Both photos this page: Louise Heatley
This is a lovely long walk through varied Dorset countryside, divided into six days. You’ll find It connects the sacred places of past years to communities caring for people and the environment today. In devising this new pilgrimage route we are aiming for a dialogue between tradition and contemporary life.
Along this route in spring we’ll often find ourselves among bluebells, aconites and wild garlic galore, while early orchids could make an appearance too. Our way of walking as a group includes occasional pauses for information on local and natural history, and at times a reading, a blessing or a reflection.
The walk begins at Chesil Beach and the world’s only managed colony of nesting mute swans in Abbotsbury. It takes us along national trails and other footpaths looping north and west through glorious but little-visited parts of West Dorset.
The plan was to return to the coast at Lyme Regis, but that would require one more day of walking. So not quite "Sea to Shining Sea" after all! Instead we will finish in Chideock at an historic church built on a spot where, for centuries, Roman Catholics could only hold masses in secret. And we return to the sea - at Othona - by minibus.
Along our paths during the week we will visit the intentional communities of Hilfield and Pilsdon, as well as Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Kingcombe Centre, an ambitious rewilding project at Mapperton and the ancient pilgrims’ destination of Whitchurch Canonicorum.
Each day’s walk will be quite demanding; Dorset is a county of enticing hills, ridges and sheltering valleys. Please do join us if you are fit enough to manage the distances and elevations involved.
It will not normally be possible to shorten any given day’s route. If need be, however, you could opt out of a particular day’s walking and stay at Othona.
Each morning we will be taken by car or minibus to the start point and collected from the finish point in the evening. Most days we will take packed lunches with us as we go. On one or two days there will be a possibility of a cafe or pub lunch if the group so chooses.
Itinerary details may change but here are the likely routes, distances and how much 'up' there is each day. If you have the OS Maps app you can inspect the routes yourself.
Day 1
Abbotsbury Swannery to Winterbourne Abbas
From the Swannery, via the ruins of a great Benedictine abbey, then on the South Dorset Ridgeway past a stone circle and the Hell Stone (prehistoric burial chamber) to the unparalleled views from Hardy's Monument. A section of the Jubilee Trail then takes us through a bluebell wood and on to Winterbourne Steepleton and Winterbourne Abbas.
6.3 miles 1,161 feet of ascent OS Maps link
Day 2
Winterbourne Abbas to Hilfield Friary
From Winterbourne Abbas to Southover and Frampton, then following the valley of a chalk stream to Sydling St Nicholas. Above Sydling we join the Wessex Ridgeway until a junction on Gore Hill where a footpath and lane straight ahead take us down to Hilfield Friary. Here Anglican Franciscan brothers and an accompanying lay community are embodying St Francis's vision in a thorough-going eco-friendly lifestyle and ministry.
10.4 miles 1,176 feet of ascent OS Maps link
Day 3
Hilfield to Cattistock
From Hilfield Friary we follow local lanes and footpaths to take us eventually steeply up Batcombe Hill. Then on the flat we continue to cross the old Roman Road that is now the A37 and head downhill to the village of Frome St Quintin. Another local footpath brings us to the 15th century manor house of Chantmarle. From here the Macmillan Way brings us to Cattistock village. A short day but with some boggy bits!
5.7 miles 560 feet of ascent OS Maps link
Day 4
Cattistock to Mapperton
Leaving Cattistock we are soon walking the Wessex Ridgeway as far as Dorset Wildlife Trust's centre at Kingcombe, with its meadows untouched by modern agriculture and a cafe option for lunch. Here we pick up the Jubilee Trail via Mount Pleasant to the Mapperton Estate, with its beautiful manor house owned by the Earl and Countess of Sandwich and the site of a major rewilding project.
7.9 miles 1,008 feet of ascent OS Maps link
Day 5
Mapperton to the Pilsdon Community
The Jubilee Trail takes us as far as historic Parnham House - not yet restored after a disastrous and suspicious fire in 2017 - where we turn northwards to join the Wessex Ridgeway. There are plenty of good views today, though when we detour to visit the highest point in Dorset, Lewesdon Hill, its wooded summit gives only limited visibility. Finally we follow a short section of the Monarch's Way to our destination, the Christian community at Pilsdon Manor.
7.8 miles 1,252 feet of ascent OS Maps link
Day 6
Pilsdon to Chideock
Today we take the Monarch’s Way to Shave Cross and then local footpaths (with a remarkable number of stiles) shadowing the River Char to Whitchurch Canonicorum church with the shrine of Saint Wite. The Five Bells Inn is a possible lunch stop. From Whitchurch, we take local footpaths and byways via Ryall to Chideock and the Roman Catholic church of Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs and St Ignatius with its unique adjoining museum. We are fortunate to have personal welcomes on offer at both churches on this final day of our pilgrimage.
5.9 miles 493 feet of ascent OS Maps link