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
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
From deep within the roots of the ancient Selwood Forest, wander a landscape that shaped Iron Age tribes, settling Saxons, and the counties of Wessex. Drop down into the valley of the River Stour, joining its short course through Wiltshire to the possible site of Egbert’s Stone, marking the point where three counties meet. Follow … Continue reading Bourton
Wander beneath the thick canopy of Wareham Forest, following the Sika Trail toward Wareham itself. Cross the railway tracks to reach the River Piddle, where a 15th-century bridge carries you over its quiet waters. Climb the hill to discover one of the most remarkable Saxon churches in the country, then descend along the ancient Saxon … Continue reading Coldharbour
Trace the peaceful shores of Siblyback Lake, set high among the tors of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. Close to the springs of the River Fowey, it is surrounded by the remnants of ancient settlements, standing stones and Viking battles. The valley—once dry—has been transformed into a shimmering lake, its waters flowing onward to the cascades … Continue reading Siblyback Lake
Explore the ancient woodland, glistening stream, open meadows and varied wildlife of Brackett’s Coppice. Weave between ancient Oaks and the once common Wild Service Trees, along paths permitted by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. Follow the valley up into Higher Halstock, skimming the boundary with Somerset. Pass through fields and farms as the rivers flow towards … Continue reading Brackett’s Coppice
From the site of the medieval castle of Old Sarum, towering above the valley of the River Avon, circle its surrounding Iron Age ramparts past the cathedral ruins. Drop down into the valley, crossing ghostly lines of Roman roads and medieval trackways to the river. Trace its course downstream as it flows to Salisbury, its … Continue reading Old Sarum
