Forde Abbey and the Valley of the Axe

Recommended by

Walk directions

With the church on your right, follow the road, then take a signposted path on the right through the second part of the churchyard. Bear right on the lane and immediately left before some garages. Cross the road by Goose Cottage. Go through a gate and follow the top edge of two fields, passing barns on your left, then go straight on down the hedge.

Cross a stile in the corner and go straight across the field to a kissing gate – from here to Forde Abbey, you’ll mostly follow ‘Jubilee Trail’ roundels. Through the gate bear right, down to the far corner of the field (not the obvious hedge gap). Cross a plank bridge and then a small stream, and bear left, up the fieldedge as it bends right. Go through a galvanised gate on the left, and continue up to the right. Soon go through a gate and follow a path between fence and hedge, then go through a kissing gate and turn left along the field-edge. After a gateway gap turn left through another small gate and go ahead up the field-edge to a gate. Bear right, to the left of a hidden house, onto a road.

Turn left for 500yds (460m) to a junction. Opposite the side road on the left, turn right and head straight down (northwest) to woods on a wide grassy path that splits the field. Turn left at a marker along the front edge of the woods, and at their corner go right, through a gate by a stile. Go down across a small stream, and turn right (northwest) to cross a field diagonally to a hidden gate at the far corner. This leads onto the road opposite the gates of Forde Abbey. Turn right to cross the River Axe. In another 100yds (90m) there’s a fingerpost (‘Horseshoe Road’) and a stile on the left.

Follow the footpath round past the back of the abbey. At the far corner cross a footbridge over the River Axe and bear right past a lone cedar. Bear left up to cross a stile, marked ‘Liberty Trail’. Walk along the top of the woods to another stile and bear left on a fenced track around a newly opened quarry. Bear right at the junction with a track to go around the back of the quarry to a road.

Go straight across, and head up the right-hand edge of the large field. Towards the top right-hand corner bear right through a gate under a power pole, then keep on this new direction along the top edge. Cross a pair of stiles and go through a rusty kissing gate in the corner, pass Forde Abbey Farm on your left and keep straight on to the right of the hedge. Cross a stile on the left to join the tarmac farm road.

At a junction of tracks keep straight on. Where the track ends, bear left through a gateway and head up across the field (east) to a gate in the far corner. Cross the road beyond to take a signed footpath, and head straight across the field (northeast) to some woodland. (If this field path is overplanted with crops, you can follow the Liberty Trail, which uses the minor roads to Thorncombe.) Aim for a gap in the hedge and follow the main path ahead through the coppice, keeping forward into denser woodland then gradually bending round to the right (southeast). Emerge by a stile into a field, and keep ahead along the left edge of two fields. Halfway into the third field, where houses begin, go through a gate on the left and continue ahead on an enclosed path to Thorncombe, passing a couple of shortcuts to the church to your left. Turn left on the village street, and left again to the church.

View all directions

Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Little-used field-edges and paths, country lanes

Landscape - Tranquil, broad, fertile valley

Dog friendliness - Keep on lead along roads

Parking - By church in Thorncombe village centre

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Dorset Dog-friendly walks in Dorset

About the walk

You will reach the village of Thorncombe along some of the narrowest lanes in Dorset. Go slowly and carefully along them, for signposting is erratic here, visibility is limited to the next bend, and you really don’t want to miss anything. You could start to believe that few visitors have...

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Dorset is made up of rugged coastlines, high chalk downlands and a chain of picturesque villages and seaside towns that make up Britain’s Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, noted for its layers of shale and numerous fossils embedded in the rock. Hidden gems of Dorset can be found down winding, country lanes that lead to snug villages hidden from view.