From Augustus Pitt Rivers’ Victorian Museum Hotel, wander through his own estate village. Discover the roofed stocks and well house, complete with winding cogs, before reaching the church. Pass the old museum that housed his thousands of finds, guarded with gates from the demolished Eastbury House. Follow the medieval droveways to Chettle to find its own manor surrounded by cottages that have had little changed over the centuries. Climb up the hills to Eastbury Park entering the ancient landscape surrounded by Iron Age settlements and Roman roads, the land apparently haunted by a vampire. Return in the company of views over Rushmore Park and the Gronow-Davis’ folly, to the thatched whitewashed cottages of Farnham.
Distance: 5.5 miles/9km
Duration: 2-3 hours
Ability: Easy.
Max Height: 390ft.
Min Height: 250ft.
Total climb: 400ft.
Terrain: Track, path, road and field.
Map: OS Explorer 118 Shaftesbury and Cranborne Chase.
Start Point: The Museum Inn, Farnham. (Postcode: DT11 8DE, Grid Reference: ST958151, What Three Words: dispose.unfilled.snore).
How to get there: From Blandford, head north east on the A354. After about 5 miles, passing though Pimperne and Tarrant Hinton, turn left onto Millers Lane (circling Isaac Gulliver’s smuggling house). Stay on the same road for just over a mile to then turn left into Farnham. Plenty of parking spaces along the road will appear when you reach the pub.
Dogs: In accordance with the Countryside Code and any notices on route.
Refreshments: The Museum Inn at the start and finish of the walk.
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