Explore the ancient woodland, glistening stream, open meadows and varied wildlife of Brackett’s Coppice. Weave between ancient Oaks and the once common Wild Service Trees, along paths permitted by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. Follow the valley up into Higher Halstock, skimming the boundary with Somerset. Pass through fields and farms as the rivers flow towards … Continue reading Brackett’s Coppice
Tag: west dorset
Fishpond Bottom
Fishpond Bottom. Delve down into the deep valley of Fishpond Bottom, exploring that last corner of Dorset to emerge from the anciently wild landscape. From the peak of Lambert’s Castle, cross the ridge to skim the Iron Age ramparts of Coney’s Castle. Drop down the steep slopes to the boggy rivers that once fed the … Continue reading Fishpond Bottom
Redford
Wander along the old drove roads of hidden Dorset. Cross the single track railway as it travels from Yeovil to Weymouth under the shadow of the haunting Bubb Hill. Visit the little St Mary’s Church, with a broken gravestone of a murder victim, before following the country lanes between the oak lined fields. Skim the … Continue reading Redford
Milton Abbas to Gallows Corner
From the thatched cottages of Milton Abbas, discover the site of the lost village of Middleton. Take advantage of open access areas and venture deep into woodland to find hidden holloways, earthworks and ruins. Climb out of the valley to explore the medieval drove roads as they criss-cross the chalk slopes of central Dorset, following … Continue reading Milton Abbas to Gallows Corner
Winyard’s Gap
Climb up a prominent ridge which splits the West Country in two. Where springs of the River Parrett, Yeo, Axe and Brit combine, sits Winyard’s Gap. Wander through its earthwork-laden slopes, full of tales of murder, kidnap and mystery. Delve down into the valley of the ancient Harrow Way, surrounded by high peaks, which provide … Continue reading Winyard’s Gap
East Fleet
Hidden to the west of Weymouth are the secret beaches of the Fleet Lagoon. Wander past nature reserves and deserted military ranges, with views across the water to Chesil Beach. Cut through fields, farms, and caravan sites to reach the lost village of Fleet. Explore its ruined church, destroyed by a tsunami during the Great … Continue reading East Fleet
Holywell
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
Lodmoor
From artistic sculptures, hidden in plain sight, wander through Lodmoor Nature Reserve to Weymouth Bay, the beach voted one of the best in the country by The Sunday Times. Follow the defensive wall, saving the reserve from the aggressive Atlantic storms, to skim the site of a lost Toll house. Enter back into the reserve … Continue reading Lodmoor
