Length: 28.3 km (17.6 mi), with plenty options to shorten – and one to lengthen
Ascent/Descent: 694m
Net Walking Time: 6 ¾ hours
Toughness: 8 out of 10
Take the 09.30 Gloucester train from Weymouth (calls Upwey 09.35, Dorchester West 09.44), arrives Maiden Newton at 09.55.
Return trains: 15.56, 17.56, 19.12, 20.15, 22.44.
This is a route entirely in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, leading through three roughly parallel valleys cut into the dip slope of the chalk hills of the Dorset Downs, the most westerly part of the large chalk formation running through southern England, and a couple of steep combes within those valleys. Consequently, there are six ascents spread out through the walk, but the views from the steep slopes of the dry hanging valleys (including two of the three parts of Hog Cliff NNR), the rounded hills and broad ridges are just rewards for the effort. Four chalk streams and rivers are crossed and plenty of picturesque villages, hamlets and historic churches passed. The author Thomas Hardy based many of his locales on this area.
Cerne Abbas is the jewel in the crown amongst the villages, with almost every building being historic, special and beautiful. It also has some sizeable remains of the 10th century Cerne Abbey, a holy well, an imposing tithe barn, three pubs, a tea room and a tap room as well as Britain’s largest hill figure, The Cerne Giant. This is likely of early Anglo-Saxon origin and depicting a pagan god, stark naked.
Note: The chalk figure is fenced off at a wide margin to prevent erosion and views of The Cerne Giant are only possible during the approach to the village, but not once in the village!
Walk Options:
A Shortcut right at the start cuts the initial loop through Maiden Newton and down the Frome Valley. Cut 2.6 km and 24m ascent.
Another Shortcut early on cuts the scenic coombes of the Hog Cliff National Nature Reserve, and reverse-walks part of the finish of the walk to Sydling St. Nicolas. Cut 1.5 km and 82m ascent.
Taking both Shortcuts reduces the rating to 7/10.
An Extension in Cerne Abbas onto Giant Hill leads to a couple of fine viewpoints up and down the Cerne Valley and through the many pre-historic earth works on Giant Hill. Note: you get no views of any part of The Giant from this extension, but will add 2.0 km and 100m ascent!
An Alternative Ending in Dorchester follows the Cerne Valley downstream with only two modest climbs (resulting in fine views) and routes through the historic centre of Dorchester to link directly to the more frequent and direct train line back to Weymouth. Cut 140m ascent but add 1.3 km distance.
Bus line 5 [was X11] (Yeovil – Sherborne – Dorchester, with 8 buses per day Mon-Fri only) links Cerne Abbas and the villages in the Cerne Valley south of Cerne Abbas to train stations in Dorchester (on the Weymounth – Waterloo line) and Sherborne (on the Exeter St. David’s – Waterloo line). See the route map for the location of relevant bus stops. Afternoon departures from Cerne Abbas, New Inn to Dorchester are at 14.10, 16.15, and 18.25.
Lunch: Located within 80m (!) of each other, after 14.9 km/9.3 mi of the walk in Cerne Abbas:
The Royal Oak, The Giant Inn (aka The Red Lion), The New Inn, Abbots Tearoom.
The Royal Oak, The Giant Inn (aka The Red Lion), The New Inn, Abbots Tearoom.
Tea: The Cerne Abbas Brewery, The Greyhound Inn in Sydling St. Nicholas (approximately one hour of walking from the end),
The Chalk and Cheese in Maiden Newton (450m beyond the station in the village centre).
For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.402