Horton Inn - Witchampton - Chalbury - Horton Inn

Paul and Tracy Dawson

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Cranborne Chase's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has many miles of public walking access and here are a few of them, on good paths, tracks, bridleways and quiet country roads, walking next to and crossing the River Allen several times, with its weirs and Crichel and Didlington water mills. There are two other mills at Stanbridge and one in Witchampton on this short stretch of the river, but these can't be seen. There are some fine 13th, 14th and 15th Century churches and 'picture postcard' cottages and country estate homes in the villages of New Town, Witchampton, Hinton Martell and Chalbury; also in Hinton Martell, an 'out of place' Mediterranean-style fountain! Originally built in the 1870s, it has been refurbished many times over the years. In 1965 a centrepiece made of Portland stone was unveiled by Ann Sidney, who at the time was both Miss Poole and Miss World!! The current centrepiece is similar to the cast-iron original. Coming out of the village is where the walk has its only gentle climb for a couple of hundred yards, but at the end of it are good views of Horton Tower, originally built as an observatory over 250 years ago, now a mobile phone mast! Then it's a gentle downhill stretch to that drink!

England - South West England - Dorset - Cranborne Chase