WALKS IN DORSET at HIGHER BOCKHAMTON, STINSFORD & KINGSTON MAURWARD (& THOMAS HARDY'S COTTAGE)

In this episode of my series “ Walks in Dorset”, I take a 6 mile circular walk that is effectively a “cradle to grave” homage to the famous novelist & poet Thomas Hardy - starting at his birthplace at Higher Bockhampton & ending where his heart is buried at Stinsford churchyard. Once again I am accompanied by my Whippet, Logan.

I park my car at the Thomas Hardy Cottage Visitor centre car park (although the cottage is owned by the National Trust, everyone has to pay in the car park – including national Trust members).

My walk starts from Thomas Hardy's cottage – there is a fee to visit it & dogs are not allowed inside – but you can get close to the cottage (for free!) as the path goes right along the side of it. Just to the side of the cottage is a memorial to Thomas Hardy & the spot marks the start of the Hardy Way (a 220 mile long distance path that connects various locations in Dorset that have a connection with Hardy).

I then head South to Rushy Pond and then follow the old Roman road East before heading South again past the Rainbarrows – three bronze age barrows.

I exit Puddletown Forest, head across a road to Norris Mill Farm before heading West to Duddle Farm & Lower Bockhampton. At this point, I cross Lower Bockhampton bridge & join The Hardy Way along the side of the River Frome as I make my way to Stinsford.

At Stinsford I visit the church and of course the churchyard where the heart of Thomas Hardy is buried.

I then head North East to Kingston Maurward where I stop off at the cafe before starting my final leg of the journey North East back to the car park at Higher Bockhampton.



Map courtesy of Google Maps.

For further videos in the series, please go to:    / @daveford   or my website at https://daveford5966.wixsite.com/website

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I use a GOPRO HERO 7, 8 or 10 Black Action Camera (sometimes with a Gimbal) & a Rode microphone (either a “Shotgun” or a Rode Wireless Go) together with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS.

Music by Original Spruce (Copyright owner). Permission for me to use this track has been given to me by the copyright owner. 2022. Tracks (in order of appearance in the video): 1) Pembrokeshire, 2) Eko Eko 3) Marching The Moors, 4) No Time For Lillies , 5) Nicely Stone, 6) Open The G & 7) Martin Down. (To download these tracks & other music by Original Spruce go to: https://spruce1.bandcamp.com