Explore North Dorset

i = Tourist Information Centre     PH = Public House     S = Village Shop     C = Cafe     M = Museum

Blandford (i PH S C M)
North Dorset’s largest town is sited on the Riverstour. Much of the town centre was rebuilt after the fire of 1731 and has a distinctive Georgian feel. Well worth exploring.

Langton Long
Langton House was demolished shortly after the war but the stable block remains as an impressive reminder.

Tarrant Crawford (C)
The site of one of the richest nunneries in England. The Church has 14th Century wall paintings.

Tarrant Keyneston (PH)
This village lies between the Stour and the downland along the River Tarrant. Take care crossing the B3082.

Tarrant Rushton
Look for signs of the old water meadows along the river. These were deliberately flooded in winter to protect the grazing from freezing.

Witchampton (S)
The Abbey House dates from the 16th Century. Remains of a Roman Temple and the oldest set of chess-men found in England were discovered here.

Moor Crichel
The original village was demolished, with the exception of the church, to make way for an imposing house in a park land setting. (Not open to the public).

Gussage St Michael & Gussage All Saints (PH)
Ackling Dyke, the Roman road from Salisbury to Poole, crosses the cycleway between these villages. Look out for burial mounds along the route of the Cursus.

Cashmoor (PH)
Take care crossing the A354. Follow the signs to Minchington and then back into North Dorset and Farnham. From Farnham it is possible to make a detour to the 18th Century Chettle House. (Open to the public)

Farnham (PH)
This village, lying in the chalk downland, is known for its whitewashed thatched cottages built gable end to the road.

Ashmore
At 800ft above sea level this is the highest village in Dorset, The thatched cottages are grouped around the village pond.

Fontmell Magna (PH S)
This village overlooks the Blackmore Vale, called the Vale of Little Dairies by Thomas Hardy. Take care crossing the A350. Turn right at Bedchester cross-roads for the main route and cycle through the hamlets of Bedchester and Twyford towards Shaftesbury.

Turn left for the short routes. To reach Marnhull, you will go through the hamlet of West Orchard. Alternatively go through Child Okeford and Shillingstone before rejoining the main route at Okeford Fitzpaine.

Child Okeford (PH S)
One of the larger villages, having grown over recent years. Behind it rises the 603ft Hambledon Hill with its impressive iron age fort. Take care turning left onto the A357.

Shillingstone (PH S C)
Another larger village, which once had a station on the Somerset and Dorset Railway line. Take care when turning right leaving the A357 - you may prefer to dismount.

Shaftesbury (i PH S C M)
Shaftesbury is one of the oldest and highest towns in Dorset. The Park Walk, with its entrance to the Abbey, has splendid views seemingly over all of North Dorset. These views can also be enjoyed from Gold Hill, Take care turning into Motcombe road.

Motcombe (PH S)
This is one of the larger villages on the route and lies at the edge of the old Gillingham Royal Hunting Forest.

Gillingham (PH S C M)
Traces of a 12th Century Royal Hunting Lodge can still be seen in the town. John Constable’s painting of ‘Old Gillingham Bridge’ can be seen at the Tate Gallery in London.

Buckhorn Weston (PH S)
A train spotters heaven - the railway is high on an embankment.

Kington Magna
Formerly called Kings Town, the village once belonged to the Crown. Take care crossing the A30.

Fifehead Magdalen
The village clusters around a 14th Century church, unusual far the area, with its later chapel added in 1750.

Marnhull (PH S C)
Thomas Hardy referred to this village as "Marlott" in his "Tess of the D’Urbevilles", with Tess’s Cottage said to be the heroine’s birth place.

Hinton St Mary (PH)
Although noted for its stone built Manor House and Tithe Barn, the village is better known for the Roman Mosaic discovered in 1963. To avoid a stretch of busy road you are directed onto a permissive path. Please obey the signs.

Sturminster Newton (PH S C M)
Sturminster Mill is open to the public, as is Fiddleford Mill House to the east of the town.

Okeford Fitzpaine (PH S M)
Picture postcard village with thatched cottages around the Church. Look for the old village lock up with its barred window. You now have a choice of routes. Keep straight on for the 73 mile route, or turn left for Winterborne Stickland for a short cut passing through the hamlet of Turnworth, where Thomas Hardy had a hand in the design of the rebuilding of the church. Close to the hamlet is the prehistoric village of Ringmoor.

Hilton
There are several prehistoric sites and remains of Medieval farming systems around the village.

Milton Abbas (PH S C)
The Earl of Dorchester converted the former Abbey buildings into a house in the 18th Century. This is now the site of a school, the Abbey remains open to the public. The original town was rebuilt half a mile away.

Winterbourne Stickland (PH S)
The river runs low in summer and may even disappear, hence its name Winterbourne.