WALKS IN DORSET at WIMBORNE ST GILES (& THE SOURCE OF THE RIVER ALLEN)

In this episode of my series “ Walks Dorset” , I take a “Winter” walk in and around the village of Wimborne St Giles. Once again I am accompanied by my Whippet, Logan.
My 5 mile circular route begins with an exploration of the village, starting at The Bull Inn (currently closed) at the Southern end. After crossing the River Allen and passing by the Mill House (which has some 18th century stocks in front of it!) I visit the Church of St Giles & All Hallows.
I then head westwards out of the village, initially following the course of the River Allen. After a quick detour to visit the churchyard of All Hallows (the church there was demolished in 1742), I join the Jubilee Trail and head towards the hamlet of Monkton Up Wimborne.
The Manor Farm there used to have a small chapel in the grounds to the South (demolished in 1742) but there was also a church known as the “Tin Chapel” (All Saints - it was built using corrugated iron) just 300 yards to the West. It was dedicated in 1889 & still appeared on a 1961 ordnance survey map. However it was demolished / removed sometime in the 1970's and there is no evidence now of it's existence.
I take another detour off my route by heading further West to check out the source of the River Allen - which had flooded the road after recent rain!
Back on my original route, I cross the River Allen again & head South up towards Tenantry Down before heading East over Brockington Down.
My homeward leg takes me past the deserted village at Brockington and along the Hardy Way back to Wimborne St Giles.
CORRECTION: Thomas Hardy was born in HIGHER Bockhampton and not Lower Bockhampton as stated towards the end of the video!
Map courtesy of Google Maps.
Music by Original Spruce (Copyright owner). Permission for me to use this track has been given to me by the copyright owner. 2022. Tracks (in order of appearance in the video): 1) Pembrokeshire, 2) Marching The Moors, 3) Eko Eko, 4) Open The G, 5) No Time For Lillies, 6) Nicely Stones & 7) Martin Down. (.To download these tracks & other music by Original Spruce go to: spruce1.bandca...
For further videos in the series, please go to: / @daveford or my website at daveford5966.w...
My Facebook page is: / davescountrysidewalks
I use a GOPRO HERO 7, 8 or 10 Black Action Camera (sometimes with a Gimbal) & a Rode microphone (either a “Shotgun” or a Rode Wireless Go) together with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS.

[@dafadowndilly8919]

Love the tranquility of your walk.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. :)

[@keithjoseph5671]

Amazing countryside walk with lovely beauty

[@DaveFord]

Many thanks Keith. :)

[@kenshort8901]

My childhood home for the age of 11 onwards. A couple of bits and pieces of information: 1. The 'tin chapel' at Monkton was pulled down in a early 1970s. It was actually set fire as a practice for the local Cranborne part-time fire brigade to put out. My father was in charge of maintenance on the Shaftesbury Estate and he organised it. 2. The source of the river Allen in the summer is where you identified it. In winter the Allen is a 'winterborne' and rises further up the valley and the river runs down the road (as you saw).

[@DaveFord]

Thanks for the information Ken. It is always good fun trying to find the source of rivers although it does seem to change over the seasons!

[@laviniagray5637]

Hello you two. Beautiful day for a walk. Love the church! All of the snowdrops are just amazing never seen so many in one place. Hats a big oak.

[@DaveFord]

Hi Lavinia. Yes it has been a great year so far for snowdrops for sure.

[@kath3332]

Thanks for the videos. They are such a tonic as I haven’t been able to walk any distance for a while (hip operation). Packed with interest.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Kath. Glad that you are enjoying the series. I hope that you recover from your hip operation soon.

[@melissaphillips3088]

Hello Dave and Logan. Lovely walk and such beauty everywhere. Hope you both are having a wonderful day☀️

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Melissa. :)

[@jeanblemings5352]

Another video packed full of interest! Well done on tracking down the tin church. Looks like the threat of the stocks worked as it seemed Logan was super well behaved - as ever!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Jean. Yes, I am not sure that Logan had worked out what the stocks were for!

[@rachelt-s]

Thanks for the video. I love this area Dave - so much to see along the beautiful River Allen. I was reading about Chalk Streams - they are incredibly rare. There are only 200 in the world and most of them are found in the South of England (a few in France) so we are very blessed here in Dorset with loads of chalkland to choose from.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Rachel. The River Allen was certainly in good flow that day!

[@AnyoneForToast]

Lovely Mr Ford, (and Mr Logan). Has little Mr Fiver grown up into a tenner yet? And will he be making another guest appearance as Route Finder General this year? Thank you all.

[@DaveFord]

Yes, Fiver will be making a few guest appearances again this year. He (& I) are doing a "Muddy Dog Challenge" event this Spring (a 5K obstacle course in the countryside) which we hope to film .... it should be fun!

[@AnyoneForToast]

@@DaveFord It's a Knockout, with a dog! What could possibly go wrong! I'll look forward to it. You and your's put me to shame, I should put more effort into getting out more myself. Thank you for the inspiration. 😀

[@carlwebster4217]

Hi there Dave I have recently discovered your channel quite entertaining. My ancestors lived at Monkton up Wimbourne at the Manor Farm. Not sure if they are owned it or just worked there.

[@DaveFord]

Hi Carl and welcome to the channel! I hope that you enjoy the future videos in the series. Thanks for watching.

[@paulbryan4498]

Went to school there mr follows headmaster mr prance was the vicar late 70s

[@DaveFord]

What a lovely place to go to school.

[@paulbryan4498]

It was apart from mrs beach one of the teachers used to walk to the village hall for our lunch put me right off cabbage never eaten it since but found memories