From a large country estate with tales of murder and mystery, follow the old driveway to discover a forgotten but elaborate, stone bridge. Built by the Lord of the Manor's mother to impress arriving guests and hide the newly developed yet invasive railway line, it is now left abandoned in woodland. With the tracks now … Continue reading Lady Wimborne Bridge
Tess of the Vale has grown into a library of more than 375 adventures. Miles of footpaths, bridleways, byways and permissive tracks across the countryside have been recorded, with, as of September 2026 - all parishes complete. Yet the 'project' is still far from finished. Even if every parish is ticked off, there will always … Continue reading Dorset Parish List
From deep valleys topped with wooded peaks to country manors unearthed by Time Team, uncover tales of saints protecting wildlife and disgruntled employees who set things alight. Walk in the footsteps of hunting royalty and pass the battlegrounds of the Civil War. Admire views to the coast while tracing the boundary of a medieval deer … Continue reading Hooke
The Big Map of Dorset is a hand drawn, to scale map of the whole county. It is drawn using pen and pencil onto four separate canvases, adding up to a total size of approximately 2 metres by 2 metres. The map records only a simple selection of earthworks, woodland, water, roads, tracks and settlement. … Continue reading The Big Map of Dorset
A collection of tales and mysteries about tragedy and despair; the lives of people that have left their everlasting mark on the landscape, now hidden amongst brambles, whispered in the wind or sparkling in the shadows. From country houses to isolated beaches, lonely roads to hidden earthworks, the county of Dorset is full of ruins … Continue reading The Haunted Landscape of Dorset
Explore by wheel, hoof or foot the chalk hills and river valleys of central Dorset. Scattered with earthworks and Roman remains, it merges with modern day settlement, woodland and water. Discover the church with an ancient canonical sundial carved into its wall and pass the haunted country house that was inspiration for Thomas Hardy’s ‘Far … Continue reading Cheselbourne
From the Mason's pub of the Square and Compass, in the limestone village of Worth Matravers, discover the caves of Winspit. Looking out to sea, the ghost like movie set was once a bustle of activity providing stone for the most prestigious of buildings all over the world. Follow the paths of local smugglers and … Continue reading Worth Matravers and Dancing Ledge
For Camp Bestival see bottom of page. From a hidden location, buried in woodland and scattered with ancient barrows, take advantage of Lulworth Estate’s permissive paths through private grounds, filled with a number of romantic buildings all in different states of repair. Discover the wide open lake with a secret boathouse and fort dressed in … Continue reading Coombe Heath and Lulworth Estate
