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
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
Explore the high tributaries of the River Stour as they meander through the Blackmore Vale. Pass through medieval wasteland, along narrow wooded tracks and between 16th century farmsteads to the mysterious forest of Duncliffe. Clamber up to the top, hidden amongst the towering trees and under the thick canopy of the woodland. The ground underfoot … Continue reading East Stour and Duncliffe
