Discover Horton Tower, a Georgian folly, standing at the ridge of a hill providing views over Cranborne Chase, precisely what the owner desired. Continue through Ferndown Forest, where the chalky Chase begins its transition into the sandy New Forest. Wander through the low valleys to the spot where the cowering Duke of Monmouth was discovered, dressed as a shepherd and hidden under an Ash tree. Return through ancient and medieval landscape while modern day planes fly above.
Distance – 5.75 Miles/9 km
Time – 2.5 hours
Total climb – 350ft
Max height – 250ft
Min height – 110ft
Terrain – Track, path, road and field.
Exertion – Easy
Start – Lay-by on the eastern edge of the village next to the village hall, helpfully marked by a post box. (Grid ref: SU032074, Postcode: BH21 7JA, What Three Words: bottle.profiled.prove).
Map – OS Explorer 118 Shaftesbury and Cranborne Chase.
How to get there – Follow signs to Horton from either the A31 Poole to Southampton road or the B3078 Wimborne to Salisbury road.
Dogs – On leads where livestock is present and in accordance with any notices on the walk and The Countryside Code. A number of stiles to cross, some may require lifting your dog over.
Refreshments – None on route. To the north of the village, on the B3078, is the popular Horton Inn.
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Woops! My attempts to make the instructions clearer were wrong. The Manor House gate is immediately to your LEFT as you exit the golf course gate!!
If you’re doing this walk (great idea btw, it’s a brilliant walk) you might get confused by the follow instructions.
On reaching the Manor, at the end of the drive, make your way around the security gate, squeezing past the pillar on the right hand side. On your left, where Woodlands Manor gates sit, is a smaller, black pedestrian gate. The route is difficult to follow as it is not clearly marked, but once through the gate, follow the road around, over the small bridge and back up the hill on the other side.
We found a) the gate exiting the golf course was open (so need to squeeze around its edge (b) the little black gate is on the entrance to Manor Farm which is the big gate immediately to your right as you exit from the golf course drive c) once through the little black gate you need to take the first right, immediately on entering ie the one that goes uphill, not the one going further inwards and past the other buildings d) the bridge is only apparent as you start along this road.