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Hambledon Hillfort in Dorset was recently acquired by National Trust for £450,000 and we can now be assured we can all enjoy these two Hill Forts for generations to come.
Hod & Hambledon Walks
These walks include both Hod & Hambledon Hill Forts.
1. Dorset Pub Walks – 8 Mile
This walk involves climbing up to see Hod Hill, the remains of an Iron Age and Roman hill fort, and Hambledon Hill, which contains the remains of an Iron Age fort. It offers fine views from both hills.
The walk starts and ends in Stourpaine, on the A350 to the north-west of Blandford Forum (grid reference ST 862095).
- Starts: White Horse Pub – Stoupaine near Blandford
- Distance: approximately 8 miles (12.8 Km)
- Difficulty: Moderate – involves a number of relatively steep climbs and descents.
Maps: You need to use two OS Explorer Map 117 and OS Explorer Map118
Pubs & Facilities: There is The White Horse pub in Stourpaine and another The Talbot pubin Iwerne Courtney (also known as Shroton), just off the walk to the east of Hambledon Hill.
Provider: Dorset Pub Walks
VIew Walk Details via Dorset Pub Walks
2. Dorset Life Walk – 7¾ miles
- Starts: On the road outside the cricket ground at Shroton.
- Distance: About 7¾ miles.
- Difficulty: After wet weather, some of the paths and tracks can be muddy, but there are usually diversions round the worst patches. As might be expected on a route named after two of Dorset’s most prominent hills, there are two steep climbs.
Maps: OS Explorer 118 (Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase), with a few hundred yards on OS Explorer 117 (Cerne Abbas & Bere Regis). OS Landranger 194 (Dorchester & Weymouth).
Pubs & Facilities: The Baker Arms and village shop in Child Okeford. The Cricketers at Shroton is near the start/finish and The White Horse at Stourpaine is just off the route.
Provider: Dorset Life Magazine
View Walk Route & Details via Dorset Life Magazine
Hod Hill Walks
3. Hall & Woodhouse – 3 Miles
A classic pub walk to the ancient iron age fort of Hod Hill, captured by the Romans in 43AD. The ramparts provide stunning views and the hill is a haven for wildlife and chalk downland flowers.
- Starts: The White Horse, Stourpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 8TA
- Distance: 3 Miles
- Difficulty: 70% downland – 15% road – 15% track
- Distance: 3 Miles
Maps: OS Explorer 118 (Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase)
Pubs & Facilities: The White Horse
Provider: Hall & Woodhouse
View Walk Route & Details via Hall & Woodhouse (pdf)
4. North Dorset Trailway Short Hod Hill Walk
- Starts: Stourpaine
- Distance: Under 3 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
Maps: OS Explorer 118 (Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase)
Pubs & Facilities: The White Horse
Provider: North Dorset Trailway
View Route and Details via North Dorset Trailway (pdf)
5. Dorset Life – 4½ miles
- Starts: There is a small car park opposite the church or park on the roadside in the village with care. Begin the walk from Fairfield Road (first left after the church, signposted to Child Okeford, Farringdon and the Orchards).
- Distance: 4½ miles (can be lengthened or shortened!)
- Difficulty: The path from Shroton is a chalk track which rises for the first mile and is likely to be slippery in wet weather.
Maps: OS Explorer 118
Pubs & Facilities: The Cricketers
Provider: Dorset Life Magazine
View Route and Details via Dorset Life Magazine
Hambledon Hill Walks
6. The AA – 4.5 miles
- Starts: ST 860124
- Distance: 4.5 miles (7.2km)
- Difficulty: Easy with 541 ft (165m) of accent, green and muddy lanes, bridleways, hillside, 6 stiles
Maps: OS Explorer 118 (Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase)
Pubs & Facilities: The Cricketers
Provider: The AA
View Route and Details via The AA
7. Walks 4 Softies – 2.7 miles
This walk climbs Hambledon Hill from Shroton. It returns to Shroton via a different route. Extend the walk to 4.5 miles or 7.3 Km by walking around the ramparts of the Iron Age fort.
- Distance: 2.7 miles (4.3 km)
- Difficulty: Moderate
Maps: OS Explorer 118 (Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase)
Pubs & Facilities: The Cricketers
Provider: Walks 4 Softies
View Route and Details via Walks 4 Softies
8. The Cricketers – 3.2 miles
- Starts: The Cricketers , Shroton, Dorset DT11 8QD
- Distance: 3.2 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate, steady hill climb at start via track, descents could be tricky when wet.
Maps: OS Explorer 118 (Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase)
Pubs & Facilities: The Cricketers
Provider: The Cricketers
View Route and Details via The Cricketers (PDF)
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