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.