Shaftesbury, Melbury Hill and Compton Down
5 people attending
20 places left
Make some new friends today whilst exploring an unspoilt and remote part of Cranmore Chase, an ancient hunting ground and now an area of outstanding natural beauty. We are starting and ending in the hilltop town of Shaftesbury - a place worth visiting in its own right, being the only significant hilltop settlement in Dorset, (705 ft) above sea level.The town looks over the Blackmore Vale, part of the River Stour basin. From different viewpoints, it is possible to see at least as far as Glastonbury Tor to the northwest. Shaftesbury is also the site of the former Shaftesbury Abbey, which was founded in 888 by King Alfred and became one of the richest religious establishments in the country, before being destroyed in the Dissolution in 1539. Adjacent to the abbey site is Gold Hill, the steep cobbled street made famous in the 1970s as the setting for Ridley Scott's television advertisement for Hovis bread. (see title photo) We will start off by surveying the scenery of the walk from here.
Our figure of eight route then takes us out of town southwards across the valley to the open access land of Melbury Beacon which at 263m is one of the highest points around and has far reaching views of this beautiful downland which was folded and creased by past ice ages or a process of frost erosion. We will circle Compton Down, famous for its nearby airfield which pilots rate as one of the loveliest to land at in England, before heading north again.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
You'll need a packed lunch with you, some energy snacks and lots of water