A short ramble on the edge ! Blackmore Vale taking in three p y g p ppo y f p g interesting Dorset Churches and spectacular panoramic views. local brew and food. Much of Dorset’s countryside is chalkA gentle str streams,oll along the cour sedragonflies ! the meandering Riv ander Wriggl e aA walvictoriank along a typical tourist chalk fed river attraction, vall, colourful and so important that it has been St.with prGeorge"y villages and ample opportunity for sampling the seaabundant views with inse ctand life in summelumpsr, open & vie wsbumps to the chalk designated as an “Area of local brew and food. downs and a mural ! St. George and the dragon. Outstanding Natural Beauty” A walk along a typical chalk fed river vall, colourful and Gentle walking with some stiff climbs produces some ! (AONB) – a national treasure. abundant with insect life in summer, open views to the chalk the best views in Dorset together with a journ through downs and a mural ! St. George and the dragon. 5000 years ! history. Length: 4.6 miles LBlength:ackm ore Va8.5le miles GenTime:tle walkin3 hoursg with some stiff climbs produces some ! Time: 4 - 4.5 hours tShetation: best viewsMaiden in Do rseNewtont together with a journ through Station: Upwey OS Map: Explorer 117 Note: some areas may be muddy OS Map: Explorer OL 15 It is designated to conserve and enhance the natural 5000Maiden yea Newton,rs ! histor Chilfrome,y. Wraxall and Cattistock Broadwey, Upwey & Friar Waddon beauty of the landscape but the Dorset AONB is more Blackmore Vale In traditional than just nice scenery – it is a collection of some of Directions: • Follow sign towards Chilfrome. At junction turn left and Directions: pointing right, marked Friar Waddon. Along this ridge(3), English meadows the most varied and distinctive landscapes in the walk up road. you will have glorious sea views on your left and on your grazing livestock are • The walk starts from Platform 1. Leave station and walk • Descend steps from station, turn right, after 50yds, take • At junction turn right to Grove Stall Farm(3). right, the “lumps & bumps” of Bronze Age Barrows. excluded during spring and summer allowing fine country, shaped over time by nature and people. down road towards village. Pass Village Hall on your left, footpath (FP) on left. Turn left at road, follow through • Continue up lane. At summit follow FVT sign to Lower • Follow farm track down to Friar Waddon(4). Take path grasses and flowering plants to grow, flower and set at T-junction turn left. residential estate until you reach pathway between Further information from: www.dorsetaonb.org.uk Wraxall. marked Ridge Hill. At top, follow track round to left in seed before the hay is cut. This cycle maintains a rich • Turn right at war memorial into Church Road. For shop, pub gardens on right hand side, by “Springfield Rd” sign. • Pass Grove Stall Farm on left and follow track straight ahead. front of the two round barrows until it meets with South diversity of species year on year. A hay meadow in and bakery, continue past memorial and the main street is in • Turn left at end of cut-through, continue to main road, The circular walks described in this leaflet contain • Cross ford, continue down track. It can get muddy here West Coast Path. Turn right and through gate beside summer is a beautiful and busy place, full of insects front of you, shop on your right. Opposite shop are the turn right. Cross main road, turn down Mill Street. where the stream runs along track. barrows. Views inland(5) to Maiden Castle and Bulbarrow, visiting the hundreds of colourful flowers in bloom. “taster” sections of the long remains of Maiden Newton’s 15th Century Market Cross. • Follow lane to right, alongside a pretty tributary of the • At T-junction, turn right. another ancient hillfort and Hardy’s Monument(6). • Pass Maiden Newton church(1) on the left. Norman carvings River Wey. Continue along lane under old railway bridge. distance trails outlined • Continue along track until you reach road. Turn right, sign • Follow path through a 5000 year old landscape of barrows and what is thought to be the earliest doorway in Dorset • At junction, continue straight on into Church Street. After below. Hopefully posted to Cattistock and Maiden Newton. and earthworks(7) along to road and cross; continue along can be seen inside. Follow Frome Valley Trail (FVT) sign Island Garden Nurseries sign, take FP between cottages on • Continue along road to reach village of Cattistock. (You SWCP following signs for Bincombe. you will be through gate at the corner. right, up gravelled drive. Cross stile, keep straight ahead will pass the village shop on your right. Continue round to • Turning right at sign for Bincombe and Upwey, follow tempted to • Follow sign to Chilfrome, through meadow and into wood. through field. Go through field gate and bear left, the left on the road and you will come to the Fox & track downhill to The Old Ship Inn. Path follows the clear chalk waters of the River Frome. The keeping close to left hand hedge. Go through kissing gate explore them Hounds Inn, a nice spot for lunch!) • This track, running parallel to the modern road, is the old river is fed from underground rainwater held in the chalk, and along path, taking first FP on left, crossing field further and • Take path through the churchyard(4), full of wild flowers in coach road north following the line of the Roman road. forming shallow pools in places where you can watch fish towards row of cottages (Elwell Street). Turn right when Spring and Summer. There has been a church here since 11th • Turn right immediately after pub, (Little Hill) then right enjoy some catching flies on the surface. you reach road. Century, spare a few minutes to look inside this beautiful again at road (Elwell Street) till you see FP on left hand • Cross footbridge and follow path round to right. • Take first lane you see on left (Little Hill) after approx 10 of the best church where you will see an “Arts & Crafts” style window side, between garages, from which you exited earlier. • Continue through the wetland, bright with yellow flag iris yards, take left hand path. Continue straight on, over Dragonflies walking designed by William Morris and, in the star-studded Retrace your steps across field and back to lane near sign and purple water mint in June, with water crowfoot and several stiles. Keeping hedge and farm buildings on left are among the Baptistry, a lively mural of St. George slaying the dragon. for Island Garden Nurseries. experiences watercress in the river itself. At bridge, follow path round look for stone stile at bottom left hand corner of field. most ancient • Leaving churchyard, notice a small wellhead on your right. • Turn left along lane, follow round as it bends to left. After to the left, signposted “Chilfrome”. After several more stone stiles, continue through garden of flying in the county. • At junction with road turn right, pass Cattistock Cricket Upwey Manor House(8) (on right), take FP on right hand • Go through field gate and under bridge. Continue through and grassy drive coming out on road beside modern houses. creatures. Fossil pitch on right. Take next right turn, signposted to side. Path enters field after left turn in front of houses. field and over small bridge, follow signs for Wessex • Cross road, walk down hill towards Upwey Wishing Well records indicate Chilfrome. Continue along this road until you return to the Follow right hand boundary to top right hand corner and Ridgeway and FVT. Tea Rooms(1) (Access to Wishing Well is through Tea that they were Church at Chilfrome. through small metal gate, then through alleyway towards • Follow path round to left and through small gate in hedge. Rooms - donation welcome) take FP immediately to right flying around some • Retrace your steps back along the river following FVT main road. Station is approximately 10 mins walk from here. • The rolling chalk downs rise steeply on both sides of the of Tea Rooms. Church well worth a visit(2). 300 million years ago, signs to Maiden Newton. • Turn right, continue down main road, crossing at Wessex river valley here providing feeding and breeding areas for • Follow concrete track uphill and over wooden stile (signed however they only live for a pedestrian lights. Continue to junction, turn left. Station many bird species – Skylarks, Linnets, Kestrels, Buzzards. Friar Waddon). A stiff climb through woodland and over few weeks as adults. They are active fliers and can often Local taxis: Bob's Cars 01305 269500 approach is on opposite side just before railway bridge. Ridgeway • Follow path across field, where horses are often kept, to another stile brings you out almost on top of ridge. be seen during the day in the vicinity of water, hunting Dorset Cars 01305 250666 Countyline Taxis 01305 269696 Local Taxis: Central Radio Taxis 01305 781212 The Wessex Ridgeway is part of an gate to right of Chilfrome Church(2) - an unexpected • A further short climb, following Friar Waddon sign will for food. Bee Cars 01305 769900 Fleetline 01305 784282 medieval gem. reward you with 180 degree sea views. By gateway, turn ancient trade highway, winding 137 Weyline 01305 777777 miles from Marlborough, Wiltshire to the right, follow track along top of ridge till you reach FP sign coast at Lyme Regis through some of Dorset’s most spectacular scenery. The Dorset AONB includes some 62 miles of this route, taking in villages such as Cerne Abbas and hillforts such as Hambledon Hill.