Circle the magical woodland, forest and heathland of Gore Heath and Morden Bog. The spiritual landscape of the Bronze Age became heavily farmed. The underlying clay was quarried and supplied bricks, tiles, pots and drainpipes for local buildings while the peat and heather provided heating and bedding. But the destruction of the soil, caused by all the activity, led to the growth of naturally acidic plants, abandoned quarries filled with water to create wildlife bogs and the habitat became a home to a range of rare species. Weave through the trees, circling deep dark ponds, crossing wooden bridges and cutting through patches of heathland. Pass a memorial, a lookout tower and a hidden lodge to then skim Morden Park with its elegant lake and waterfall buried in the forest. Return along the undulating path that borders the River Sherford all on easily accessible tracks apart from the odd raised tree root and muddy puddle!
Distance: 5.5 miles/9km
Duration: 1-3 hours
Ability: Easy.
Max Height: 95ft.
Min Height: 2ft.
Total climb: 210ft.
Terrain: Sandy and gravel tracks. Suitable for bikes and horses, but with the occasional natural obstacle.
Map: OS Explorer 118 Shaftesbury and Cranborne Chase
Start Point: Sherford Bridge. (Postcode: BH20 7DB, Grid Reference: SY919926, What Three Words: overpower.bumpy.tasters).
How to Get There: Follow the A351 north out of Wareham to then divert left onto the A3075 at Sandford. Follow it thought the forest for just over 2 miles to a carpark on the right hand side, just before Sherford Bridge.
Dogs: Are allowed off lead but advised to keep them close to you on the tracks. On lead in Great Ovens between March and October. Also in accordance with the Countryside Code and any notices on route.
Refreshments: None on route but nearby are The Drax Arms in Bere Regis, The Silent Woman outside of Wareham and The Bakers Arms Inn and St Peter’s Finger in Lychett Minster.
Neighbouring Walks: Woodbury, East Morden, Lytchett Minster, Wareham and Wareham Forest.
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