All of these incredible walks can be discovered via the website links below. If you wish to stay a few days to explore, The Queen’s Arms has ten bedrooms, (5 dog friendly) and provides hand drawn maps of nearby walks. So there is no stopping you from escaping to the countryside for some fresh air, delicious food and drink and taking the time to restore and revive yourself.
Country Escape - Inspirational walks in Dorset and Somerset
Walking has been clinically proven to help with mental health, and during these dark winter months nothing is more important than getting out in to some fresh air, come rain or shine, to help improve your mood*.
Where I am based we are spoilt for choice with some amazing walks to inspire you. From walking in the footsteps of Kings to being inspired by a writers landscape.
We are based in the village of Corton Denham a small picturesque English country village with warm honey stone cottages, a 12th century church and a thriving village pub. Situated on the Dorset and Somerset border, we are so lucky to be able to step out our front door straight into beautiful countryside. We often have people coming to stay for a few nights to explore the local area. Starting from the pub, The Queen’s Arms, there are three inspirational walks to explore offering stunning views across Somerset, on clear days you can even see as far as Glastonbury Tor.
The first walk is along Corton Ridge, opposite the pub. It is a steep climb up to a high ridge dotted with sheep grazing. Once you reach the top, it is a flat walk where the views stretch out before you, a landscape of fields and hills as far as they eye can see, you feel like you are on top of the world. Half way along the walk is the beacon, dating back to 1627 when fires were lit along high points from the coast up to London to warn of invasion. Now the beacon glows red every night for aeroplanes, although for some special occasions the beacon fires are lit, such as for the Queen’s Jubilee. From the top you can look across to Cadbury Castle, Glastonbury Tor and my favourite, Parrok hill, a hill opposite the ridge, which has a row of individual trees planted by a farmer in memory of family members, it is such a distinctive hill and my favourite view. You can then wend your way back round returning along the bottom of the ridge ending back where you started, for a well-earned drink and bite to eat.
A more mythical walk can be found in the next village of South Cadbury. Cadbury Castle is steeped in history and has been the site of a fort and strong-hold since the stone age times. After it was destroyed by the Romans it was re-built by Ethelred the unready and then thought to be the strong hold of King Aurthur and his knights of the round table, many report to feel the earths energy from the ley lines it is said to sit on. If you are feeling particularly active you can actually walk from Corton Denham ridge to Cadbury Castle from which you can look back and see Corton Denham ridge. Or you can drive and park in Cadbury Castle car park and walk up to the top where. Again you’ll be greeted with spectacular views and for budding historians you can see the outline of walls from the fort and visualise what it may have looked like. After your walk down and you might be tempted to go to Teals Farm Shop nearby for refreshments and a little retail therapy.
The last walk, directly from Corton Denham, is the Monarchs way. This walk forms part of the lengthy route taken by King Charles II during his escape after defeat by Cromwell in the final battle of the Civil Wars at Worcester in 1651, when for six weeks the 21-year-old was hotly pursued by Parliamentary troops. It takes in Boscobel ( famous or the Royal Oak Tree that he hid in), Stratford upon Avon, the Cotswolds, Mendips and the South Coast from Charmouth to Shoreham. We are lucky enough that the route skirts along the back of Corton Denham. Starting from my favourite hill again, Parrok Hill, you can walk behind the village and imagine what it was like to be a King, disguised as an ‘ordinary’ person trying to avoid parliamentary troops. The route carries on to the next village, Trent, where Charles II hid in Trent Manor, narrowly avoiding being caught. If you feel active, you can walk all the way to Trent and enjoy refreshments at The Rose and Crown in Trent, which has various Charles II pictures on the wall in his honour.
Just three miles from Corton Denham is in the county of Dorset, with the pretty market town of Sherborne denotation the start of this county. Dorset is best-known for the author Thomas Hardy who wrote classics such as Tess of the D’urbvilles and Far From the Madding Crowd, painting a picture of the rolling hills of Dorset. His fictional area of Wessex was based from Dorchester all the way up to Sherborne. Starting at Hardy’s cottage (which you can visit and look around) in Higher Brockhampton, there are wonderful selection of walks which meander through hamlets, meadows and heathland to inspire you, a full list can be found below as there a many to choose from.
Another area that features in Hardy’s writing in the picturesque village of Cerne Abbas. The village is most famous for having the Cerne Abbas Giant. No one is quite sure of the date he appeared or why. The two main theories are that he dates back to Saxon times, when there was a kingdom of Wessex as Cerne Abbas been a spiritual site, famous for its spring long before Christianity. The second theory is that perhaps he is more modern and was carved during the rule of Oliver Cromwell as a form of protest. Either way it is an extraordinary and fascinating sight and well worth climbing the hill to see him up close. Afterwards, take time to explore Cerne Abbas.