From the historical town of Lyme Regis, pass one of the oldest bridges in the county to visit Mary Anning as she gazes over the cliffs full of fossils. Head to the Cobb, and the wild undercliff, to then turn away from the sea and head inland. Discover the mysterious, yet beautiful, Ware House before … Continue reading Lyme Regis to Cannington
Starting at the village pub, St Peter's Finger, wander between country estates and World War crash sites, not all with a sorry ending. Discover the old roads of the landscape, one topped with concrete the other with grass breaking through. Explore the county lanes and medieval woodland tracks to Foxhill, with views across an ancient … Continue reading St Peter’s Finger
Start at the little hamlet of Stour Row, deep in the valley of the meandering River Stour and the landscape of Thomas Hardy's 'Tess of the D’Urbervilles'. Discover earthworks of a Romano-British settlement that grew in the medieval period but then faded back into the ground to become nothing but a scattering of barns and … Continue reading Stour Row
From the Lulworth Cove Inn cycle the chalk hills and absorb the sights along the Jurassic coastline to the Smugglers Inn. Climb out the valley to Daggers Gate, with its own little legend, to begin the rural route along paths of the original Customs Officials while they patrolled the cliff tops for smugglers. Pass Durdle … Continue reading Lulworth Cove to Osmington Mills – Bike Ride
Tess of the Vale has grown into a library of more than 350 adventures. Miles of footpaths, bridleways, byways and permissive tracks across the countryside have been recorded, with only five parishes left to explore - aside from the inevitable gaps created by military training grounds and private estates. Yet the 'project' is still far … Continue reading Dorset Parish List
Skim the edge of an estate that has evolved through the centuries, its old manors still traceable in the ground and whispered in the woodland. As ancient families rose and fell, the estate continued to develop. Keeping with the fashions of the time, Bryanston led the way, starting from scratch three times over. The family’s … Continue reading Bryanston
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
From the centre of Blandford, travel by foot, wheel or hoof over the meadows and out of town. Cross over the old railway and up the hill, where many Roman treasures have been discovered. Make your way through the ancient landscape of Little Down, skimming the estate of Inside Park, its manor having burnt to … Continue reading The Crown, Blandford
