The Wessex Ridgeway

Most of the Wessex Ridgeway is fairly easy walking. There are one or two climbs every day but nothing too strenuous and we have designed this walk to be around four or five hours of walking each day so you can take it fairly easy and stop to admire the views and visit places of interest along the way. DAY ONE Transfer to 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 - Ashmore to Shillingstone 9.5 miles (15 km) - Moderate Transfer to start your walk at the highest village in Dorset at Ashmore with its pretty village pond. From here you pass through the peaceful woodland and downs of the Cranborne Chase before climbing one of the country's finest Iron Age hillforts at Hambledon. From here you have spectacular views across the Blackmore Vale. Dropping down from Hambledon, you cross the meandering River Stour to reach Shillingstone where you walk ends. DAY THREE - Shillingstone to Ansty 8.25 miles (13.25 km) - Moderate Today's walk has some of the most beautiful views in the country, reaching far across the Blackmore Vale to the north. Rising through peaceful woodland, your path takes you first up onto Okeford Hill to follow an ancient track to Bulbarrow. You then follow a lane along the ridge of the hill to reach the Iron Age hillfort of Rawlsbury Camp before dropping down through peaceful fields to reach the quiet village Ansty. DAY FOUR - Ansty to Cerne Abbas 8.5 miles (13 km) - Moderate Walking straight from your accommodation this morning, you pass through peaceful fields to reach the Dorsetshire Gap, the meeting place of five ancient holloways and an important junction in the middle ages. Look for the walker's notebook and add your name to the list of those who have passed through. From here you walk the 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. DAY FIVE - Cerne Abba to Sydling St. Nicholas 8 miles (13 km) - Moderate A gentle day today, starting from your accommodation in Cerne Abbas. First you pass under the feet of the eponymous giant and then rise onto the downlands before dropping down to the hamlet of Up Cerne with its crystal-clear chalk stream and ancient manor house. From here you climb to again for a glorious walk along the ridgeway before dropping down to the pretty village of Sydling St. Nicholas. DAY SIX - Lower Kingcombe to Beaminster 8.75 miles (14 km) - Easy A short transfer takes you to the start of your last walk at the tranquil and bio-diverse nature reserve at Lower Kingcombe. Visit the information centre, have a coffee and then set off through peaceful West Dorset with its patchwork of small fields. You follow a fine ridgeway path before dropping down through more peaceful countryside to the rural market-town of Beaminster and your final night's stay.