Melbury Hill

We started are walk in the village of Compton Abbas at the rather attractive church of St Mary. The current church is Victorian, replacing an earlier one with a thatched roof.

We followed a downhill path to emerge into and then cross open country.

We reached a field edge and climbed towards Fontmell Down.

Reaching the Down we headed left (north) with wonderful open views on both sides of the valley.
 

 

 

We reached a B Road, marked on the map as Boyne's Lane, and followed it briefly before turning left along the hill on the far side of the valley.

 

Her is another angle. We decided not to try to climb the very steep-looking Melbury Hill, and instead descended towards a farm in the valley.

 

 

 

Once on the road, we were delighted to pass the ruins of the 14th century "Old Church". Only the tower remains and this is locked

 

 

It remained only to continue along the lane to reach St Mary's church.

Map: Explorer 118 (Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase)

Distance: about 5 miles.

Conditions: bright and sunny, some cloud.

Rating: four stars.