WALKS IN DORSET at MELPLASH & NETHERBURY (4K)

In this episode of my series “ Walks in Dorset” I explore around the villages of Melplash & Netherbury - located about 3 miles North of Bridport. Once again I am accompanied by my Whippet, Logan.
I park my car in a layby opposite The Half Moon pub which is situated on the A3066 just to the South of the main part of Melplash. My walk starts with an exploration of Christ Church at Melplash, before passing The Half Moon pub & heading Westwards towards the hamlet of Oxbridge.
At Oxbridge, I head North following the course of the River Brit, passing by “River Cottage” - made famous from the TV series by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
My route then takes me to the pretty village of Netherbury which is full of delightful houses & cottages as well as the magnificent Chantry House & Rectory. I visit the Church of St Mary before continuing North, past the remains of Clenham Hill, to Parnham House.
The footpath has been diverted around Parnham House - so I was not able to see it - but I did get to walk through the Deer park, before crossing the A3066 and making a climb up Coombe Down Hill.
Heading South along a ridge, I get some great views of the Dorset landscape from the top of both North Warren Hill & South Warren Hill, before dropping back down into Melplash.
XXX THE NEXT PARAGRAPH IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IF YOU ARE DOING THIS WALK. XXX
After descending off South Warren Hill, you will need to turn left and walk along a road (A3066). BEWARE : Although you are only on this road for 100 yards, it has blind corners & high verges, and traffic travels very fast along it. TAKE GREAT CARE! After 100 yards along this road, turn right through a field gate at a finger post. Turn left along the side of the field and in the field corner turn right to follow a tree-lined fence In the far field corner cross a stile and turn left to follow a track around the outside of Melplash Court.
My last bit of the walk takes me past Melplash Court before returning to my car.
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) Nicely Stone, 3) Eko Eko, 4) Marching The Moors & 5) 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.

[@pheebs273]

A lovely video to watch after a long day at work ❤

[@DaveFord]

Thank you and indeed thanks for watching. :)

[@timrichards6997]

Great commentary on the walks and an inspiration to get me out and about from Bridport. Like the way you talk in miles and yards not f-----g metric.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Tim. I hope that you get great weather when you go on your walks. Thanks for watching.

[@etinarcadiaego3296]

What a nice walk in this beautiful countryside. It's strange in the first church I feel like they've reversed the locations between the font and the altar...

[@LwsNun]

I've been wanting to move to Dorset for years. Currently I'm living it through your videos. Thank you so much for these great walks.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Lewis. Dorset is such a beautiful county for sure.

[@jeanblemings5352]

The badminton court in the church was very surprising! I wonder also how Logan would have reacted if the ghost of the huge Dougal dog had manifested at Parnham! Thanks for another really interesting video. Love all the stories and research you put into them! Was the mileage much increased by the footpath closure/ realignment?

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Jean. No, the diversion of the footpath at Parnham was only minor.

[@blueteeth.spooker]

Absolutely lovely film, Dave, really enjoyed it - and so glad the weather and visibility was so good that day, to show off West Dorset at its best. Years ago, friends lived at Stumps (cottage) in Oxbridge (as on that post with house names on it) - we came out from the Hare and Hounds at nearby Waytown one day, after a cider or two, and a perfect rainbow ended right at his house. Work took me to Parnham House a few times - when it was home to the furniture maker John Makepeace’s school for craftsmen in wood, whilst I worked at Hooke Woods, just three miles to the east. Terrible shame that that lovely building should have suffered such a devastating fire some years ago. It’s a stunningly beautiful area; I feel privileged to have come to know it quite well over the years, living nearby and working there. Happy New Year to you, and here’s to more great walks in ’23.

[@DaveFord]

What a lovely area to have worked and lived nearby Andy. Happy New Year to you too.

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Lovely walk in glorious weather Dave. Loads of history behind those big houses you showed us. Great views over to the sea. I also spotted a train in the foreground of that shot. Did you plan that, or was it accidental. Logan seems to be slowing down lately. It's either the weather, or his age. Or maybe he's taking pity on his dad!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Lionel. Yes, Logan will be 7 (officially a veteran!) in January so we are both slowing down gracefully!

[@keithjoseph5671]

Beautiful countryside walking tour with stunning beauty in great weather

[@DaveFord]

Thanks as always, Keith.

[@stephenjacobs4692]

I visited Parnham House while on holiday in Dorset in 1991. At that time it was owned by John Makepeace, the noted furniture designer. He sold it ten years later. I still have the guidebook and entrance tickets as well as photographs I took at the time. A lovely walk with excellent weather.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Stephen. The house has certainly got some interesting history attached to it - I would have loved to have got a bit nearer and been able to see it in detail. Thank you for watching.

[@ralphfeay8857]

We absolutely love your videos. They are so well done and all the information is so interesting. My husband can’t drive and we miss going out walking to all these off the road location. You bring them alive for us. Bless you and lovely Logan. Sheila and ralph

[@DaveFord]

Thank you for our kind comments. I hope that you both enjoy the future videos in the series. Thanks for watching.

[@RogerB747]

Another great video, thank you Dave

[@DaveFord]

Many thanks Roger. :)

[@geoffw8565]

Thanks Dave, one of your best ! Staggering countryside and villages and love the historical backgrounds/explanations.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Geoff. It really was quite lovely around there.

[@chrisn3706]

Lovely walk again Dave, from the fascinating churches to the delightful cottages, gorgeous villages and beautiful countryside & stunning views. Really enjoy your videos and thanks for all the history and facts very informative & interesting. Nice also to see the bee hives and the pink animal! Lovely to see Logan enjoying the water.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Chris. The weather was great that day although when I spotted that pink animal I thought that the sun had got to me!

[@eldred1809]

Fine weather, beautiful scenery, an informative guide and a charming dog. And to top it off, a pint at the Half Moon! Another excellent video Dave. My dog was like Logan with regards to water, he'd quite happily paddle until the water hit his undercarriage, then he'd almost go onto tiptoes, it was comical to watch.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. Yes, Logan rarely goes deeper than chest high (although I did film him in the River Avon two weeks ago & amazingly the bottom two inches of his chest were submerged!).

[@melissaphillips3088]

I love all the churches you go to Dave. Such a wonderful video. I am trying to go back and watch as many as I can . You give such amazing history on everything. Thank you so much as I learn a lot about these beautiful places. 👏🏻

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Melissa. Both of those churches were a real joy to explore.