Discover a landscape lost in history, a small village once home to castle which witnessed both success and tragedy. The village was the marital home of Dick Whittington, the inspiration of the fairy-tale, before the family experienced sadness through both plague and murder. However, the village was possibly saved by the controversial presence of cats, … Continue reading Stourton Caundle
Buried in the folds of the deep, dry chalk valleys, used by the Romans to source water for their fountain filled town of Durnovaria, sits Wynford Eagle. The manor house dominates the scene, topped with a stone eagle to honour the medieval family that gave the hamlet its name. The following family experienced tragedy with … Continue reading Wynford Eagle
From Dorset’s second highest peak, wander into a landscape that echoes with tales of murder and mystery. Enjoy the wide open views of billowing fields as they dip to the Jurassic Coast then venture into the hidden valleys and wild forests once defended by the ancient Durotrigian tribe and walked by William Wordsworth. Discover the … Continue reading Pilsdon Pen
Wander through the landscape of Corfe, under the shadow of the famous Castle. Explore the village to find the hiding places of a murdered King and elusive treasure. Cut across medieval farming land before venturing onto the common, littered with ancient Bronze Age Barrows. Climb the hill to the little village of Kingston with a … Continue reading Corfe Castle to Kingston
Wander through the hidden landscape of north-west Dorset, where history and folklore linger in the valleys. Pass old manors and mills, their stories coloured by arson and mystery, and follow rivers and railways beneath the shadows of two of the county’s highest peaks. Share the pasture with cows whose milk produces the internationally acclaimed Black … Continue reading Laymore
A collection of tales and mysteries about tragedy and despair; the lives of people that have left their everlasting mark on the landscape, now hidden amongst brambles, whispered in the wind or sparkling in the shadows. From country houses to isolated beaches, lonely roads to hidden earthworks, the county of Dorset is full of ruins … Continue reading The Haunted Landscape of Dorset
Starting in the smallest town in Dorset, buried in the Blackmore Vale, the settlement of Stalbridge has a selection of historical aspects which have influenced the rest of the country. Explore the landscape to discover the ancient Stalbridge Park, now surrounded by a 4 mile crumbling stone wall. The imposing, but lost, manor of Stalbridge … Continue reading Stalbridge
Distance: 3 miles/5 km Duration: 1 hour Ability: Easy. One climb. Terrain: Path, track, road and field. Can get very boggy. Map: OS Explorer 117 Cerne Abbas and Bere Regis Start Point: The Fox Inn at Ansty (Postcode: DT2 7PW, Grid reference: ST765032) How to Get There: From Blandford Forum, take the A354 to Dorchester. … Continue reading Ansty and Bingham’s Melcombe
