Our Outstanding Visitor Guide Map and Information Welcome A Human Did you know? What is an AONB? Landscape An Area of Outstanding Natural You are visiting a region that is uniquely special. • The AONB is 983 square kilometres or 380 Beauty is a national landscape designation. This Area of Outstanding Natural People have lived in and square miles large Beauty is special because of the variety and shaped the region for over Along with National Parks, AONBs are the most diversity of the landscape, together with its ancient • We have over 1,500 km (927 miles) of public 6,000 years. The scenery reflects special landscapes in the country belonging to an history. Natural beauty and ancient history Rights of Way, equivalent to the distance from how people have worked the land, international family of Protected Areas. There are combine to create one of the most attractive Southampton to Edinburgh and back again shaping it to their needs over time. 41 AONBs in and Wales and the areas in England. • Farming is by far the biggest land use with more West Downs AONB An B As we put ever more pressure on the than 89% of the CCWWD AONB classed is the 6th largest. Ancient landscape today through traffic, tourism, housing, as farmland business development, together with changes The AONB was designated in 1981. An AONB Landscape • There are at least 550 Scheduled Ancient in farming practices, everything we do has an Partnership works to conserve and enhance this Monuments and more than 50 Sites of Special The area is covered with ancient Iron Age hill impact on the landscape. The AONB Partnership unique landscape, made up of the 9 Local Authorities Scientific Interest within the AONB forts, burial mounds, boundary dykes and field seeks to balance these demands in ways that do involved and other relevant organisations. The systems all indicating evidence of past times. not compromise the landscape qualities for those A • The long distance footpaths of the Wessex AONB team is responsible for implementing the generations that come after us. Responsibility for Ackling Dyke, one of the most spectacular Roman Ridgeway, Jubilee Trail and the Monarch’s Way Management Plan and monitoring progress over time looking after the area as a whole lies with everyone roads in Britain crosses the region. What’s more all criss-cross the region so that these fine landscapes remain here for our the use of Cranborne Chase as an ancient hunting including landowners, farmers, children’s children to enjoy. ground for royalty and nobility until 1829 means people living and working • Almost 14% of the UK’s important chalk grassland that the positions of many historic estates have had here, visitors, local is found here C To get in touch please contact: a substantial effect on the landscape we see around authorities and • The AONB abounds with many ancient Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB us. It is also here in the heart of the area that many many 4 Castle Street, Cranborne, , BH21 5PZ the science of archaeology was born, with the more. woodlands T: 01725 517417 excavations by General Pitt Rivers at the end of • There are over 350kms (220 miles) of chalk rivers the 19th century. E: [email protected] • We have over 33,000 residents within the www.ccwwdaonb.org.uk Today substantial areas of woodland still AONB, which is one of the lowest population require traditional management, such as densities in the South West. Photographs © Carolyn White, Nicky Matthews, R Burden and Nick Smith coppicing, in order to sustain their diverse Front cover - Knowlton Church • Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are equal Designed by: District Council wildlife and productivity. in landscape status to National Parks Printed on: 120gsm 9 Lives Offset 100% Recycled

A Melbury Hill www.historiclandscape.co.uk C Gold Hill Fair, www.woodfair.org.uk Working with you to keep B Old Waldour Castle this living landscape special 12. Breamore House 1. Longleat 6. Old Wardour Castle 1 and Countryside Museum Longleat, the star of BBC’s hugely popular Animal Park series invites you – English Heritage Tourist Information Offices to discover some of the world’s most magnificent animals in the UK’s first Set in its own beautiful parkland the grandeur and magnificence of the The castle was a stunning residence, in a lakeside setting, besieged in Safari Park…and much much more! house has changed little over the past 400 years. Seasonal opening the Cival War. Discover its secret, climb to the battlements or just stop for hours, guided tours, please check before travel. BA12 7NW a picnic. Open throughout the year. Breamore Nr. Fordingbridge SP6 2DF T: 01985 844400 Located off A30 2 miles SW of Tisbury SP3 6RR T: 01725 512468 Shaftesbury & W: www.longleat.co.uk T: 01747 870487 W: www.breamorehouse.com Riverside House, West Street Gillingham W: www.english-heritage.org.uk/oldwardour Open All Year 2. Bell Street Stourhead 13. T: 01258 454770 Open All Year 7. Rockbourne Roman Villa Discover the unforgettable magic of this world-famous 18th century Manor Farm Holiday Cottages T: 01747 853514 landscape garden, Palladian mansion, parkland, woods and chalk A wealth of historic interest spanning the period from Iron Age to the 5th 4 star holiday cottages on a working organic farm with stunning views downs. Century AD. See website for details. Fordingbridge www.shaftesburydorset.com of the AONB downs. Wonderful walking, home produced organic beef, T: 01725 518541 Kings Yard Stourton Warminster BA12 6QD lamb and game. 2 W: www.hants.gov.uk/rockbourne-roman-villa Open April-Sept T: 01747 841152 Manor Farm Salisbury Wiltshire SP3 5NL 3 4 Warminster T: 01425 654560 The Central Car Park W: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead T: 01722 714226 5 14. Open All Year W: www.holidaycottagewiltshire.co.uk Royal Signals Museum 3. Bush Farm Bison Centre Discover the fascinating history of the Royal Signals through interactive Mere T: 01985 218548 The Square Visit that rare thing – a Bison and Elk farm. Complete the trail visiting 8. Springhead Centre for Arts, Environment and technology displays and fun-trails. Women at War Exhibition. other creatures, a playground, gallery and shop for delicious Bison and 7 Blandford Camp Dorset DT11 8RH Open All Year Wimborne Minster Elk meats. Personal Development T: 01258 482248 T: 01747 861211 The High Street Bush Farm, , Warminster BA12 6AE Picturesque residential/day centre popular for school/youth trips, adult W: www.royalsignalsmuseum.com Open All Year workshops/retreats; weddings; garden open days and public events. (EH) T: 01747 830263 Salisbury T: 01202 886116 Fontmell Magna Shaftesbury SP7 ONU 6 W: www.bisonfarm.co.uk 15. The Langton Arms Fish Row www.ruraldorset.com T: 01747 811853 AA Rosette, Civil Ceremony Licence and wedding reception function/ Open All Year W: www.springh 4. Farmer Giles Farmstead eadtrust.org.uk skittle alley seating up to 80 people. Self catering thatched cottage. T: 01722 334956 Blandford DT11 8RX Visit this family farm attraction with play areas, restaurant and gift 9. shop. Open throughout the year for birthday parties and school parties. Larmer Tree T: 01258 830225 Holiday chalets and camping available. Eleven-acre Victorian pleasure gardens with unique buildings and W: www.thelangtonarms.co.uk Salisbury SP3 5QY majestic trees. An enchanting and tranquil setting for a relaxing visit. 12 T: 01722 716338 T: 01725 511228/516971 16. La Fosse at Cranborne W: www.larmertree.co.uk W: www.farmergiles.co.uk Fine food and comfortable accommodation. Offering the best of local, seasonally sourced produce in a traditional British style, served and 5. Howard’s House Country Hotel 10. Rushmore Golf Club 8 9 13 cooked by a husband and wife team. Offering B&B, evening meals as 10 well as Sunday lunches and dinners to the public. Howard’s House nestles in the Nadder Valley in the tranquil village of A superb 18 Hole Championship golf course set in stunning landscapes. 11 Teffont Evias. Comfortable rooms and fine dining at its best. Open to members and visitors seven days a week. La Fosse London House Cranborne Dorset BH21 5PR Remember the Teffont Evias Salisbury SP3 5RJ T: 01725 516391 T: 01725 517604 Countryside Code - T: 01722 716392 W: www.rushmoregolfclub.co.uk 16 W: www.la-fosse.com Be Safe, Consider Others, Protect and W: www.howardshousehotel.co.uk 11. Larmer Tree Festival 17. Honeybrook Farm Leave Things as you find them A five day festival held in lush Victorian gardens on the beautiful Adventure playground, farm animals, tractor trailer rides, all-weather Cranborne Chase. Running annually every July, see our website for activities, outdoor pursuits, butchers selling home-reared Honeybrook forthcoming dates and headline acts. 15 meats & free range eggs, also farm shop & café. Larmer Tree Dorset Open all year Tues – Sun (& Bank Holidays) 9.30am – 5.00pm Tel: 01725 552300 14 Honeybrook Stanbridge Nr Wimborne BH21 4JD W: www.larmertreefestival.co.uk Tel: 01202 881120 W: www.honeybrook.org

18. 17 Kingston Lacy Estate The National Trusts largest lowland estate. Over eight thousand acres with 72 miles of footpaths and bridleways, including the historic house, gardens and parkland. Open throughout the year. Kingston Lacy Wimborne Minster BH21 4EA 18 T: 01202 883402 W: www.nationaltrust.org.uk