From Thomas Hardy’s village of Marlott, wander the old tracks once trodden by Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Pass her childhood cottage and drift into open fields, past a weathered stone quarry and an avenue of trees near the site of a Roman temple. Follow the sunken path of Leigh Lane as it drops into the … Continue reading King’s Mill
Weave through the hidden paths, between interlocking spurs, high up in the valley of the River Frome. From a tunnel, carved into the chalk, climb out of the valley to drop back down to the river where sheep were once washed. Merge onto the old road, passing ruins of lives gone by, to Frome St … Continue reading Holywell
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
Explore the hidden corners of Wareham Forest by following the footsteps of King Edward’s entourage as they carried his murdered corpse from Wareham to Shaftesbury. Pass isolated thatched cottages and renovated chapels to cross the old turnpike road into thick woodland, rough gorse and scented heather. Climb the ramparts of Woolsbarrow to views over the … Continue reading Bloxworth
From the coastal cliffs of Kimmeridge, wander inland down into the valley of the River Corfe. Pass the mysterious Harp Stone, once marking an ancient route now sunk into the ground, and carved by centuries of rain, wind and sea spray. Clamber the remaining earthworks of Whiteway and zig zag up the Purbeck Hills to … Continue reading Blackmanston
Weave between the deep sinkholes and rising burial mounds of Affpuddle Heath. Drop down to the little village of Briantspuddle, its little thatched cottages all built for a purpose in the 19th century. Cross over the Piddle and up to Piddles Wood, partly owned by Queen Guitarist Brain May, all with the mission to conserve. … Continue reading Affpuddle
Enter into the wooded landscape of Hurn Forest. Skim the busy Bournemouth International Airport, where the growl of the engines can shake the trees. Ride or walk along the ridge as it rises up above the hidden Moors River valley. Weave between the towering trunks merging onto tracks coming from many different directions. Curve around … Continue reading Hurn
Starting at the source of the River Piddle, wander through the village of Alton Pancras. Two manors have combined to create the settlement pattern but little is left of both other than earthworks and gate posts. Follow the valley road between cottages, the old school and farms to Burnt House Bottom where a manor was … Continue reading Alton Pancras
