his death in 1928.
Also on the route was the cob and thatch cottage at Higher Bockhampton where he was born and lived for most of the first 30 years of his life and where his heart is buried next to his first wife Emma.
Much of the journey took cars around the county town of Dorchester which was immortalised in literary history when Hardy renamed it in his novels as Casterbridge and made it the principal location for the Mayor of Casterbridge and it also features in Far from the Madding Crowd.
Scenic locations included Milton Abbas, the picture postcard village (which featured in promotional material for the Dawdle) which was created In 1780 by Lord Milton, the first Earl of Dorchester and owner of Milton Abbey who had the town of Middleton, demolished because it spoilt his rural view and moved the residents into the new 36 almost identical cottages.
Even the famous Cerne Abbas Giant got a mention as crews drove past – in Tess of the D’Urbervilles farmhands laboured into the night to keep pace with the threshing machine as the last light fades over the giant.
A refreshment stop was offered at Athelhampton House (for more than 25 years the usual venue for the annual 1020 MG gathering) which was visited by Hardy as a child when his farther was a mason working on repairs at the Elizabethan house. It features in his novel The Dame of Athelhall and today includes an audio-visual presentation of Hardy’s links to the house.
Eventually the route book brought everyone back to Wimborne which not only features as Welland in Two on a Tower but is also where Hardy and his wife lived for several years in the 1880s. Parked at the Canford Magana Complex crews tucked into a traditional Dorset cream tea of scones, jam and cream.
It was also where the draw was made for the Afternoon Tea Hamper which had been put together by club members Wendy Brooks and Patricia Lodge. The winning ticket was drawn by Canford Magna Bar Manager Mike Lee and won by 1020 club member Mike Short.
This along with a rolling tombola and jigsaw sales helped the event raise in excess of £1,700 for the club’s two charities; Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Macmillan Caring Locally who were both represented at the finish.
Area Secretary Chris Adamson, who had first proposed the idea of the Dawdle, said he was delighted at the positive comments he and his committee had received following the event: “It was a risk changing from our normal more relaxed static day at Athelhampton, but the number of emails we have had praising the event from those who took part has been very gratifying.
“There was a lot of work in advance of the day to make it a success in particular I have to thank Pip and Ursula Bonner along with Adrian Mullins who planned and laid out the route book and add my thanks to the rest of the committee who were there on the day organising the parking and manning the various fund-raising tables and check-in desk – it was a real team effort.”
Among the comments afterwards were:
‘On behalf of our members we wanted to thank you and all your team for such a great day out. We had such a lovely time. The organisation was superb, the route directions brilliant and everything was so well planned. It was a herculean effort by your team and it was a wonderful memorable day’ – Pearl and Alec James and all of the Blackmore Vale Dawdlers.
‘We had the honour of being the very first entry on the inaugural Dorset Dawdle and thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was an excellent route taking in some beautiful countryside and interesting villages. The commentary on Thomas Hardy also filled in many in the gaps of our knowledge. Please pass our thanks on to all who must have worked so hard before the day and then during the event to provide us with a special day out. We have completed just over 200 of these events and yours is in the top 10.’ – Roger and Nicky Boys.
‘Just a big thanks to you and all of the team involved in arranging the Dorset Dawdle, Jane and I really enjoyed it all, especially visiting parts of Dorset we have never seen. We’re pleased we made the trip over the border from Devon to do it’ – David and Jane Clarkson.
‘I would like to offer my thanks to yourself and your team for organising an amazing event with the Dorset Dawdle and especially to whoever had the connection for arranging the glorious weather. Myself and the other club members had a fantastic couple of days as we stayed for the weekend and enjoyed some extra driving and local visits.’ – Trevor Mason.
‘Thanks for organising the Dorset Dawdle, very professional especially all the directions on route and the catering arrangements. The cream tea was very welcome. Met some old friends and made new contacts.’ – Niall and Jen Fitzgerald.
‘Had an extra day in Dorset before travelling home today, but just wanted to thank you and your team for a very enjoyable day on Sunday. The route was excellent, well done and easy to follow. It must have been good because Sue and I didn’t fall out all the way round.’ – Ian Deverall.
‘The route was brilliant and we loved all the sights we had never seen before. What countryside! The route planners did a great job. Someone worked very hard on this part of the route it was so enjoyable being able to ‘feel’ these characters in the surroundings we were driving in.’ – Deb and Kent Edlund.
The club’s two charities were equally delighted with the outcome of the event:
‘Congratulations on raising a staggering amount for our charity. Thanks to the generosity of your community, our Specialist Palliative Care Nurses and Hospice at Home Team are able to be there for patients and their families in their own homes, offering skilled care, reassurance and comfort when it matters most. Thank you for helping us continue to provide this vital care across our community.’ – Clare Kyrillou, Community and Events Fundraiser Macmillan Caring Locally.
Congratulations on raising such a fantastic total. That’s an amazing achievement, and we are delighted to hear that the event received such positive feedback from everyone who attended. Thank you to you and all the club members for your hard work in organising the event and for your continued support of both charities. We are incredibly grateful.’ – Josie Dear, Supporter Engagement Officer, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.