Ancient Dorset: Hillforts & Ridgeways

DAY ONE Arrive at Shaftesbury and settle into the comfortable Grosvenor Arms where you will stay tonight. Try to arrive in time to explore this pretty Saxon hill-top town. Stroll along Abbey Walk, explore the abbey's remains and climb the cobbles at Gold Hill, made famous by the Hovis advert. DAY TWO - Stourpaine to Sturminster Newton 10.5 miles - Moderate Transfer to the start of your walking holiday to climb two of the finest Iron Age hillforts in the country, Hambledon and Hod Hill, both with long views over the Blackmore Vale before dropping down to cross the meandering River Stour to wander through ancient woodland and green pastures, stopping by at a tiny Medieval manor house en-route. DAY THREE - Bulbarrow to Cerne Abbas 16 miles - Moderate - Shorter options of 8.5 or 11.5 miles Transfer to Bulbarrow to start today's walk, the third highest hill in Dorset. From here you walk the ridgeway to reach Milton Abbas, a quintessential thatched village, built to replace the village which was ruining the view from Lord Milton's home! Stroll down the street of identical thatched cottages and visit ancient Milton Abbey. From here, you head uphill again to reach the Dorsetshire Gap, the meeting place of five tracks and an important junction in the middle ages. From here you walk the Wessex Ridgeway passing cross dykes and medieval field systems to reach the pretty village of Cerne Abbas with its 180' high chalk figure carved into the hillside above the village. Tonight you stay at the very comfortable New Inn. DAY FOUR - Sydling St. Nicholas to Cerne Abbas 11 miles - Easy - Shorter option of 7 miles Today you transfer just over the hill to Sydling St. Nicholas for an interesting walk through some of the most peaceful hills and valleys in the county. Along the way you can visit the gardens at Minterne, famous for their collection of rhodedendrons and azaleas. End the day back in Cerne Abbas for another night at the New Inn. DAY FIVE - Maiden Newton to Abbotsbury 13.5 miles - Easy - Shorter option of 8 miles Transfer to Maiden Newton to start your walk which will take in some of the most Neolithic-rich areas of the county before reaching Abbotsbury Hillfort and a glorious final ridgeway overlooking the Chesil bank before dropping down to the pretty, honey-coloured houses of Abbotsbury. Tonight you will stay in a very cosy B&B where your friendly host will be waiting with tea and cake and will also happily provide a delicious, home-cooked supper on request. DAY SIX - Abbotsbury to Dorchester 12.5 miles - Easy - Shorter option of 8 miles Setting off from Abbotsbury, today you will rise again to the South Dorset Ridgeway to visit the 72' high Hardy Monument (not the famous Dorset author but Admiral Thomas Hardy who was with Nelson at Trafalgar) for magnificent 360 degree views. If you are lucky, the monument (which is owned by the National Trust) may be open so that you can climb to the top for even better views. On then along the stretch of ridgeway which has more neolithic burial mounds than anywhere else in the country apart from Stonehenge. Take a short detour to visit The Hell Stone, an interesting Neolithic dolmen. Finally, you pass over Maiden Castle, the largest Iron Age hillfort in England with the remains of a 4th Century Roman temple at its centre before arriving in Dorchester, Dorset's country town. Here you can visit the county museum before settling in for a comfortable night and excellent food at The King's Arms, where Thomas Hardy wrote much of The Mayor of Casterbridge. DAY SEVEN - Bincombe to Lulworth Cove 12 miles - Strenuous - Shorter route of 7.5 miles Transfer to Bincombe to continue along the South Dorset Ridgeway high above the coast until you reach the cliffs above pretty Ringstead Bay to meet the Southwest Coast Path. Here you turn east to continue your walk to Lulworth Cove, with the option to visit iconic Durdle Door en-route. DAY EIGHT - Lulworth to Corfe Castle 11 miles - Moderate - Optional shorter routes of 9.5 or 6 miles Today's walk takes you across the Lulworth Ranges, with some of the most spectacular views of the Dorset Coast. This route is only open at weekends and school holidays as the ranges are closed for firing during the week for most of the year. (We will route this stage for weekend access where possible or offer an alternative weekday route.) The area was requisitioned during WWII and has never been returned, including the village of Tyneham where you can see the abandoned homes and visit the restored church and school. Walking on, you pass over Flower's Barrow, probably Dorset's most scenically located Iron Age hillfort, sitting high on the cliff-tops with breath-taking views. You end your day at Corfe Castle where you can visit the towering castle ruins and explore the pretty streets of Purbeck stone cottages. Tonight you will be staying at Morton Manor before transferring to Wareham station in the morning. Optional DAY NINE - Corfe Castle to Studland 8.5 miles - Moderate Add a final day walking the ridgeway from Corfe Castle all the way to the sea across Ballard Down and then on to Old Harry Rocks at Studland with magnificent sea views all the way.