Dorset's highest hills. The best places for sunsets, sunrises, forest walks and wide open views. See their corresponding walks for more details and access. 1. Lewesdon - 279m - Lewesdon 2. Pilsdon Pen - 277m - Pilsdon 3. Bulbarrow - 274m - Bulbarrow 4. Telegraph Hill - 267m - Lyons Gate 6. Melbury Beacon – … Continue reading Dorset Peaks
Delve deep into the mystical woodland of Hooke Park. Weave between the gnarly oaks, towering beech and lines of red cedar, the floor under the dark canopy broken by shards of sunshine and architectural creations by the hidden school. Follow the footsteps of Iron Age tribes and medieval hunters through a landscape of deep ravines … Continue reading Hooke Park
From the red brick cottages and thatched roofs of Shapwick, complete with tales of strange creatures and floating coffins, follow the meandering River Stour to one of the oldest bridges in the county. Trace the route of pilgrims out of the valley to skim the remains of one of the richest nunneries in England. Climb … Continue reading Shapwick
From the busy town of Yeovil, weave through the waterfalls, pools, grottos and stone arches to climb up to the Roman road once linking the ancient towns of Durnovaria and Lindinis. Discover the follies of Barwick estate, dotted on the hilltops to mark the four points of the compass. Dip down to the fine country … Continue reading Ninesprings
Wander through the wide and wild landscape of Cranborne Chase. Starting in the hidden village of Pentridge, set deep within the medieval Royal hunting grounds, climb up the hill to Penbury Knoll. Discover Bronze Age burial mounds alongside Romano British Settlement, cut by Roman Roads and haunted turnpikes. Drop down to the little Bowldish Pond, … Continue reading Pentridge
Explore Christchurch with a history much deeper than its surrounding harbour waters. Find the Priory, its location selected by a divine being and the wood carved by Jesus himself. Wander the ruins of the castle and the Norman Hall, the medieval hotel for royalty, with its toilet hanging over the little mill stream. Discover secret … Continue reading Christchurch
Garden design, development, and embellishment became the fashion amongst the landowning gentry of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, splashing their cash on elements that had no purpose other than to be admired. ‘Sanctuaries’, ‘observatories’, ‘thinking towers’, 'memorials’, and 'commemorations' popped up on hilltops and in hidden valleys, usually viewable through the manor’s windows. A … Continue reading Dorset’s Follies and Obelisks
The Farm of Knights sits on the slopes of Knighton Hill looking over the valley of the little River Wriggle. Isolated, on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, the settlement has shrunk slowly back into the hillside. Wander through the landscape using the medieval routes which connected the once powerful castles of Sherborne and Leigh. … Continue reading Knighton
