From the home of Dorset’s most famous poet discover the landscape that was the inspiration for Stonehenge. Drop down into the meadows of the River Frome, crossing the oldest railway of the county. Follow the river downstream to West Stafford skimming the home of an Oscar winning film director. Weave with the little river of … Continue reading Max Gate
Circle the mighty hillfort of Ham Hill and climb to the peak of Montacute Castle, through deep holloways and thick woodland. Follow ramparts on the tips of the slopes with views across river valleys and the Somerset Levels. Cross ancient Roman roads and medieval village remains to discover the Roman crossroads haunted by a highwayman. … Continue reading Ham Hill
As small tribes farmed the Dorset landscape of the Iron Age, the political environment in the Roman Emipire was changing. Determined to expand they set their sights on Albion, forcing their way through with armed legions on newly developed roads, and renamed the country Britannia. New technologies, building practices, tools, skills, materials and beliefs were … Continue reading Roman Dorset
Starting at the blue coastal waters of Swanage Bay, pass colourful beach huts and wooden groynes to climb through the residential estates to Ballard Down. Pass a 17th century farm, built from stone stolen from Corfe Castle, and weave through the trees to the base of the steep slopes. In the company of views over … Continue reading Swanage
From the high peak of the Iron Age Hillfort of Lambert’s Castle cut down through its ramparts into the Marshwood Vale. With views across the valley to Lewesdon and Pilsdon, join Nash Lane marking the edge of a medieval deer park. Drop down the steep Holloway to Baber’s Farm, bought with the mission to conserve … Continue reading Lambert’s Castle
Starting in the valley of the River Frome, where the river pools into large lakes and the banks are decorated with artwork, join the country lane and travel westwards to Tincleton. Pass the little church and old school house, designed by the architect Benjamin Ferry, and climb up the hill to the impressive manor of … Continue reading Pallington
After the famous site of Stonehenge, the secondary stone circle of Avebury falls. Just like its counterpart it is set in a much larger landscape of ancient monuments. Covering a period of over 1000 years, these gigantic tributes, to entities we are yet to understand, rose up from the ground in feats of engineering unimaginable … Continue reading Avebury
From the small valley of the River Tarrant, with a hidden church shielding one of the most important monuments in North Dorset, scale the hills using an ancient route. Pass the site of a Roman villa and on to an Iron Age settlement, its earthworks ploughed into the soil or hidden in trees. Discover the … Continue reading Tarrant Hinton
