Dorchester to Thomas Hardy’s Cottage Halloween Walk
Walking in Thomas Hardy’s footsteps near Dorchester, we visited his birthplace and encountered a few spooky surprises on this Halloween walk in Dorset.
Join us on this journey from Fordington to Thomas Hardy’s Cottage in Higher Bockhampton. On our way, we visit St Michael’s Church in Stinsford, follow the River Frome alongside the water meadows, and stroll through Thorncombe Wood.
At the end of our walk, we take a short look at The Royal Oak pub in Dorchester, and at the Dorchester Ghost Walk we joined later that evening.
This video was filmed on 31 October 2024 and published on 5 October 2026.
Thank you to Jasmin, The Royal Oak pub and the Dorchester Ghost Walk.
Maps and leaflets for this walk
Map and photos of our walk: walksandpubs.uk/walks/
West Dorset Walks: swtdmsmedia.
Discover Dorchester on Foot: discoverdorchester.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/
Links
My website: walksandpubs.uk
My WhatsApp channel: whatsapp.com/channel/
The Royal Oak: jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/the-royal-oak-dorchester
Dorchester Ghost Walk: dorchesterghostwalk.co.uk
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:45 Dorchester South Railway Station to London Road
02:38 London Road to Stinsford
06:22 River Frome
08:48 Lower Bockhampton to Thorncombe Wood
11:03 Thorncombe Wood to Thomas Hardy’s Cottage
12:34 Thomas Hardy’s Cottage
14:18 Wandering in the dark
16:03 The route
18:30 Outro
Please note that the routes I walk are designed for me and my individual needs only. I do not guarantee their suitability or safety. You always travel at your own risk.
Locations visited
Dorchester – Dorchester South Railway Station – Brewery Square – Dorchester shopping street (South Street, Cornhill) – B3150 road – High East Street – Fordington – River Frome – Mill Stream – London Road – Grey’s Bridge – Stinsford – St Michael’s Church – water meadows – Lower Bockhampton – Bridge Cottage – Bhompston – Thorncombe Wood – Rushy Pond – Bhompston Heath – swallet holes – Higher Bockhampton – Thomas Hardy’s Cottage – High West Street – The Royal Oak pub – Dorchester Ghost Walk
Please follow the Countryside Code: countryside-code.org.uk
Boundary data in this video: powered by MapIt – mapit.mysociety.org (styled from original data)