The best cycling routes around Iwerne Courtney Or Shroton

All aboard for a massive hit of nostalgia! Shillingstone Station is like a beautifully preserved 1950s time capsule tucked away in the Dorset countryside. Once a vital stop on the legendary Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (the "Slow and Dirty"), it’s now being lovingly restored by a team of dedicated volunteers. You can wander the original platforms, explore vintage signal boxes, and even have tea in a converted railway carriage. It’s the perfect spot to pretend you're an extra in Brief Encounter while the North Dorset Trailway hikers buzz past. No trains to Bath today, but the atmosphere is pure gold!

Pig pens all along the side of road, so many little piglets!!!

Though my bike is in the way, you have to trust me. Exceptional views to be seen from here

Architectural Features: Chancel: Features single-stage angle-buttresses at the northeast and southeast corners. The east window is a well-proportioned 13th-century design with modern glass. There's a narrow 13th-century doorway in the north wall. Nave: Retains its original late 12th or early 13th-century north wall. It has 15th-century windows and a notable timber roof from the mid-15th century or later, supported by three trusses with moulded principals and tie-beams, decorated with wooden foliate bosses. Font: A 14th-century octagonal bowl on a modern plinth. Pulpit: Dates from 1635 and is an assembly of oak panels with incised ornamentation. Reredos: A late 14th or early 15th-century stone reredos depicting the Crucifixion with figures of saints. It was acquired in 1945. Porch: Added in the 16th century, constructed with Corallian limestone rubble walls and Shaftesbury Sandstone quoins.

17th Century: A pulpit from 1635 is a notable feature. 19th Century Restorations: The chancel arch was rebuilt and the nave extended to the west in 1885. A wooden belfry was also added in 1885. A more extensive restoration took place in 1896, costing £900. Building Materials: The church incorporates various local Dorset building stones, including Shaftesbury Sandstone, Corallian limestone from Marnhull, and Forest Marble.

History and Development: Foundation: The church was founded in the 13th century, with the first recorded Rector in 1297. Early Construction: The north wall of the nave, likely from the late 12th or early 13th century, is the oldest surviving part. It was originally an aisleless, two-compartment building. 13th Century Expansion: Around the mid-13th century, the chancel was rebuilt on a larger scale. A project to build a larger nave was started, with the south wall being built, but it was not completed to match the chancel's axis. 15th Century Additions: In the 15th century, new windows were added to the old north wall, and the nave was re-roofed.

The Church of St Paul in Hammoon, Dorset, is a charming and historically significant parish church, notable for its age and architectural features. It is a Grade I listed building, signifying its exceptional architectural and historic interest. Here's a breakdown of what makes St Paul's Church, Hammoon, special:

Only opens from Weds to Sunday