From the expanding settlement of Sturminster Marshall, explore its church, timber-framed cottages, pub, and lost village remains, all set along the banks of the River Stour. Follow the route of the medieval road towards Blandford, crossing the old packhorse bridge before joining the route of the former Somerset and Dorset Railway. Cross the old turnpike … Continue reading Sturminster Marshall
Venture through the historic village of Monkton Combe, uncovering layers of its industrial past. From the school, mill, lock-up and church, follow the route of the lost canal towards Tucking Mill. Climb up to the top of the viaduct, once part of the Somerset and Dorset railway, and step into one of the longest tunnelled … Continue reading Monkton Combe
Admire the quiet valley of the little River Cerne as it deeply carves its way through the chalk hills. Beginning at the farmstead of Nether Cerne, discover its hidden church and manor house, once under the influence of the mighty Cerne Abbey. Follow the river downstream before climbing to the ridge that divides the Cerne … Continue reading Nether Cerne
Dorset’s roads, from medieval trackways to 18th-century turnpikes, stretched across open heaths, chalk downs, and hidden valleys. Travellers moving between London, Dorchester, and the West Country risked robbery, carrying cash, jewels, or goods. Highwaymen, alone or in gangs, exploited the land, using fast horses, pistols, and hidden refuges, while sparse policing left victims vulnerable. Some … Continue reading Dorset Highwaymen
From the River Stour, enter the landscape of its tributaries. Climb to Sturminster Castle, a ruin that evolved from an Iron Age hillfort into a medieval manor house. Follow old drove roads with wide views across the Blackmore Vale to Duncliffe, before descending to the River Divelish, passing areas of modern development. Trace the Divelish … Continue reading Rolls Mill
Before they were roads, they were only paths. Across Dorset, routes emerged slowly, worn into the land by centuries of passage, shifting with weather and season, never entirely fixed. Some followed high ground, others slipped into holloways or vanished altogether, leaving travellers to trust instinct as much as direction. Then came the Turnpikes. Order was imposed … Continue reading Dorset Turnpikes
In March, Women's History Month invites us to rediscover the hidden stories of women in Dorset, from Iron Age matrilineal societies to modern-day leaders. Their legacies shape our world, urging us to lead the change. Women’s History Month For much of living memory, women’s lives in England were shaped by laws and customs that rendered … Continue reading Women in Dorset
Enter the thick woodland of Puddletown Forest to find the raised agger of an important Roman road cutting through the county. Follow in the footsteps of Roman soldiers across open heathland, with wide views over the Frome Valley and Thomas Hardy’s Vale of the Great Dairies. Discover the Rainbarrows, once gleaming white with chalk and … Continue reading Puddletown Forest Roman Road
