3.75 km
100m of climb
Extension approximately 5km
Start at Trips triangle, 2 1/2 kilometres south of Milborne Port. North Dorset.
One side of the route is along the road [the extension avoids this].
Described clockwise.
Suitable for dogs, stock often in the first two fields.
A countryside walk, muddy in places but with five isolated trees which make fantastic photographic opportunities. Rural, varied in character with coniferous woodland, the fringes of the Digby estate, thatched cottages and some fine fingerposts.
Instruction to the Parking spot.
From Sherborne turn right just, after the Texaco garage. Follow this relatively straight road down through Goathill and past the church on your right. Over the bridge and a slight climb to the junction with fingerpost. Turn left, climbing steeply and through the woods [alternative parking on the left]. As the road drops you will see the Trips black and white fingerpost, park on this triangle. The signpost is a great place to lock a bicycle. 2 kilometres.
The route starts on the road below turning right.
Here is a precise what3words address, made of 3 random words. Every 3 metre square in the world has its own unique what3words address.
///agency.clutter.watches
https://w3w.co/agency.clutter.watches
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xfPHHkNLHfmKYEHT7?g_st=ic
OS grid reference ST 685 160
Route – 7
Walk south from the triangle towards the next fingerpost, past the house on the left. Turn right. Seek a galvanised gate, walk through this [ramshackle ivy clad ruins on the left] and up past the corrugated iron shed.
Keep the hedge on your left and follow the crest along the muddy track. Through the gate, the view will disappear; keep the fence on your right side and open field to your left. Into the woods at the far right corner, the gate has a sprung sneck extension.
Follow the track through the planted coniferous wood, sometimes pheasant are shot here. The foot-gate at the end was an original cast beauty which was replaced recently with a lighter galvanised catched version.
Look left as you emerge into an arable field, the isolated tree makes for fantastic sunset shots.
Drop slowly beside the ploughed field [corn / peas] to a stile, cross this. Spy the stile and bridge at the bottom of the slope, you are heading across an open field with another isolated tree and distinctive stump up on the far left.
Cross the bridge, the next field is often planted and no consideration given to walkers by the estate. You are heading up and diagonally left to find an overgrown stile in the hedge and out onto the road.
[7x Extension – turn left and then right through the estate gates. I will add further instructions here soon but for the moment use the map ahead to drop to Pinfold farm returning via Goathill – can be wet].
Turn right, taking care down the road to the very bottom. Climb gently past a glorious estate cottage with similar cast iron gate to the one removed. Turn right at the fingerpost you passed when driving here.
Peek over the right hand hedge as you climb the road, the thatch has been replaced recently, they have done a fantastic job. Once the road flattens out you are looking for a farm gate [10ft] on the right hand side, this drops you into the field, keep the boundary [new galvanised posts] on your left.
Head for the bridge at the field end and onto a small flood plain. You should spy the corrugated shed. Lift an awkward gate and seek the track which surmounts the shoulder. One more fantastic tree and then return to the gate by the disguised building.
Walk back along the road to your bicycle or car.
Refreshments
Goathill church has a lovely bench for your ghillie kettle or jet boil. The Tippling Philosopher serves good beer, or return to Sherborne for cake. Park in upper Cheap Street [outside the George] walk down Cheap Street for Olivers coffee house, on the left.
Sherborne foothills 