A locals favourite. From the small village of Wimborne St Giles, explore the landscape of the Baronet who introduced the cabbage to England! Later ancestors have been hailed as heroes with monuments erected in London, whereas, in contrast, others have been associated with murder, betrayal and tragedy. However, today the property has grown into something beautiful. Pass the Old Hallows Graveyard, only recently reappearing after some intensive management, with its varied decorative and plain memorials. Wonder though the chalk vistas of Cranborne Chase to meet the ghostly shadow of Knowlton Church, set in the centre of an ancient henge earthwork, a complete rarity, while also neighbouring the largest barrow in the county.
Distance: 5 miles/8km
Time: 2 hours
Total climb: 270ft.
Max height: 325ft.
Min height: 140ft.
Terrain: Track, road and field.
Exertion Easy
Start: St Giles Parish Church (Postcode: BH21 5NR, Grid reference: SU031119)
Map: OS Explorer 118 Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase
How to get there: From Wimborne Minster, travel north on the B3078 for approximately 9 miles. Passing Knowlton circles on your left, and skirting the boundary of The Giles Estate, take the next left hand turn signposted for Wimborne St Giles. At the T-junction, turn left into the village. After the farm, turn left again to park sensitively around the Green.
Dogs: On leads where livestock is present and in accordance with any notices on the walk and The Countryside Code.
Refreshments: None on route but nearby are The Drovers Inn in Gussage all Saints and The Horton Inn on Cranborne road
Wimborne St Giles has a timeless quality. It is placed on the Cranborne Chase with the shallow River Allen snaking through the valley. The village, centred on a green, has a pub (although currently closed) a school and a village hall.
Parking near the church the architecture of the tower suggests a link to the Bastard Brothers of Blandford Forum, a similar design to the Blandford church and built in the same era suggests they could have been the architects. Attached to the church are the older almshouses, built in 1624, all overlooking the green.
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Lovely read, All Hallows’ graveyard has lots of surprises as I found whilst clearing the overgrowth which I am still currently maintaining. There is an archeological survey taking place at the moment but all will be revealed in the summer fingers crossed.
Well done you for putting in the work! Thank you. Look forward to hearing what the survey uncovers!