Exploring Stour & Avon...

with retired Dorset rights of way officer CHRIS SLADE

Park near the Church, which might be open, then walk east along the A30 (taking care as there’s no pavement) for a furlong and then turn right along a footpath that takes you south eastwards for over half a mile. It crosses several fields with lots of wild flowers and the parish boundary stream, a tributary of the Stour. When you reach a road, join it and head left, east, for half a mile to a junction. Turn left, north for a furlong and, a little before the boundary stream, turn right, enter a field, and follow the footpath across a couple of fields to enter the woodland of Duncliffe Hill. Climb slowly up the steep slope to the trig. point at the top: 210 metres. The woodland must be fairly new as it obscures the view from the trig. point. The trees, although tall, don’t look very old. Go back down the hill, treading carefully as the clay soil can be slippery, crossing the first field, then turn right, north, for half a mile to the A30. Turn right for a short distance and, at an ancient mile post, turn left, north north east and walk the path across fields for a mile until you reach a road. Turn left, west and head along the road to Madjeston. Either take the busy and bendy B3092 south from the junction or, more safely, continue west for 100 yards and take a footpath south to join the B3092 at Hunger Hill.

Go south for 100 yards then take a footpath heading west through a couple of fields to reach a minor road leading south for half a mile back to the village, around a bend on the B3092 and back to your car.