Maiden Newton - Dorset
Circular walk: 4.47 miles
what3words address for parking: parking is limited and we parked on the roadside at: ///legend.chainsaw.regarding. There is also a small (pay) car park at Maiden Newton railway station at:
///author.shin.hologram. It is also really easy to do this walk by using the train to get  to Maiden Newton.
This was a fairly short but very rewarding walk. We parked near the station and followed the track that passes beneath the track. This climbs steadily up the hillside until it meets the Wessex Ridgeway which we followed for a short way before forking right towards Hogg Cliff Nature Reserve. The route from the bottom of the hill is not as clear as it could be with stiles obscured by scrub and, in some places the waymarking discs have been damaged. One right of way was also not indicated and the gate was chained and padlocked (not the route we took but revealing a negative attitude, perhaps…). The landowner, perhaps, is not sympathetic to walkers. We came across a shooting party a little further on and this may have been part of the reason for the poor waymarking.
After passing Blastmoor Hill Barn the track passes under the railway line and emerges on the A356. Turn left. A few hundred yards along his road and we turned right onto a track towards Notton. The A356 here is tricky- no real verge to get off the road – and, while it wasn’t very busy, be careful and keep alert. Luckily it’s not too long.
From Notton follow the cycle track/bridleway beside the river. This was a lovely section and in contrast  to the open views at the start of the walk. The path eventually emerges onto the A352 again (but this time there is a narrow verge and pavement as you enter Maiden Newton).
We enjoyed this walk – great views from the hills, a lovely section beside the River Frome and we saw a couple of buzzards, swans and quite a crowd of egrets on the river’s floodplain.
hiking
PeterHadfield on scottexservices.com