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
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
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
Trace the footsteps of Roman soldiers along the ridgetop of a prehistoric landscape. Drop down into quiet valleys scattered with crumbling farms and weathered barns, then cross the old turnpike road that has grown into one of Dorset’s most important routes. Climb Martin’s Down to reveal sweeping views of Lyme Bay, the Jurassic Coast, and … Continue reading Long Bredy
Circle the natural wonder of Upton Heath. From its urban edge, weave between towering silver birch, aromatic heather, and the clumpy, sharp gorse. Pass the site of an old brickworks with views over the heathland to Poole Harbour. Its harsh environment often played the backdrop in Thomas Hardy novels, when it was only inhabited by … Continue reading Upton Heath
From the village of Puddletown, named for the river on which it sits, venture out into the storied landscape of Troy Town. Climb the hillside once home to a Miz Maze, a winding turf pattern long believed to have been used for witchcraft and ritual. Follow the old drove roads down to the forgotten Blandford … Continue reading Puddletown
From one of BBC Countryfile’s top five beaches in the country, find the River Char as it manoeuvres its way through the shingle to the sea. Follow it upstream, deeper inland to The Street. With possible Roman origins, the route developed into one of the most important roads from east to west, used by Catherine … Continue reading Charmouth
Delve deep into the ancient woodland surrounding the small settlement of Morden. Walk along the old tracks and trails through deer parks, past ancient stone sites and skimming hidden hillforts. Wander through the landscape, controlled by the Lords of Charborough Park and scattered with mighty oak trees. Dive under pylon wires, as they stomp across … Continue reading Morden
