04/06/23: Hardy’s Puddletown meets World Environment Day

A circular from Puddletown, a village steeped in Thomas Hardy folklore, which takes us up the Piddle valley amid rising views of the gently rolling Dorset countryside, with a rich variety of flora and fauna to be seen, in a long arc that finally turns south to connect with Higher Bockhampton, where we can stop in briefly at the NT café for a loo stop (maybe a drink), before passing Hardy’s Cottage and onward east through the beautiful woodland and heath of Puddletown Forest as we make our way back to our start point. We’re mostly on good paths, and a lot of the route is level with just a couple of quite brief upward climbs.

A visit to the Blue Vinney pub in Puddletown beckons for well-earned refreshments.

NOTE: this walk also marks World Environment Day on 5th June. Unlike normal, we’ll do our utmost to collect as much rubbish en route as we can. There will be litter-picking equipment, bags and gloves so we can actually do more than leave the countryside as we found it, but in fact leave it even better. Based on my recce, you’d be surprised how much people do manage to spoil nature without thought, even on this quite rural route!

If you have litter-pickers of your own please bring them.