Walks & Pubs

Dorchester to Thomas Hardy’s Cottage Halloween Walk (3.7mi)

Fordington – Stinsford – Lower Bockhampton – Bhompston – Thorncombe Wood – Thomas Hardy’s Cottage, Higher Bockhampton

What a walk this was! When Jasmin and I planned this walk for Halloween, we didn’t imagine it would be this spooky. We ended up in a field in the dark and almost got lost there. This inspired me to create a bit of a different video. But let’s start at the beginning of this journey.

The starting point of this walk was in Fordington, a suburb in Dorchester’s east. From this point, where a small bridge crosses the Mill Stream and the busy road’s name changes from High East Street to London Road, we headed to Grey’s Bridge, which took us out of town.

On our way to the starting point, we passed through Brewery Square

Between Brewery Square and Dorchester shopping street

Dorchester shopping street

At the starting point of this walk

In Hardy’s footsteps

After a short while, we left the road and started following the River Frome. From this point onwards, we found ourselves walking in Thomas Hardy’s footsteps, following the same paths that once inspired his novels and poems.

Warning sign on a bridge near Dorchester, probably put up in the 1820s

The River Frome splits into several channels diverted from it in this area

The River Frome splits into several channels diverted from it in this area

The River Frome splits into several channels diverted from it in this area

Stinsford church

Our first stop was Stinsford village, where we visited St Michael’s Church. It was here that the Hardy family went to worship and where Thomas Hardy was baptised. In the churchyard, Thomas Hardy’s heart is buried.

Part of the churchyard at St Michael’s Church

The Thomas Hardy Memorial Window at St Michael’s Church

12th century Norman font restored in 1920

Water meadows and fields

We continued our walk along the Frome and got to see the water meadows and the many channels diverted from the river’s main stream. It wasn’t long until we arrived in Lower Bockhampton. From there, we passed a farmyard and crossed two fields before arriving at the hamlet of Bhompston.

At the River Frome

River Frome and water meadows

River Frome

River Frome

This bridge led us into Lower Bockhampton

The Frome from the bridge at Lower Bockhampton

Another sign at the Lower Bockhampton bridge

Thorncombe Wood and Hardy’s Cottage

From there, we made our way to Thorncombe Wood. As dusk settled in, we started to get mysterious feelings. The funnily scary signs volunteers had put in the forest added to the ambience of this day. After passing Rushy Pond, we made our way to Thomas Hardy’s Cottage in Higher Bockhampton. The famous writer completed two of his novels in this thatched house and lived there until he was 34.

Between Bhompston Farm and Pine Lodge Farm

Between Bhompston Farm and Pine Lodge Farm

Between Bhompston Farm and Pine Lodge Farm

Between Bhompston Farm and Pine Lodge Farm

Between Bhompston Farm and Pine Lodge Farm

Feeding time for the cows at Pine Lodge Farm

A break at Thorncombe Wood

Thorncombe Wood

We’ve arrived at Thomas Hardy’s Cottage

Thomas Hardy’s Cottage

A field in the dark

That could have been the end of the story. However, Jasmin and I intended to walk back to Dorchester. Wandering around a field in the dark and stepping into what its bovine inhabitants had left behind, we would almost certainly have got lost without the GPS map on my phone. However, in terms of Halloween atmosphere, this turned out to be rather fitting. Anyway, my recommendation is to take this walk in daylight entirely. You’ll get to see more of the scenery and actually find the right path.

There is much more about this walk I haven’t mentioned here, so if you haven’t yet, give it a go and watch my video. Cheers.

At The Royal Oak pub

At The Royal Oak pub

At The Royal Oak pub

We visited Thomas Hardy’s resting place at Westminster Abbey just a few weeks later

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