Tarrant Gunville to Bokerley Down

Tarrant Gunville (ST926127) to Gussage Down (ST989143)
Monday 02 April 2013

A linear walk from Tarrant Gunville to the crossing of the Jubilee Trail and the main A354 Blandford Forum to Salisbury road (ST987146) near Gussage Down.

Waymark near Chapel Down Farm (ST981159)





Chettle Church

There is limited parking in Tarrant Gunville, but I was able to park the car on the side street beside the village hall before setting out on the Trail.  The way-marking was clear, following field and woodland paths with some short stretches on country and farm lanes.

 

At the main road I continued on the Trail for about 200 metres, crossing the earthworks before turning right at the point where there is a footpath crossing (ST989143), towards the main road and The Inn on the Chase (to the south of Gussage St Andrew), where I caught the Tuesday-only bus back to Tarrant Gunville.  There is a regular bus service from The Inn on the Chase to Tarrant Hinton/Blandford Forum and Salisbury.

There are no places to buy refreshements en-route, so a packed meal is advisable!  The Inn on the Chase at the end of the walk might be a good place for a drink or a meal.

 

The walk total was approximately 12km (7½ miles).

 

 

Gussage Down (ST989143) to Bokerley Down (SU044190)
Tuesday 03 April 2013

A somewhat longer linear walk which I completed with a friend, using two cars and parking near the beginning of the walk (in the layby near to the Inn on the Chase (ST979138)) and at the end (in the car park at Martin Down (SU037201)).  With a careful study of the bus timetables, it would be possible to use the bus: there is a bus stop near to the Martin's Down car park with a regular service to and from Salisbury and Blandford Forum.

Once again, the way-marking was clear and the Trail along (mostly) field paths was easy to follow.

There is a pub at Wimborne St Giles, a short diversion from the Trail, and another at Cranborne, just a few yards from the Trail.



All that way?

At the end of the Trail - at Bokerley Down and the Dorset-Hampshire county boundary, we followed the Bokerley Ditch north to the Martin's Down car park, passing the disused rifle ranges on the way.

 

I felt a sense of achievement about completing the 90 miles from Forde Abbey on the Devon-Dorset county boundary - even though it had taken almost 22 months to do so!

 

It should also be admitted that I am no 'purist' in that I did not complete the Trail  in strictly the right order.  The first section to be completed was from Coombe Down Hill (ST485003) to Mapperton - in June 2011.  Other small sections were not in strict sequence, but I can satisfy myself that I have completed it!

 



 

The end - or the beginning?

Detailed descriptions of the Trail with maps may be found the booklet 'The Dorset Jubilee Trail - A Rambler's Guide' © Dorset Area of the Ramblers' Association 2008. For Ordnance Survey mapping, see Explorer 118: Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase.

 

Stourpaine to Tarrant Gunville

Stourpaine (ST862095) to Tarrant Gunville (ST926127) and Tarrant Hinton
Tuesday 05 March 2013

Detailed descriptions of the Trail with maps may be found the booklet 'The Dorset Jubilee Trail - A Rambler's Guide' © Dorset Area of the Ramblers' Association 2008.   For Ordnance Survey mapping, see Explorer 118: Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase.

 

The White Horse, Stourpaine

The next part of the Jubilee Trail to be tackled was from Stourpaine to Tarrant Gunville.  Stourpaine is a village straddling tha main A350 road.  It has a church, The White Horse public house and Post Office Stores and is served by a regular bus service between Blandford Forum and Shaftesbury.

Tarrant Gunville is situated about a mile north of the main Blandford Forum to Salisbury A354 road.  There are buses only on Tuesdays and Thursdays on different routes.  Tarrant Hinton, however, is served by a regular service serving Salisbury, Blandford Forum, Dorchester and Weymouth.

 

Tarrant Gunville Curch

I caught the bus from the Crown Hotel, Blandford Forum to Stourpaine and alighted at The White Horse.  The Trail is clearly way-marked following field and woodland paths with some trackways and surfaced lanes.   All ascents are easy.   Some sections could be muddy after rain.

The village of Pimperne can be reached by taking a short diversion from the Trail.  Here there is The Farquharson Arms public house and a regular bus service between Salisbury, Blandford Forum, Dorchester and Weymouth. 

Tarrant Hinton Church

I left the Trail at Tarrant Gunville in order to catch the bus at the Tarrant Hinton layby.  I followed the road south from the village as far as the bends near White Kennels, where I continued along the lane towards Barton Hill Dairy, taking the footpath on the left (before the Dairy) at ST930118, towards Tarrant Hinton, emerging at the church then taking the lane down to the main street, turning right down to the main A354 road.

 

Winterborne Stickland to Stourpaine and
Blandford Forum

For detailed descriptions of the Trail with maps, see the booklet The Dorset Jubilee Trail - A Rambler's Guide © Dorset Area of the Ramblers' Association 2008. For Ordnance Survey mapping, see Explorer 117: Cerne Abbas & Bere Regis.

 



St Mary's Church Winterborne Stickland



 Winterborne Stickland (ST833045) to Stourpaine (ST862095)
Thursday 28 February 2013

 

My original intention was to walk this section of the Jubilee Trail from Winterborne Stickland to Stourpaine, using bus links with Blandford Forum to the beginning and from the end of the walk.  Winterborne Whitchurch is served by buses between Dorchester and Blandford Forum and Stourpaine by a service between Shaftesbury and Blandford Forum.  The distance of this section is approximately 6 miles. The walking is easy along clearly way-marked field and woodland paths and trackways and some surfaced lanes.  All ascents are easy.  Some sections could be muddy after rain.

 

At Winterborne Stickland there is The Crown public house (Ringwood Brewery) and the Winterborne Stickland Post Office and Stores for refreshement and supplies and St Mary's Church. 

 

On the way to Durweston

I followed the Trail as - I had intended - from Winterborne Stickland, through the Forestry Commission Field Grove to Shepherd's Corner and down to Durweston. 

At Folly Barn it started to sleet so I stopped to put my waterproofs on.  As is so often the way (in my experience, anyway) shortly afterwards it stopped sleeting.  I kept my waterproofs on anyway!

 

The Mill at Durweston



Stourpaine Chuch

The Trail crosses the River Stour at the mill at Durweston shortly before reaching Stourpaine, passing by the church on the way into the village.

 

In the village is The White Horse and Post Office Stores.

 

As mentioned earlier, there is the regular bus service between Shaftesbury and Blandford Forum, which I had intended to use.

 

In the event, however, to avoid an hour and a half wait for the bus, I decided to return to Blandford on foot, along part of the Stour Valley Way.

 

The safest way to do this would have been to retrace my steps and to pick up the Stour Valley Way at Manor Road at the bottom of the hill in Stourpaine.  Instead I chose the slightly more direct route along the main road to Durweston Bridge.

 

This route is not recommended!  The beginning presented no problems, following the pavement beside the main road and then up the trackway to the left, passing a number of houses before emerging at the junction with Bushes Road (unclassified).  The section of the main road between Bushes Road (ST863089) and the traffic lights near Durweston Bridge (ST863087) can be busy and is narrow: it is not suitable for pedestrians!

 

I joined the Stour Valley Way to the south of Durweston village.  Some care may be necessary navigating through Bryanston School.  When I did this walk the way-marking was not clear and some of the marks appeared to be missing within the school grounds.  Once through the school grounds navigation back to Blandford was relatively easy.

 

 

 



Bere Regis to Winterborne Stickland

Bere Regis to Winterborne Stickland

For detailed descriptions of the Trail with maps, see the booklet The Dorset Jubilee Trail - A Rambler's Guide © Dorset Area of the Ramblers' Association 2008. For maps, see Ordnance Survey Explorer 117 Cerne Abbas & Bere Regis.
 

Bere Regis (SY846950) to Winterborne Whitchurch Longmead (SY821987)
11 February 2013

A section of the Jubilee Trail from Bere Regis to Winterborne Whitchurch (approximately 4 miles as walked).   Easy, clearly way-marked walking along field paths, woodland paths and farm tracks.  Gentle climbs.

Shitterton, Bere Regis

Despite this section being undertaken after a very wet period, diversions were not necessary.  There was, however, a very wet patch near Bere Down Farm, where a 'new' pond in the field was feeding a new stream running down the field.
 

Bere Regis is served by a regular bus service (387) from Dorchester to Poole; Winterborne Whitchurch is served by buses from Weymouth and Dorchester to Blandford Forum and Salisbury, service 183.  There is a free car at Bere Regis and the The Drax Arms public house if you need some sustenance!

We used the bus from Dorchester to reach the start of the section, with the plan to catch the bus from Milton Abbas back to Dorchester.  By the time we reached Winterborne Whitchurch (Longmead), however, it was snowing and we were cold (!), so we decided to shorten our walk catch the Damory bus 183 from there back to Dorchester.

This section to be completed in due course.....

 

Winterborne Whitchurch Longmead (SY821987) to Winterborne Stickland (ST834047)
20 February 2013

We continued the walk the following week.  There is a direct bus (Damory 40) from Winterborne Stickland to Dorchester via Winterborne Whitchurch (Longmead) - Wednesdays only for the market in Dorchester!  We, therefore, did this section on a Wednesday, driving to Winterborne Whitchurch (car parking at the side of the road near the church and village stores) and then catching the aforementioned bus to the commencement of the day's walk.



St Mary's Church Winterborne Stickland

The section is generally easy with only moderate ascents and decents, again clearly way-marked, along  farm tracks and field and woodland paths.

The Trail begins this section by heading north across the fields, evenually reaching Milton Abbas (where there is the Hambro Arms public house and a post office).  We broke the journey for a picnic lunch here at the very convenient Old Village Hall Picnic Area.

From Milton Abbas the Trail heads in a north-easterly direction starting on a surfaced trackway which enters the Forestry Commission Milton Park Wood, then following a woodland path, eventually emerging from the woodland at New Coppice.  From there it is about a mile to Winterborne Stickland, where there is The Crown public house (Ringwood Brewery) and the Winterborne Stickland Post Office and Stores and St Mary's Church.

 

 

Upwey to Bere Regis

Upwey to Bere Regis

 

For detailed descriptions of the Trail with maps, see the booklet The Dorset Jubilee Trail - A Rambler's Guide © Dorset Area of the Ramblers' Association 2008.  Ordnance Survey Explorer OL15, 117 and 118.

 

Upwey to Winterborne Came (SY707884)
6 November 2012

A linear walk taking in a section of the Jubilee Trail from Upwey to Winterborne Came (approximately 6½ miles as walked).  Easy walking along field and woodland paths and farm tracks, with some stretches along country lanes.  One moderate climb at the beginning.

 

Parked the car in rough lay-by beside the unclassified road just off of the main Dorchester to Weymouth (A354) road at Winterborne Monkton (SY682882).  Caught bus (10) to Upwey, bottom of Ridgeway Hill to the start of the walk.

 

I had an old map which did not show the new Weymouth Relief Road, so I started on the wrong track!  From the bus stop I followed the the road under the railway bridge towards the junction with the A354, under the new road and left just before reaching West Farm, up the pathway to join the old road near Down Farm, turning right towards Bincombe Barn to rejoin the Trail at Bincombe Down (SY682857).

 

The correct route runs north from Elwell (SY669849) to the top of the hill where the Jubilee Trail meets the Wessex Ridgeway; the Trail crosses the new bridge before turning south (just before reaching Down Farm) down the hill; turning left (east) at the signpost at SY673856.

 

The Trail, however, is clearly way-marked; I followed the Trail to Warren Barn, Cripton Barn and Came Park (SY707884), where I carried on in a northerly direction, turning left along the unclassified road back the car through Winterborne Herringston.

 

Winterborne Came to Crossways (Redbridge)
29 November 2012

A linear walk from Winterborne Came to Redbridge (Crossways) (approximately 8½ miles as walked). Easy walking along field and woodland paths, farm tracks and some stretches along country lanes. Little ascent or descent.

Parked the car at roadside near Crossways Five Crossways. Caught bus (101) to Whitcombe Church for the start of the walk. 

The shortest way from the bus stop at Whitcombe Church is to follow the Trail east to Winterborne Came (SY707883).  From Winterborne Came, I returned along the Trail back to the church and on to West Knighton, Black Hill before meeting the B3390 Warmwell to Crossways road.  Leave the B3390 near Moigne Combe Farm, follow the trail towards Holly Cottage eventually reaching Redbridge Road, where the Trail turns left (northerly direction).  At Redbridge, leave the Trail to return to Five Cross Ways.

Redbridge (Crossways) (SY787884) to Moreton (SY804893)
11 January 2013

An easy circular walk from Redbridge (Crossways) to Moreton (approximately 4 miles as walked). Easy walking along  a track and country lanes. Little in the way ascent or descent.  The track East from Redbridge can be rather wet and muddy after rain.

Refreshments at the Tea Rooms in Moreton.

 
Parked the car at roadside at the start of the walk at Redbridge.  An alternative would be to commence the walk at Moreton and park there.

From Redbridge the walk follows the track in an easterly direction towards Broompound Dairy.  Turn left where the Trail meets the road and take the road to Moreton.

 

In the village, follow the road to the left, pass the Tea Rooms (or stop for refreshments there!).  At the first fork, take the left turn into Station Road and again, left at the second fork.  Continue along the road back to Redbridge.

Moreton Church

Moreton Church Interior

Moreton (SY804893) to Briantspuddle (SY819932)
24 January 2013

Another easy circular walk with a short stretch from Moreton to the point where the Jubilee Trail leaves Moreton Drive (SY808898) covered both at the beginning and end of the walk.  One moderate climb up to the road at Cull-peppers Dish.  Parts of the Trail can be very wet and boggy after heavy rain.  Walk distance approximately 6 miles.

Car parking beside the road in Moreton; refreshments available at the Tea Rooms in Moreton.

From Moreton follow the clear waymarks of Jubilee Trail over the River Frome at the footbridge alongside the ford.  Shortly after the crossing a smaller river on a trackway bridge, the Jubilee Trail leaves Moreton Drive, heading in a northerly direction towards Briantspuddle.

The Trail joins a lane about 200 yards south of the cross-roads in Briantspuddle, where it turns right.  To continue this circular walk, ignore the Jubilee Trail waymark, but continue along the lane, turning right at the footpath at the eastern end of the village, in a southerly direction.  Follow the footpath for about ½ mile and cross the road, follow the footpath sign to the second road.  Turn left and follow the road through Throop Heath to the road junction and turn right.  Follow this road to the 'T' junction; cross the road and continue in a south-westerly direction along Moreton Drive, eventually retracing steps to Moreton village.

 

Briantspuddle (SY819932) to Beer Regis (SY847949)
07 February 2013

An easy walk with a moderate ascent north of Turners Puddle and a short fairly steep descent from the ridge towards Bere Regis.   Walk distance approximately 4 miles.

 

Briantspuddle: Flooded Jubilee Trail

I walked the Trail after a long period of heavy rain resulting with the the groundwater level being very high.  At the beginning of the walk the footpath was totally submurged so a diversion was necessary.  Instead of following the Jubilee Trail from the signpost in the main street, I followed the lane to Throop where I followed the bridleway in a north-westerly direction after crossing the bridge to join the Jubilee Trail at SY825935.

 



From the bridge at Throop (above)
and the Bridleway from Throop to SY825935



 

This bridleway proved to be rather wet underfoot and I decided to wade through ankle-deep running water and I got rather wet feet, heading, nevertheless heading on towards Turners Puddle.

 

Turners Puddle Church



Restored Barn above Turners Puddle

The Trail follows in a northerly direction from Turners Puddle towards Bere Regis with a sharp right turn at the top of the lane, following in a south-easterly direction along the top of the ridge and entering an area of heathland before following the permissive path through the Black Hill site of Special Scientific Interest before entering the outskirts of Bere Regis at Shitterton.

Shitterton, Bere Regis

Bere Regis and Briantspuddle are linked by the regular 387 bus service.  I parked the car in the free car park just off Manor Farm Road and caught the bus from Bere Regis to Briantspuddle.  Refreshments are available at The Drax Arms, Bere Regis.  There is a  Post Office and Community Shop at Briantspuddle with limited opening hours.

 

Black Down (Kingston Russell) to Upwey

Black Down (Kingston Russell) to Upwey

 

 

 

 

For detailed descriptions of the Trail with maps, see the booklet The Dorset Jubilee Trail - A Rambler's Guide © Dorset Area of the Ramblers' Association 2008. See Ordnance Survey Getamap for mapping.

31 May 2012

This is a linear walk, mostly along field and country paths with short stretches on rural lanes.  Moderate ascents; some care with navigation may be needed.  Walk total approximately 10½ miles.

Refreshments at Upwey or Elwell at the eastern end of walk.
I took the bus from Bridport to the Kingston Russell Turn for the beginning of the walk.  There is an hourly bus service from Weymouth, Dorchester, Bridport, Lyme Regis and Axminster, Monday to Saturday, with a less frequent service on Sunday.  In order to avoid having to walk along busy A35 main road from the Kingston Russell Turn to Black Down (SY589907), follow, instead, the Macmillan Way in a north-easterly direction past Kingston Russell Farm and turn right (south-east) onto the Jubilee Trail at SY585918 (underneath the power lines).

At the end of the walk, I took the bus from Upwey to Bridport, changing at Dorchester.

Parnham Park (Beaminster) to Black Down (Kingston Russell)

 

For detailed descriptions of the Trail with maps, see the booklet The Dorset Jubilee Trail - A Rambler's Guide © Dorset Area of the Ramblers' Association 2008. See Ordnance Survey Getamap for mapping.

Parnham Park to Coombe Down & Gold Hill (Round)
29 January 2012

A circular walk along farmland path- and bridleways with a stretch on Whitcombe Road (B3163),  There may not be any way-marking at Gold Hill, so careful navigation may be needed between SY490997 and ST491003.  Walk distance approximately 3½ miles.

Car parking is available in the lay-by where Jubilee Trail crosses A3066 (ST478003) or in Beaminster (car park charges may apply).  Refreshments and shops in Beaminster.

Beaminster is served by regular bus services to/from Bridport, Crewkerne, Crewkerne Station and Yeovil.

Gold Hill to Mapperton
11 June 2011

This section was covered in a round walk from Beaminster to Mapperton returning to Beaminster via Storridge Hill, Whitcombe Farm and Whitcombe Road.

Walk published in No Through Road: first edition copyright © 1975 Drive Publications Limited, Walk 19.

 

Mapperton to Kingston Russell (from Melplash)
12 April 2012

A Linear walk from Melplash (The Half Moon) to the main A35 road at Kingston Russell (via Mapperton and Toller Pocorum) (14½ miles).  The route follows country lanes, field and woodland paths and rural trackways.  There is one steep climb at Wynford Wood.  Some careful navigation may be needed.

 

I caught the bus from Bridport to the start of the walk in Melplash, which is served by regular bus services to and from Bridport, Beaminster, Crewkerne and Yeovil.  At Kingston Russell I returned to Bridport by bus.  There is a Monday to Saturday hourly bus service to Dorchester and Weymouth (east) and Bridport, Lyme Regis and Axminster (west).

The walk could be split at Toller Pocorum, where there in a limited bus service. Careful planning is necessary to do this option.

 

Refreshments may be available at the cafe at the Kingcombe Field Study Centre; the public house, however, at Toller Porcorum was closed when I did the walk and there was no sign that it would be reopening within the foreseeable future.  There are normally no refreshment opportunities between Toller Porcorum and Kingston Russell.