Take a hike

Take a Hike: Forgotten lanes between Shaftesbury

and Sturminster Newton | 6.3 miles

Unusually for us this one includes quite a bit of lane walking – but the roads are so quiet it was an enjoyable way to slowly appreciate unexpected corners that we regularly whizz past in the car. The backtracking in the middle is worth it – the obvious alternative path down to Blackven Common would mean walking along the B3091, a very busy narrow road. Instead, explore the quiet lanes and just double back for a short stretch for a far more relaxed circuit. Also be careful as you emerge from the little copse to cross the B3091 for the first time – it’s a surprisingly fast road, and you come out on a bend so it’s very difficult to see traffic approaching. Listen carefully! The Fontmell Magna village website has a fascinating and detailed history of Hartgrove and its residents at the turn of the 20th century, with some early photographs of cottages you wil pass on this walk – it is definitely worth a read. There is parking at St Margaret’s Church (we walked the route a week before Christmas, and the organist was practising carols – sadly I can’t guarantee you a similarly magical start).

The route explores typical North Dorset farmland, with a view across the Blackmore Vale, ringed by the surrounding hills The (frozen!) original mill pond sluice at Hartgrove was a lovely discovery

We were treated with surprise views across the Blackmore Vale without feeling like we’d done the climb to earn them

The stroll down the lane to Hartgrove