Attractions and Places To See around Woodlands - Top 20

Nice wide pathways for a large section of this routes.

Bokerley Dyke is a substantial linear earthwork, approximately 5.75 kilometers (3.6 miles) long, located on Cranborne Chase. It runs along part of the border between Dorset and Hampshire, specifically between Woodyates and Martin. It is part of a larger Scheduled Monument that also includes Grim's Ditch and other earthworks. The dyke has a multi-period history. It is believed to have originated in the Bronze Age or Early Iron Age as an important political and cultural boundary. In the 1st century, it was cut through by a Roman road, Ackling Dyke, which ran between Old Sarum and Badbury Rings. In the 4th century, the dyke was remodeled and brought back into use. During this period, the Roman road was blocked. A coin of Valens found during excavations dates this activity to shortly after 364 AD, with some sources suggesting it was built between 367-368 AD. This remodeling may have been a defensive measure against attacks on Britain by Picts, Scots, and Saxons. The Roman road was eventually reopened, but the dyke may have continued to be used as a boundary after the Roman administration ended. Today, it still forms part of the border between the counties of Dorset and Hampshire.

Great traffic free route for the whole family. Bit muddy at times

Badbury Rings is an Iron Age hill fort and Scheduled Monument in east Dorset, England. In the Roman era a temple was located immediately west of the fort, and there was a Romano-British town known as Vindocladia ( Known today as Shapwick ) a short distance to the south-west. It sits over 300 feet above sea level, and there are two main phases of construction; the first covered 18 acres and was defended by multiple ditches, while the second was more than twice the size, covering 41 acres and defended by a single ditch and rampart. These ramparts make for great walking, but imagine the terror of trying to scale one whilst under attack from the occupants. Once you'd scaled one, there were more waiting for you. No wonder it was the last fort to be sacked by the Romans. Wonder just how many soldiers died trying to take it. Until 1983 Badbury Rings was privately owned as part of the Kingston Lacy estate, and the owners discouraged investigation of the site.[2] The site now belongs to the National Trust.[2] A survey of the hillfort by the RCHME was begun in 1993. The summit area was cleared of undergrowth by the National Trust in 1997 and the conifer plantation was thinned out. A survey in 1998, which recorded 28 potential hut sites within the ramparts, although some depressions are probably caused by uprooted trees. The first excavations, led by Martin Papworth, took place in 2004, when three evaluation trenches were dug. Almost all of the pottery found was dated to the Late Iron Age. The current evidence does not suggest that the hillfort was a principal settlement in the Early Iron Age. It seems likely that the hillfort became depopulated towards the end of the Late Iron Age, perhaps as the Vindocladia settlement near Shapwick developed.

Wimborne Minster is the parish church of Wimborne, Dorset, England. The minster has existed for over 1300 years and is recognised for its unusual chained library (one of only a few surviving chained libraries in the world). The minster is a former monastery and Benedictine nunnery, and King Æthelred of Wessex is buried there. The Chained library is located upstairs, up a very windy stone staircase. No lifts to it. Until it was confiscated during Henry VIII's reign, the old Treasury held the wealth of the minster and numerous artefacts such as (reputed to be) a piece of the true cross, wood from the Manger and cloth from the Shroud. Since 1686 it has housed an important chained library. The chained library was one of the first public libraries in the UK, and it remains the second-largest. Some of the collections of the library include a manuscript written on lambskin in 1343, a book bound for the Court of Henry VIII, an incunabulum printed in 1495 on the works of Saint Anselm, and a Paraphrase of Erasmus printed in 1522 with a title page designed by Holbein. The library is run by volunteers and remains open to the public on week days 10.30-12.30 & 2-4 (closed in winter season). The Bells Since 1911 the west tower at the minster has been home to a ring of ten bells. The original tenor bell was housed in the central tower and was cast in 1385. The central tower was considered too structurally weak to add much more additional weight, so in 1464 the west tower was constructed in order to house five bells. In 1629 the tenor bell was recast. Besides the tenor, the minster at this time was home to the 'Bell of St. Cuthburga', 'The Fyfer Bell', 'The Jesus Bell' and 'The Morrow Mass Bell'; presumably all housed in the west tower. In 2012, the bells were augmented to 12 by Whitechapel Bell Foundry, with an additional semitone bell cast to make a total of 13 bells. Tombs The most important tomb in the church is that of King Ethelred, the brother of Alfred the Great. Ethelred was mortally wounded in a battle at Martin, near Cranborne. The exact location of the tomb however is unknown, though sources and legend indicate that it resides somewhere near the altar.

Lovely open country side with easy terrain

Bradbury Rings is an Iron Age hill fort. The Romans built a temple here and there was a Romano-British town known as Vindocladia nearby. Today, you can run the earthworks and around the edge, it's fun and fascinating. The National Trust own and manage the site but it's open access to all.

Castleman's Corkscrew Trailway is a walking, cycling and horse riding route that follows much of the old railway line from Southampton to Dorchester. It is named after Charles Castleman, a Wimborne barrister, who was responsible for building the original railway line and was the first to connect Dorset to the wider rail network. The trailway is 16.5 miles long and runs through some of the beautiful East Dorset countryside, with moorland, rivers and woodland. It is also connected to Avon Heath Country Park, Moors Valley Country Park and Upton Country Park.