Cerne Abbas to Dorchester

0.00km - At the View Point facing the Giant, TURN RIGHT downhill on the minor tarmac road. Within 50m TURN LEFT on a minor tarmac lane signposted “Village Hall”. Cross the stone bridge, within 50m TURN LEFT on the gravel road to the barn and signpost. TURN RIGHT and BEAR RIGHT immediately on the wide gravel path and continue under the trees. Go through the gate and climb the steps following “Giant Hill” signs until the National Trust “Cerne Giant” sign. From this point it is not possible to see the Giant however it is possible to walk around the enclosure but the Giant view will not match the one from the View Point.

0.60km - Turn around when ready and retrace the route to the “Abbey & Village” signpost. Follow the sign to cross the stile, BEAR RIGHT downhill towards a barn on a grassy path, continue to the church and the cemetery.

1.00km - Go STRAIGHT ON to exit the cemetery through the metal gate, BEAR LEFT along the tarmac lane with the pond on your left. Immediately TURN RIGHT down a cobbled lane between buildings signposted “To Mill Lane”. Cross the timber bridge, TURN LEFT along a narrow path which becomes a gravel lane to a road junction at the end of “Mill Lane”. 

1.30km - TURN LEFT then immediately TURN RIGHT along the tarmac road signposted “Dorchester A352”. BEAR LEFT at the red telephone box along “Back Lane” following the “Cerne Valley Trail” signs. Continue to curve left on the minor road until the road junction with “Chescombe”.

1.60km - TURN RIGHT along “Chescombe” and continue STRAIGHT ON along the grassy vehicle track by the “Chescombe Close” sign. On entering the field BEAR RIGHT diagonally across the field, cross the double stiles, BEAR RIGHT on the lower path signposted “Nether Cerne”. Continue STRAIGHT ON along the broad muddy track beneath trees. If the track becomes too muddy drop down to a parallel path by the fence on your right, then return to the higher path when able. Continue on the earthen path until a wooden signpost.

2.80km - BEAR RIGHT to the lower path signposted “Nether Cerne” then TURN RIGHT over the stile into the field signposted “Pound Farm”. Go STRAIGHT ON to the metal gate in the hedge opposite, through the gate and continue STRAIGHT ON to a metal gate at the far end of the field. If gate area is too muddy, BEAR LEFT uphill a few metres and use the small gate then return to the vehicle track.

3.60km - STRAIGHT ON along the vehicle track signposted “Pound Farm”. Go between the storage silos and continue STRAIGHT ON along the vehicle track which curves right through a gateway. This is a very muddy area take care. Continue STRAIGHT ON with a pond on your right, continue to a gate with footpath and “Cerne Valley Trail” sign on entering the wood. Continue STRAIGHT ON signposted “Nether Cerne” along the earthen path with ponds on your right until a metal gate by a junction of farm tracks.

4.70km - STRAIGHT ON uphill on the farm track with the corrugated metal barn on your left, continue on the lower grassy vehicle track signposted “Church” and pass the church on your right. The river appears on your right, remain beside it, following a sign to “Godmanstone” until a barn with a wall of vertical wooden slats on your left.

6.20km - BEAR LEFT uphill signposted “Forston”, go through the kissing gate with the “Cerne Valley Trail” sign and climb up the grassy path. BEAR RIGHT along the grassy vehicle track, continue through a wooden gate, then immediately TURN RIGHT to go through a second gate.

6.60km - STRAIGHT ON to the corner of the wire fence then keep the fence to your left until the far metal gate beneath the trees.

7.00km - Through the gate with “Cerne Valley Trail” and bridleway sign. BEAR LEFT into the upper field, continue with the trees on your right. Continue STRAIGHT ON to a wooden gate, passing between the slate roofed farmhouse on your left and the river on your right. Continue with houses on your left, over the stone bridge to meet a main road. TURN LEFT, continue along the road until the footpath sign “Herrison” on your left. Caution: fast traffic and a blind corner. 

7.90km - TURN LEFT over the stone bridge, immediately BEAR RIGHT across the compacted stone yard, BEAR RIGHT uphill on a farm track to go through a gate with “Cerne Valley Trail” signs. STRAIGHT ON keeping very close to the hedge on your left on a narrow path, continue to a metal gate with “Cerne Valley Trail” signs at the edge of the woods. Continue directly across a large field aiming for the righthand end of a low line of trees. At the end marker tree with footpath signs go STRAIGHT ON initially parallel to the cables on your right then bearing left to a gap in the far hedge when it is visible. 

9.10km - Go through the gap in the trees and STRAIGHT ON uphill across a field then through a metal kissing gate and along an earthen path between wire fences. STRAIGHT ON through a second gate, continue past housing on your left until a junction with a minor tarmac road. 

9.60km - BEAR RIGHT across the road and immediately BEAR LEFT up a tarmac drive signposted “Cerne Valley Trail”. Continue past houses on your left and go STRAIGHT ON on a very narrow earthen path between hedge and fence. Remain on the grassy path keeping high above the stream on your right to the timber corner of the fencing by a thatched cottage. Within 50m BEAR RIGHT down to a wooden gate with a gravel lane beyond.

10.60km - Go through the gate, BEAR LEFT on the lane signposted “Charminster”. Rejoin the river at “Prince’s Plot” and continue until the end of “Mill Lane”. 

11.40km - TURN RIGHT downhill at the end of “Mill Lane”, cross the timber bridge and into the churchyard. Go STRAIGHT ON and exit the churchyard by the stone bridge at East/West Hill Lane. 

11.60km - TURN LEFT uphill on “East Hill” and within 100m TURN RIGHT onto a gravel lane between walls signposted “Lower Burton”. Continue along an earthen path between fences, go STRAIGHT ON across a stoney vehicle track signposted “Lower Burton”. Continue on a grassy track and BEAR RIGHT at a wooden gate signposted “Lower Burton” on the grassy vehicle track with a line of trees on your right until a double gate next to a telegraph pole and substation. 

12.40km - STRAIGHT ON through both gates and across the field. Exit the field through a wooden gate on the far side, then through a farmyard to the main road. TURN RIGHT to the pedestrian crossing, cross the road and TURN RIGHT past a pub on your left. STRAIGHT ON to follow the cycle/footpath until the path junction at a metal pole on a triangle of grass next to a busy road bridge. 

13.6km - TURN LEFT along the cycle/foot path signposted “Dorchester”. Continue with the river on your right, cross a timber bridge and immediately TURN RIGHT. Continue on the cycle/foot path past a pond on your left, over a low stone bridge and across a tarmac lane then up steps to join a minor lane leading to the high street. On meeting the high street TURN LEFT until the Dorchester County Museum.

14.40km - Finish at the Museum, High East St.