Telephone: +44 (0) 1722 322 652 Email: walks@onfootholidays.co.uk England Dorset Dorset - In the footsteps of Thomas Hardy https://www.onfootholidays.co.uk/routes/england-dorset/ Route Summary At a glance 7 nights (6 days walking) - the full route. Extra nights possible at all accommodation. Customised shorter breaks possible on request. How much walking? Full days: 15-24km per day, 4¼-7 hrs walking Using shortening options: 10-17km per day, 3-5¾ hrs (using lifts) Max. Grade: page 1/9
Dorset in style! Our route discovers the Wessex that Thomas Hardy knew and loved so well. Following an overnight stay in the beautiful cathedral city of Salisbury, and a short train ride, the walk winds west past the romantic ruins of Old Wardour Castle to the Saxon hilltop town of Shaftesbury. Heading on down picturesque Gold Hill towards the south coast, you ll explore Dorset, one of England s most beautiful counties, happening on quintessentially English villages and staying in some fascinating old inns. Cross Cranborne Chase to ancient Hambledon Hill and the new village of Milton Abbas; through remote Bingham s Melcombe to idyllic Plush and the always-ready Cerne Abbas giant. Your last day is spent exploring the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site, and enjoying the views from high up on Golden Cap, all the way to journey s end, the fishing village of Lyme Regis. Walked by On Foot staff: Mary, Harriet and Simon REVIEWS: For independent walker reviews submitted to the Association of Independent Tour Operators visit Aito.com. Route Highlights The cathedral city of Salisbury Old Wardour Castle Shaftesbury a Saxon hilltop town, and Gold Hill Idyllic rolling and unspoilt countryside with constant Thomas Hardy references Quintessential English villages and inns Dorset s Jurassic Coast, Golden Cap and Lyme Regis We Recommend An extra day to relax and explore the local countryside at the perfect pub at Plush, or at Thomas Hardy's "Sow and Acorn" in Evershot, at the seaside at Lyme Regis or in the cathedral city of Salisbury. Grading Full days: 15-24km per day, 4¼-7 hrs walking Using shortening options: 10-17km per day, 3-5¾ hrs (using lifts) page 2/9
Some smaller footpaths are used, mostly signed, though some not - careful attention to note details needed. Excellent maps. Basic compass skills essential. Medium: Average CUSs per day 445m (320-640m, using shortening options 350m (250m-430m). Note: Coastal option on Day 7-750m. GPX file available for handheld GPS or smartphone App for complete route. Important note: Times given for each day are walking times for an average walker and exclude stops. CUSs stands for Cumulative Uphill Stretches and measures the aggregated ascents in each day, expressed in metres of climb. See Walk Grading for more information. When to go The best months to walk: May, June, July, September, October Other possible months: March, April, August, November This walk is best in spring and autumn, but beware of shorter days at the beginning and end of the season, when it may also be rather wet and muddy! In August it may be hard for us to secure accommodation. Important: our accommodation in Evershot and Lyme Regis are unlikely to accept a one night stay on a Friday or Saturday. Please consider this when selecting your holiday start date, or ask us for advice. Please note: our only accommodation in Evershot is fully booked on the 17th and 18th May, so please avoid staying in Evershot on those dates. Itinerary Day 1 - Arrive in Salisbury Visit the Cathedral and Close, enjoy the shops and have a meal in one of the city's pubs and restaurants. Day 2 - Salisbury to Shaftesbury After a short train ride to Tisbury, a gentle ramble through river valleys, past the ruins of Old Wardour Castle, and via villages and parkland to the hilltop town of Shaftesbury. Dine at a choice of pubs and restaurants. (Medium: 4¼ hrs, 15km, CUSs 350m) Day 3 - Shaftesbury to Child Okeford Head down famous Gold Hill into the Blackmore Vale, past water mills, and then up again to Ashmore (Dorset's highest (and some say prettiest) village) and the woodlands and wide vistas of Cranborne Chase. Climb iron-age Hambledon Hill before dropping down into Child Okeford and enjoying a traditional pub supper. (Medium-hard: 7 hrs, 24km CUSs 475m, or medium: 4¾ hrs, 17km, CUSs 400m using initial lift with luggage) page 3/9
Day 4 - Winterbourne Stickland to Plush A veritable feast of a day for connoisseurs of Thomas Hardy, country churches, and the English landscape at its best. After a short transfer (included), leave the Stour valley and climb back up into the hills, dropping then into much-photographed Milton Abbas complete with ancient abbey. Then, walking through picturesque Dorset countryside, discover the church at Hilton, and feudal and almost inaccessible Bingham's Melcombe (more Hardy), before heading for the heights at the Dorset Gap and supper and overnight at the perfect thatched pub. ( Medium: 5¼ hrs, 18km, CUSs 455m, or easy-medium: 4 hrs, 14km, CUSs 315m using lift at start) Day 5 - Plush to Evershot A switchback day of five valleys and four ridges, taking in lunch at pretty Cerne Abbas, famous for its virile giant carved in the chalk. Then a lovely walk up through Cerne Park and over to the Sydling valley, remote and agricultural, and to the next - Frome St Quentin and its old church, before finally reaching Evershot, and staying in Hardy's old "Sow and Acorn". (Medium-hard: 5½ hrs, 22km, CUSs 640m, or medium: 4 hrs, 14km, CUSs 400m using lift at start) Day 6 - Evershot to Bridport This beautiful and easier walk takes in some gorgeous countryside - ancient lanes, former parkland, a country house garden and a watermill. Garden lovers should visit Mapperton (March-Oct, not Sat); take tea at the Mill at Mangerton, and the final walk into Bridport will surprise you in its tranquillity. At journey's end, explore Georgian Bridport too. (Medium: 5¼ hrs, 20km, CUS 320m or easy-medium: 4¾ hrs, 17km, CUSs 255m using lift at start) Day 7 - Bridport to Lyme Regis A day of two options - either join the South West Coast Path at West Bay and enjoy an undulating (!) walk with fabulous views along the Jurassic Coast (Medium-hard: 18km, 5¼ hrs, CUSs 750m) or continue your treat of unspoilt Dorset countryside, villages and churches, with lunch at Whitchurch Canonicorum before joining the end of the Wessex Ridgeway as it snakes its way craftily through Lyme's back door. (Medium-hard: 6 hrs, 21km, 430m) Travel Information ARRIVING BY AIR The best local airport is either Bournemouth, Southampton or Bristol. Intercontinental flights use London Heathrow or London Gatwick. Land by: 16:00 for public transport connections to Salisbury (c. 2 hrs). Return flight earliest: 12:00 for public transport connections from Axminster (c. 3 hrs) In view of the large number of suitable airports in the south of England, if your inward flight lands after 16:00 or your return flight takes off before 12:00, please contact us for transfer advice. Flight information can change rapidly and not all flights run daily. Please do check directly with the airlines websites or Skyscanner (see below) before finalising any booking with us. Do not book your flights until we have confirmed that we have provisionally reserved accommodation for you. page 4/9
For up-to-date schedules and flights from all airports check Skyscanner. See Getting to the start of the walk below for transfer information ARRIVING BY TRAIN Nearest railway station: Start: Salisbury Finish: Axminster Getting to the start of the walk The first hotel is in the medieval city of Salisbury and the last in Lyme Regis, a lovely old fishing village. Transfer times and methods are suggestions from London Gatwick and London Heathrow airports, but if you arrive at either Bristol, Bournemouth or Southampton airports, then transfer times will be shorter in most cases. LONDON GATWICK Outward: Train to Salisbury (2½ hrs) then short walk or local taxi to first hotel Return: Bus or local taxi to Axminster, then train to London Gatwick (c.3½ hrs) LONDON HEATHROW Outward: Bus then train to Salisbury (c.2½ hrs) then short walk or local taxi to first hotel Return: Bus or local taxi to Axminster, train to Woking then bus to Heathrow (c.3½ hrs) Full transfer advice, including timetables, is provided in your Walkers Pack. Contact us if you would like additional pre-booking information. page 5/9
Where You'll Stay An historic inn with Constable views in Salisbury sets the scene for the accommodation along this route, which varies from small-and-friendly B&Bs and picturesque pubs to a newly-renovated townhouse hotel in Lyme, with surprisingly spacious rooms. Upgrade hotels available in Child Okeford, Bridport and Lyme. Accommodation in Evershot and Lyme Regis require a 2 night minimum stay at weekends (Fri/Sat nights). Night 1 Salisbury Wyndham Park Lodge (B&B) A warm welcoming B&B in a large Victorian house, close to the town centre. Night 2 Shaftesbury La Fleur de Lys (B&B) Stylish restaurant with rooms. Night 3 Child Okeford The Saxon Inn (B&B) Character tucked-away inn. page 6/9
Night 3(Upgrade) Child Okeford Manor Barn (B&B) Well appointed B&B in idyllic, quiet location. Night 4 Plush The Brace of Pheasants (B&B) Lovely thatched country inn in tiny hamlet. Night 5 Evershot The Acorn (B&B) Traditional hotel with Hardy connections. Small rooms but full of character. 2 night min. stay on weekends. Night 6 Bridport Kresta s B&B (B&B) Small and personal B&B in the heart of Bridport. Night 6(Upgrade) Bridport The Bull Hotel (B&B) Stylish hotel with individually designed rooms. 2 night min. stay on weekends. page 7/9
Night 7 Lyme Regis Dorset House (B&B) The place to stay in Lyme Regis. Boutique B&B with outstanding breakfast. Most rooms have (distant) sea views. Normally min. 2 night stay. Standard rooms are lovely but upgrade to a premium room if you feel like pushing the boat out. Night 7(Upgrade) Lyme Regis Hix Townhouse (B&B) Recently converted townhouse in centre. Breakfast hamper in room. Min 2 nights stays at weekend. Alternative accommodation Bridport There are many wonderful places to stay in Bridport and we have selected our favourites above. We also use The Tiger Inn The Tiger Inn is an atmospheric and lively pub in the centre of town. We usually use the rooms on the third floor which are well protected against noise from the bar below. Lyme Regis Lyme Regis has some excellent places to stay but can fill up quickly on weekends and holidays. In the event that our usual accommodation is full, we also use Lyme Townhouse On a quiet street on the edge of town, Lyme Townhouse offers comfortable, well appointed rooms. It is worth upgrading to one of their larger rooms as the standard rooms can be slightly snug. A supplement may be payable for this hotel. page 8/9
Prices Price: 805 Total 7 nights in double/twin room, 7 breakfasts (breakfast hamper in room in Lyme), short transfer at the start of Day 4 and luggage transfers from Tisbury to Lyme Regis; full Walkers Pack with route directions, maps, transfer and background information; local telephone support. All prices are per person unless otherwise indicated, and are based on a standard booking in May. Prices may vary seasonally and a fixed price will be given to you before you commit. Single Room Supplement (SRS): From 275 Lone Traveller Additional Supplement (LTAS): From 190 Larger party saving (LPS): Groups of more than 2 people (on an identical itinerary, on the same booking and booked at the same time) discount of at least 35 per person Maximum party size: 8 Please note that weekend stays (Fri and Sat nights) in Evershot and Lyme Regis may be subject to a minimum 2 night stay and a supplement. Add Ons Extra nights in any hotel along the route: Contact On Foot Holidays (seasonal pricing) Guiding for one day by an On Foot staff member (priced per group): 200 irrespective of group size Sending Walkers Packs to addresses outside the UK and Ireland: 10-40 (per pack, location dependent) On Foot Holidays Griffin House, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RF, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0) 1722 322 652 Email: walks@onfootholidays.co.uk page 9/9