Dorset

Dorset used to be known as the forgotten county, as people tended to pass through it on their way to Devon and Cornwall, rather than see it as a destination in its own right. Man, they clearly had no idea what they were missing. Dorset is a fabulous county of such diversity, it really does have everything a walker could want, both coast and country. Today I was inland, just west of Blandford, starting off Okeford Hill (near the beacon) and headed into Blandford Forest, which crowns Shillingstone Hill and was still flush with Bluebells, following the ridge for a few miles until I descended into Hedge End, I headed up through the valley (a scary section of road walking) up to Turnworth before ascending the other side of the valley to Bell Hill and the ridgeway between Bulbarrow Hill and Okeford beacon, finally arriving back to my start point. 10.7 miles, all in the blistering sun, with little to no breeze, a wondrous view at every turn, through open wood and flora choked coppice, over ancient grassland and along the edge newly ploughed fields, up hill and down, and every step of it pure bliss.