NEW food routes have been launched which offer a mouth-watering slice of Dorset.

The eight routes, for both walking and cycling, are designed to get people out and about in the Dorset countryside and trying some of the county's most scrumptious fare.

The creative initiative from Dorset Food and Drink, with the support of DEFRA’s Food is GREAT campaign, will encourage foodies to put a spring into their step, flex those cycling muscles and explore the true flavours of Dorset. These meandering, relaxing routes, with many stop-offs of interest, tell the story of how Dorset is fast becoming the 'larder of the south west'.

Dorset food producers and representatives from Dorset Food and Drink met at Athelhampton House near Dorchester to celebrate the launch of the routes from Dorset Pedal.

There are four that cover eastern Dorset and Purbeck and four covering Northern Dorset and the Stour Valley.

Katharine Wright, of Dorset Food & Drink, said: "Whether you take a leisurely cycle ride or pull on a pair of walking boots to discover routes that lie off the beaten track, there are culinary delights aplenty from all our wonderful Dorset farmers, producers and artisans waiting to be sampled and savoured."

Cafés and shops are featuring Dorset Pedal banners to alert people to the tasty treats and discounts available especially for Dorset Pedal people.

The Eastern Dorset and Purbeck routes include three cycle routes and one walk. Route One takes in the beautiful village of Milton Abbas, the Piddle Valley and the chalk downs. This area is home to numerous cherry orchards and vibrantly coloured liquid cherry juice is available from local sellers along the route. Or if you are seeking something stronger, the unexpected rows of vines from award winning sparkling wine producer Langham Wine Estate should provide inspiration. Cattle and lamb can be seen grazing on the wildflower rich grass and it’s not difficult to see why meat from this region is worthy of international recognition.

Route Two is designed for walkers and goes through the county town of Dorchester, which is a well-known food hub for lovers of Dorset produce. Followers of this route will find the famous Dorset novelist Thomas Hardy’s cottage at Higher Bockhampton, and if they visit on April 30 they can enjoy the iconic Dorset Knob Throwing Festival at Kingston Maurward.

It's back to the bikes for Routes Three and Four, and on Route Three cyclists can experience another form of transport and catch the steam-powered Swanage Railway that will take them back to the start of their route while they enjoy some scrumptious Purbeck ice-cream and admire views of Corfe Castle.

Route Four goes around Rempstone, giving cyclists some stunning views of Poole Harbour and the opportunity to drop in at some award winning hotels and restaurants where they can sample some of the area's delicious seafood, or just relax with a Dorset picnic on the golden sands of Studland Bay.

Route Four is all about cheese as novelist Thomas Hardy's 'vale of little dairies' is still much in evidence in the Blackmore Vale and the cheese heritage of the area is still celebrated with Shaftesbury's Gold Hill Cheese Run in May and the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival in September.

Dorset’s famous Blue Vinny cheese lives on thanks to the efforts of Woodbridge Farm on the edge of the Blackmore Vale. Reviving production of this cheese after the Second World War, it now makes a number of star appearances including in Dorset Blue Vinny Soup, sausages, bread and even chocolates and ice-cream.

The Northern Dorset and Stour Valley Pedals explore Dorset’s ancient past with Route One offering a shorter 12 mile route or a longer 19 mile cycle through the Stour Valley. It starts at ancient Badbury Rings and also offers the opportunity to detour and explore the spectacular house and gardens of the Kingston Lacy Estate at Wimborne. If you choose to explore this route you will see why the area has such great dairy products with an abundance of dairy herds yielding a variety of dairy delights such as delicious Barford ice cream, made on site using only the finest ingredients.

Route Two around Cranborne is designed for walkers and what was once seen as the 'larder of the aristocracy' is now a gold mine of local food producers. From the Sixpenny Brewery to makers of Chalke Valley Cheese, a talented 'cakesmith' to a traditional baker, there is so much to tempt the palette along this gentle five mile walk.

There are many independent producers, farm shops and even a brewery to be found along Route Three, which centres on Child Okeford and is the ideal area for finding the ultimate ploughman’s lunch as bread, cheese and beer are hard to beat after a leisurely ride along the North Dorset Trailway.

*Leaflets with maps of the walks can be downloaded from dorsetaonb.org.uk/food-and-drink/foodie-routes or copies are available from Tourism Information Centres, libraries, cafes, shops and a wide range of tourism providers supporting the initiative.