Circle the ancient burial landscape of Parley Common. Explore its liminal edges, steeped in heathland folklore, where echoes of execution sites, smugglers, and river‑magic still haunt the air. From affluent estates to the roar of the airport boundary, discover a mythic landscape, filled with prehistoric barrows, and edged with an Iron Age hillfort. Distance: 4miles/6.5km … Continue reading West Parley
From the capital of the vast lowlands of the Marshwood Vale, venture deep into the wild landscape of West Dorset. Pass through Abbotts Wootton, a tiny hamlet once centred on an impressive manor house owned by Abbotsbury Abbey, its ruins now a window. Climb into the woodlands that formed the heart of Cricklade Park, the … Continue reading Whitchurch Canonicorum
Follow the little Heddon River upstream as it threads north through the far corner of Exmoor to Heddon’s Mouth. After meeting the sea, trace it back inland, climbing through deep woodland and along ancient paths walked for centuries. Skim the edges of Iron Age enclosures, Bronze Age standing stones and the earthworks of forgotten castles … Continue reading Heddon River
In collaboration with The Dorset Wildlife Trust Circle around the nature reserve of Kingcombe. Once a small farming hamlet, untouched by modern development and agricultural chemicals, it has become one of Dorset Wildlife Trust’s most treasured reserves. Climb up the valley past a thatched farmhouse and lost cottages to St Mary’s Lane, crowned by the … Continue reading Kingcombe Heritage Trail
Travel through the layered landscape of Shaftesbury. Begin high on its chalk peak, and descend the iconic Gold Hill to the mills, manors and woodland that once sustained the great abbey founded by King Alfred. Follow forgotten lanes back up to the heights to circle the earthworks of the Iron Age hillfort that later rose … Continue reading Shaftesbury
From deep within the explosive landscape of the old Cordite Factory, where heathland meets the edge of Wareham Forest, discover the scattered ruins of both defence and industry. Cross the faint lines of forgotten tramways and follow paths named after colourful local characters, from witches to wayward clergy. Skim the thick woodland edge to the … Continue reading Holton Heath
Wander through the wilder lands of Cranborne Chase. From the little whitewashed church at Chalbury, cross the old turnpike road into the Crichel estate. Follow the River Allen upstream past lost villages and the remnants of forgotten mills. Continue through the valley to the estate’s most crucial mill before reaching Stanbridge, an infamous river crossing … Continue reading Stanbridge
Explore the medieval landscape of Sherborne. Climb down from the terraces to the River Yeo to discover the ruins of West Mill, crumbling into the water that once gave it its power. Rise out of the valley to circle the woods and drop back down to the railway where a Roman villa once stood. Cross … Continue reading Lenthay
