WALKS IN DORSET at HORTON (& THE HORTON TOWER)

In this episode of my series “ Walks Dorset” , I take a “Winter”walk to Horton. Once again I am accompanied by my Whippet, Logan.
I park my car at a layby close to the village hall - there us further parking by the church - and start my 6 mile circular route with a look at the Church of Wolfrida as well as the field that was once the location of a previous Abbey. Passing by the impressive village pump, I follow a footpath Southwards across fields to Horton Tower - a Folly that sits high on a ridge.
I then head Eastwards and pass through Ferndown Forest, past amagnificent fishing lake, and on to Hart's Bridge. There is a small section of road that has no pavement (about 150 yards) that has to be negotiated before the bridge (do take care of traffic if you are doing the walk).
My route then takes me North to Knob's Crook and from the footpath I can look South towards the location of what was once “Monmouth's Ash”(where the Duke of Monmouth was captured in 1685).
I change direction again, heading Westwards through Woodlands Park & the Remedy Oak Golf Club. At this point in the video, I included a clip of film that I made earlier when I stopped off to visit the Remedy Oak itself (located North of Horton).
Passing through the golf course, I come to Woodlands Manor Farm. I was hoping to pick up a footpath from the farm through to the settlement of Haythorne …. but I couldn't find it! So I continued to follow the road out of the golf course & joined up with the main road back to Haythorne.
My final section of the walk took me along a footpath from Haythorne down in to Horton.
I finished my walk by taking a short car journey Westwards to the Horton Inn (which stands outside of the main village) for light refreshments.
NB: I should have removed my cap when I was in the church - please accept my apologies for the oversight.
Information Sources: Wikipedia, Dorset Churches, Historic England, British History Online & Dorset OPC.
Map courtesy of Google Maps.
Aerial pictures courtesy of Google Maps
OS Maps. Media License.
Historic Maps NLS Maps 'Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland' maps.nls.uk/in...
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) Open The G, 3) Eko Eko 4) Marching The Moors, 5) Nicely Stone, 6) Marching The Moors, 7) Martin Down, & 8) No time For Lillies. (.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.

[@RosaDenton]

Thankyou again Dave, so enjoying your walks, best wishes

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Rosa and indeed thank you for watching.

[@caerleon9176]

I remember going inside the tower about 35 years ago and having a bit of a under age drinking + camping adventure with my mates, shame that they havent completely restored it as it would be an excellent visitor attraction. Thanks Dave and Logan, for showing me home again.

[@DaveFord]

I would have loved to have been able to have looked inside and explored around the tower. It looked like there were workmen doing some sort of restoration on it when we were filming.

[@houseofharmony7307]

A wonderful walk through some picturesque countryside. Thank you Dave and Logan.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you & indeed thanks for watching.

[@keithjoseph5671]

Walking in the countryside with stunning beauty and gorgeous view

[@DaveFord]

Many thanks Keith. :)

[@cathpeterson1944]

beautiful church, tower is magnificent, love these country walks

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Cath & indeed thanks for watching.

[@melissaphillips3088]

So good to see you and Logan . What a beautiful view of the countryside you bring us Dave. It is gorgeous there.Thanks Dave and Logan for the walk .☀️👏🏻💕

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Melissa. :)

[@Tony-gv6ty]

Beautiful show. Love to Logan.🙏

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Tony. :)

[@nature_photography_yukon]

Beautiful walk and lovely church in Horton. Thank you for sharing!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Ellie. :)

[@gparry42]

Another fine walk, thanks for taking us with you Dave !

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Gareth

[@jhnshearn51]

Another wonderful video that had the memory working overdrive, back in the early seventies me and a couple of mates used to meet up at the Old Inn Holt have a few beers and race our cars around those forestry tracks late at night twas good fun, thanks for the video Dave.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you John. Glad that the video brought back so many happy memories for you! Thanks for watching.

[@laviniagray5637]

Glad the sun came out. Enjoyed Logans camo coat. Beautiful walks thank you both. Good you got a Pint and Logan Chisp.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Lavinia. Logan likes that fleece coat - just the right thickness to keep the chill off!

[@hannureittu4310]

Great walk and story! Thanks!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Hannu. :)

[@eldred1809]

Lovely day for a walk Dave. Am I right in thinking that the old Drusilla's Inn is now closed, used to go there quite often for the excellent fish dishes, a quaint, quirky old-style pub. When you said that Logan was sleeping, I thought to myself one rattle of that crisp packet would make his ears prick up, and lo and behold .....

[@DaveFord]

Yes, I think that you are correct about Drusilla's Inn (closed in 2019?). Somehow I think that Logan kept one ear "open" to listen out for that crisp packet!

[@harrimi]

Thanks for this Dave. My wife and I did this walk yesterday and had a lovely morning. Thanks for the tip on parking. We live near Ferndown so will be looking up other walks you recommend.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Mark. Glad you both had a lovely walk. Hope it wasn't too muddy! Thank you for watching.

[@SiobhanEyers-x2l]

Gorgeous walks dave a logan xx

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Siobhan & indeed thanks for watching.

[@jeanblemings5352]

The folly reminded me of Racton tower near the Hampshire / Sussex border. Another very interesting and well researched video. I too thought the rustle of the crisp packet would rouse Logan from his slumbers! Shame you could not sample the Remedy Oak brewers wares! The oak itself was cool though.

[@DaveFord]

Yes Jean, I must go back and check out the Remedey Oak Brewery - for research purposes of course!

[@ralphfeay8857]

Hello Dave really enjoyed the video lovely place we nearly moved to six penny handily we think it’s near there

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Ralph. My walk at Sixpenny Handley is being published this coming Friday so do check that one out!

[@rickdeckard4213]

Another great video from you Dave, I do really enjoy watching your walks, so please keep them coming. PS. May I ask where you source your olde maps from?!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Rick. The maps can be obtained online (for free) from the National Library of Scotland.

[@rickdeckard4213]

@@DaveFord Thanks for your quick response Dave, I'll be giving their website a visit shortly.

[@DaveFord]

@@rickdeckard4213 Here is the link maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/swipe/#zoom=15.0&lat=50.8268&lon=-1.3937&layers=1&right=BingHyb

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

That Horton Tower is typical of someone with more money than he knows what to do with it. The countryside is littered with follies, which had no practical purpose. It's unusual for a new golf club to be created these days. Quite a number have closed. They are costly things to maintain.

[@DaveFord]

I got chatting to the Golf Professional at the course - it certainly is very well presented for sure.