The Dorset Holiday Specialists

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Forde Abbey to Stoke Abbot
Your walk starts in the far west of the county, on the Somerset border, near magnificent Forde Abbey.  It would be worth arriving the day before to take in this historic house and garden.  The trail starts across the small fields and hills typical of this part of Dorset and the climbs to Pilsden Pen, for many years through to be the highest point of the county, so there will be far-reaching views to enjoy. On then to finish your day at Stoke Abbot, maybe for a refreshing drink in the sunny garden at The New Inn.

Day 2 - Stoke Abbot to Lower Kingcombe
Today you will be walking near the interesting market town of Beaminster (where you may well have stayed the night), through the grounds of the recently restored Parnham House and on to Mapperton, where it is worth visiting Mapperton House and gardens if time permits.  The day finishes at the wonderful Lower Kingcombe nature reserve, a haven for native flora and forna and well worth exploring as well.

Day 3 - Lower Kingcombe to Hardy Monument
Today's walk turns southwards through the hamlets of Toller Porcorum and Wynford Eagle and into more open countryside, thick with ancient tumuli, long barrows, bank barrow and cross dikes before passing above Littlebredy to arrive at the Hardy Monument (erected in honour of Vice Admiral Thomas Hardy who was at Nelson's side when he died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The views from here stretch for miles along the coast and inland.

Day 4 - Hardy Monument to Winterborne Came
Starting again from the Hardy Monument, your path now follows Friar Waddon Hill (an alternaitve ridgeway path is available if you would rather stay at height to take in the views) and on to Upwey with it's wishing well and tea rooms.  From here your follow an easy rout to Winterborne Came, just south of the county town of Dorchester where you will stay the night.

Day 5 - Winterborne Came to Moreton
Picking up the trail again at Winterborne Came, todays walk wanders through Warmwell Heath to Moreton where you can visit the grave of Lawrence of Arabia, who lived and died nearby.

Day 6 - Moreton to Milborne St Andrew
Today's walk starts on the banks of the beautiful River Frome which wends its way from Evershot in the west until it reaches the sea at Wareham and flows into Poole Harbour.   Your route then passes through some wonderfully-named locations - Cull-peppers Dish, Briantspuddle and Turners Puddle as well as the infamous River Piddle and hamlet of Shitterton to reach the small town of Bere Regis with where the church is well worth a visit.

Day 7 - Milborne St Andrew to Stourpaine
Your first visit today is to the picture-postcard village Milton Abbas with its magnificent Abbey which can be visited with a small detour.  The village was built in the 1770s when Lord Milton, decided that the town of Middleton was spoiling his view and therefore had it relocated around the corner where he couldn't see it.  You will need to take a short detour to stroll down the street of identical thatched cottages spilling down the hill to the lake which replaced the original village and on to the abbey church.  Returning to your route, you pass through some gentle hills, farmland and woodland to reach the village of Stourpaine where your walk ends.