To those that have been following the soft shell kit fondling episode you'll know I have a new Arc'teryx jacket to try out. Alas, I have no mountains to this weekend to try it out on but I want to go for a walk all the same.
I am going to Gillingham in Dorset and I know absolutely nothing about the place (family event) but am guessing there must be some greenery around there somewhere.
So if you live in Dorset, and you want to brag about how great your county is for walking then here's your chance! I am after a ten mile walk so, nice views, not too far and if you have a route you can scan in I'll send you an Easter egg!
The Gillingham in Kent is pronounced with a soft 'G' as in 'Jillingham' whereas the Dorset town is pronounced with a hard 'G'. This can cause confusion if buying a train ticket at a railway station.
I don't know Gillingham but my daughter lives in Compton Abbas, just south of Shaftesbury, from where there is some glorious walking over the downs. I'm presently in Texas so don't have access to my map library and so cannot give you the sheet number of the Explorer map that covers the area.
From Compton Abbas, it is easy to plan a hilltop walk to the beautiful home of the late Cecil Beaton which is now owned by Madonna.
Dorset is a much underated county which contains some remarkable scenery as well as being rich in prehistoric forts. It is also the heart of Thomas Hardy's Wessex.
Dorset is a much underated county which contains some remarkable scenery as well as being rich in prehistoric forts. It is also the heart of Thomas Hardy's Wessex.
Not by me it ain't. And the best of those hill-forts? It's a toss-up between Maiden Castle (the big mama of them all and important civic amenity for the dog-walkers of Dorchester - and target for poor cross-country runners from the secondary school), and Hod Hill, which has a lovely little Roman fort in the corner.
However, Thomas Hardy... . But that's the response of someone educated in Dorset who got force-fed Hardy from a very tender age.
Jules, I don't know any specific routes in north Dorset, but if you can get yourself over to Cranborne Chase there's fab walking there and it's absolutely riddled with prehistoric sites. The mini-escarpment linking White Sheet Hill (the one east of Shaftesbury, not the one at Mere next to Great Bottom - ooh err missus) and Fovant Down is pretty good. Edited to add - but I haven't been there for decades so no guarantees...!
I'd suggest that you can hardly go wrong in that neck of the woods. Go to WheresThePath, scroll around the map a bit, pick a likely-looking area and plot a route along footpaths and bridleways, and then print the route & maps out.
You could go north to Mere and wander around White Sheet Hill and Mere Down; looks like a good 10 mile circular.
Or, as Hugh suggests, go SE and wander around the Abbases, or go a bit further E to Cranborne Chase.
Just look at those contours; Dorset doesn't have big, rugged hills, but it makes up for it in accumulated uppy-downy bits. Views depend on what you like looking at, but that area is mostly rolling arable farmland.
If you like stately homes and gardens, Stourhead will be rather nice at this time of year (better check it's open...)
Park at Berwick St John (ST946223) in road by church. Head North to White Sheet Hill and visit the South end of the Cross Dyke at ST947242 for a fabulous view, with a seat! (and daffodills at the moment).
Head East along the ridge taking a small detour to ST984264 to see a couple of the Fovant Regimental badges further East.
Come down to Ebbesbourne Wake (pub) through Church Bottom.
Head back across the fields passing North of Alvediston (pub there as well) to reach the pub at Berwick St John.
About 10 miles and 300m of ascent. Did I mention there were three pubs as well?
One nice thing about walking in Dorset, is that you can often walk all day without seeing anyone else, except when crossing roads or walking through a village.
Funny; I looked at the map, and your GR didn't seem to match my White Sheet Hill. Cause: there are two White Sheet Hills, 17.4km apart (mine bearing 306.8 degrees from yours)...
Did not know there were two Gillinghams! Only know the Kent one.
. But that's the response of someone educated in Dorset who got force-fed Hardy from a very tender age.
