Dorset countryside walk: Shroton and Hambledon Hill

Although hugely impressive, the Neolithic hillfort with its causewayed enclosure only occupies the north-west half of Hambledon Hill. The south-east half of this local landmark is more agricultural with mostly cereal crops and contented sheep grazing peacefully. On this superb walk, we will traverse the ridge’s entire length, taking in far-reaching views that lift the spirit

Near the start, and in the latter stages, we follow ancient tracks which were adopted as medieval roads. Some of these were improved over time or left to continue in use as footpaths or bridleways. Others were superseded by turnpike roads which followed slightly different routes. The walk starts in the village of Iwerne Courtney which is known locally as Shroton.

The Walk

1. From St Mary’s Church, walk north along the road. In 100 yards, at ‘Shroton Church’ T-junction, turn left into Fairfield Road, signposted for ‘Child Okeford 2½’. Up to the right bend, pass the private drive with Hambledon Hill earthworks across the fields and continue along the left hedge for 50 yards to the left footpath-stile and bridleway-signed gate. Over into the cricket field, walk half-left up the field slope to join the track coming from the bend. Follow the chalk track up to the 1½ bridleway-gates. Through, signed ‘Steepleton Iwerne ¾’, follow Ranston House’s left stone wall and stately beech trees. The instant-right bridleway-signed track climbs directly up to Hambledon Hill. Continue over and down into the valley with right fields. Across the valley and up to the T-junction with a left bridleway-arrow on the end left fence post, turn left. Then, as the track continues towards the ‘Private’ gate, take the instant right-fork, lesser track.

Ranston bridleway into the valley at the start of the walk. (Image: Edward Griffiths) 2. Ascend the right-swinging path past the left bridleway-post, with left bushes and under electric wires. Through a metal half-gate, continue up the narrow bush-edged path to a wooden gate into a rising field. From Shroton to here, our track and this narrow path around the north-east end of Hambledon Hill’s ridge have been part of the medieval Iwerne Minster to Stourpaine road which ran straight through Shroton, before the present A350. From here, it still continues as a bridleway or footpath east of Hod Hill to Stourpaine. However, leaving it, turn right, arrowed ‘Wessex Ridgeway’ up along the right hedge. This is the steep climb mentioned in the notes. Continue up, with Hod Hill across the valley to your left, to the Dutch barn and Stour Valley Way-gate (SVW). Through the gate into the field, follow the right fence up the ridge, noticing the Roman fort on Hod Hill inside the Neolithic hillfort, Ranston House below back right, and Melbury Beacon distant right.

Onto Hambledon Hillfort. (Image: Edward Griffiths) 3. Go through the facing SVW fence-gate. Keep following the meandering green track along the right fence and past the right hanging wood, still rising slowly to the next SVW half-gate. Through, follow the rising enclosed path, narrow at first but widening later into the T-junction of bridleways with the O.S. trig-point. The right track is the bridleway coming up from Shroton. With the hillfort’s outer banks clearly visible ahead, continue down the enclosed path to the SVW half-gate. Into ‘National Trust Hambledon Hill’ follow the green track through outer banks. Then, as the green track swings left up through inner banks toward the top, you reach a right-fork bridleway-post. Here, there are two options. Option 1: The easier, more direct route to our destination at the ridge’s far north-west end is to take the right-fork bridleway. Keep to the slowly descending track, or the path along the parallel bank top, passing above scattered trees and variously grassy or chalky. Nearing the end, meeting several paths coming down the hill and crossing your path, go right at the right clump of bushes and descend, heading north and aiming for the wide grass track with a central hedge going away from the hill-bottom between two fields. Go to Point 5.

Bridleways junction before Hambledon Hillfort with OS trig point. (Image: Edward Griffiths) 4. Option 2: Walk along the hillfort’s internal settlement area before descending to the same distant north-west end. For this route, continue walking up any of the green or chalky paths until you reach the plateau. Then, walk along the wide ridge. See Child Okeford below-left and distant Sturminster Newton forward-left, Iwerne Minster right, Shroton back-right, wooded Duncliff Hill and Shaftesbury forward-right. Continue to the first horizon. Over it, start to bear slowly right and make your way down, heading north then north-east through outer banks’ gaps, aiming for the wide grass track with a central hedge going away from the hill-bottom between two fields. Go to Point 5.

5. Both hilltop and lower bridleway routes now join, descending to the bottom bridleway half-gate onto that green track. Through, follow the track against the right hedge. When the hedge ends at a two-way bridleway fencepost, turn right. You are now on part of the medieval road between Child Okeford and Shroton which came round the north-east end of Hambledon Hill’s ridge. Continue downfield along the right hedge to 1¾ bridleway-signed gates. Through, turn right onto part of another medieval road to Shroton from Manston, Fontmell Parva and Gallows Corner. Past the left ‘Bessels 1’ turning, follow the hedged lane past the left stone cottage and thatched ‘Hedges’ cottage. Continue with Hambledon Hill right all the way. When houses come into sight ahead, you’re almost home. After the ‘Shroton’ village sign, continue past right houses, left stone cottages and left ‘Frog Lane’ footpath on the right bend. Continue along Fairfield Road past the cricket ground, round the bend to ‘Shroton Church’ T-junction and back to St Mary’s where you started.

St Mary's Shroton where the walk starts and finishes. (Image: Edward Griffiths) Compass Points

Distance: 4½ miles/7.25 km

Time: 3 hours

Exertion: Not too strenuous. One steep 160ft (50m) ascent of ridge’s eastern end

Start: St Mary’s Church, Shroton (also known as Iwerne Courtney). Park opposite outside church services times. Requested donation in honesty box (Grid Ref: ST860125)

Map: OS Landranger Sheet 194

Public Transport: Damory No. 7 between Blandford and Shaftesbury to Frog Lane

Dogs: On leads where there is livestock. Follow The Countryside Code

Refreshments: Saxon Inn, Child Okeford for good bar meals and local beer