North Dorset circular walk - Shillingstone, Blandford Forest, Hod Hill, Hambledon Hill fort and neolithic camp.
North Dorset circular walk starting at Shillingstone, over the downs through Blandford Forest, picking up the Jubilee Trail down to Durweston, onto Stourpaine and on, and up to the recently moved trig point at Downend Farm. Returned back down the same way to Stourpaine and up over Hod Hill and onto Hambledon Hill. Down to Child Okeford and across the very wet flood plain and River Stour back to start
The walk started at the North Dorset Railway car park near Shillingstone. Fred and I headed down the surfaced trailway past the heritage rail station to south east Shillingstone.
Steam engine and tender at Shillingstone Heritage Railway - A very short section of track for the train to run on!
At junction with the Wessex Ridgeway we left the railway on quiet lanes by White Pit and took the steep, tree lined bridleways through woodland, over the top of Blandford Forest and the open ground at Shillingtone Hill.
Despite the recent heavy rain the woodland paths were quite nice underfoot - probably due to the steepness helping it run off!
The bridleways continued over open ground with far reaching views over the canopy of trees. The Jubilee Trail then dropped down through an attractive valley alongside Suttcombe Wood to Durweston village. The fields gave way to woodland pasture and then opened back out before the village.
Suttcombe Wood path - a bit spongy in places but an attractive woodland of trees and open grazed pasture
St Nicholas's Church had a handy bench and some sunshine for elevenses, improved massively by a handsome, homemade scone provided by Mrs Fred!
Another walk and another bench in a church yard! This time for elevenses of homemade scone and a cup of coffee
From the village we headed down Water Lane and cross the river by the old mill and causeway, complete with old sluices.
We pushed on up a muddy hedge lined path to Downend Farm where Fred wanted to bag a recently moved trig point that had until then be inaccessible on private land.
Fred gazing poignantly at Blandford Forest and the North Dorset countryside
Avoiding the narrow road we decided to go back to the village the same way before punish on to Hod Hill. This is the first of the two hill forts we would be walk over today.
Hod hill Iron age hill fort is the largest in Dorset that unusually also contains the preserved remains of a Roman fort. The path took us to one side of the hill and with the threat of rain we didn't linger too long but pushed on the Hambledon Hill.
Hod Hill ramparts
Hambledon Hill
Hambledon Hill is hugely impressive Iron Age Hillfort with neolithic causewayed enclosures, and the whole side off the hill reengineered into embankments and ditches. This time we walked down the south western side of the hill, descending a series of paths to the bottom.
South western side of Hambledon Hill
South western side of Hambledon Hill showing the earthworks and terraces we descended on
The descent off the Hambledon hill was quite steep but an attractive footpath through trees lead to Child Okeford where we picked up the Stour Valley way to cross the river Stour flood plain. The recent rain had swollen the river and the path was in places nearly impassable; some nimble footwork and a small diversion onto a filed kept our feet mostly dry.
Stour Way signage
Not sure how helpful this set of sign are!
Last bridge and back to the car
A fantastic walk in great company.