WALKS IN DORSET at MORETON & THE LAWRENCE OF ARABIA TRAIL [4K]

This is another video in my series “ Walks in Dorset” accompanied by my Whippet (Logan). In this episode, I take a walk in and around the pretty village of Moreton (located a 3 miles South of Bere Regis) in Dorset - taking in part of the “Lawrence of Arabia Trail” (as much of the route passes locations associated with his life).
I have presented a very brief history of T E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) at the start of the video, which hopefully gives the viewer some background information about his life & story.
My 4 mile circular walk starts at the public viewing area (free car park) by the Bovington Tank Training area. There is a small memorial in the car park that commemorates the death of Lawrence (he died in a tragic motorbike accident nearby). I initially head North through some woodland, next to the training area, to visit Clouds Hill - the small cottage that was once Lawrence's home.
From Clouds Hill, I initially head West along a road - take care as it can be busy at times & there isn't a pedestrian path - for about 200 yards or so before changing direction & heading South along Moreton Drive & though the delightful Moreton Plantation towards the River Frome.
After crossing what is one of the longest fords in the South of England (over the River Frome), I explore the pretty village of Moreton. A visit to the church of St Nicholas (which held the funeral of Lawrence in 1935) was followed by a look at the grave of Lawrence in the churchyard.
I then had a lovely stroll through the Walled Garden (free entry although donations are encouraged) with it's 5 acres of landscaped gardens (dogs welcome) followed by light refreshments at the cafe.
My route then took me back over the ford and then on a North Easterly direction through stunning heathland & woodland back 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) Nicely Stone, 2) Marching the Moors , 3) Pembrokeshire, 4) Eko Eko & 5) Martin Down (The “harp music” was not one of the tracks).
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]

Full of nostalgia for me as I am Poole born and bread and now living across the border. I am looking for, not too hilly walks that would get my old bones working again and I think I have found some in your channel. Thank you.

[@DaveFord]

I hope that you have great weather when you go out on your walks. Thanks for watching.

[@paulhobbs8275]

An excellent little film, really well presented and with great narration, with just the right balance of information and observation. Thanks!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you for your kind comments Paul.

[@janetheineck2609]

Thank you, Dave, for a lovely walk. I have walked between Bovington Camp and Cloud's Hill. Unfortunately, I had no time to walk further. Happy memories.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Janet and indeed thank you for watching.

[@jillageinthevillage8481]

Have you upgraded your camera, the quality of picture is outstanding.

[@DaveFord]

Yes indeed. I now have a Gopro 10 - previously I was using a Gopro 7. I did have issues initially with the 10 (with image stabilization) but after a firmware update it seems OK now!

[@simon-oy6um]

Very much like your vids brings back many old memories of my old stamping ground ,now 74 and living in the virgin isles 😊😊😊❤❤

[@DaveFord]

Thank you & indeed thanks for watching.

[@simon-oy6um]

If lawrence was wearing a skid lid he may well have survived

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

When I saw the church, I realized I’d been there some years ago. I was amazed by windows, not stained glass, but clear glass engraved with scenes of fighter planes. Someone told us the original windows had been blown out by a bomb. The picture you found, suggested it was more than the windows that were damaged.. Interesting story about T E Lawrence and must be fascinating to watch the tanks in action. What a lovely day you picked once again.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Lionel. It was great to be out in some "Winter" glorious sunshine.

[@jeffpatching4417]

Another great video, thanks Dave

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Jeff. :)

[@Originalspruce]

A really interesting walk Dave and such a bonus to hear some of my tunes in the background. Smiling!😀

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Mark and indeed thank you again for letting me use your super music.

[@christinegibbins6105]

Thank you Dave and Logan, found that fascinating. Always intrigued by Lawrence's story / legend. As you say very poignant at the moment. Take care.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Christine. Yes, seeing that training area does make you think about things now.

[@stevefricker7005]

Lovely. I've been there and my hound loved the ford. Your videos are most uplifting, relaxing and informative.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. That is a great walk if you have a dog that loves water!

[@abdelosajia2733]

Great Show 🙏🤲 Thank for sharing, i next Year travel 🤲🤲🤲

[@DaveFord]

Thank you & indeed thanks for watching.

[@patriciamurray9028]

Lovely relaxed delivery. So much easier to watch than a lot of programmes you see on the telly. The music fitted so well. I really want to go there now!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Patricia. Glad you like the music.

[@MrIvorfan]

Please don’t apologize for the history lesson. It is the clearest and most concise explanation I have ever heard. At 00:08:56 there are some yellow flowers amongst all the greenery. Do you happen to know what they were?

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. I am not sure about those yellow flowers .I did wonder if it was yellow gorse close up but the flower maybe looks to big for that.

[@johnstreeter9392]

Hi Dave, We walked the Lawrence of Arabia Trail today. Lovely sunny day but perhaps not the best choice of walk after all the rain recently. The track leading to Moreton Ford was flooded for the last fifty yards. Up to a foot deep just before the ford bridge, my boots were full of water. I resorted to giving Sally a piggy back the last few yards to the bridge - luckily she is quite light. Tess, our Springer Spaniel, loved it of course. We bypassed the ford on the way back by taking the private track from Moreton House over their bridge and back to the the original track - naughty I know but I would hope the owners would understand. Our little adventure didn’t spoil the day though - and your history lesson brought it all to life for us. Thanks again Dave for the inspiration. A walk perhaps better done in Spring/Summer though. John, Sally and Tess.

[@DaveFord]

Well done both of you (& Tess). We have certainly had some rain recently and it is difficult finding many walks at the moment without mud, swollen rivers or squelchy ground . Roll on the Spring!

[@daveerickson9524]

Thanks Dave I just subscribed. You do a terrific job, thoughtful and modestly presented: always lovely to watch. And of course there's Logan.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Dave & indeed welcome to the channel. I hope that you enjoy future videos in the series. Thank you for watching.

[@kenessex528]

Dave it would be helpful and nice if you could make some guide maps for the walk’s you show to make it easier for visitors like myself to follow as you make them very interesting,meanwhile best wishes to you and Logan. Ken

[@DaveFord]

Hi Ken. I put a picture of a map of the walk at the start of the video - usually within the first 60 seconds. In this particular video it appears at 39 seconds. In addition, a photo of the map is included in the photos within the post for each walk that appears on the Facebook page "Dave's Countryside Walks". If you go to that Facebook page and then type in the name of the walk in the search bar, that will bring up the post for that walk .... the map will be one of those photos. You can then print off the photo of the map. Hope that helps. Cheers. Dave.

[@colindowkes7061]

What a great video.Very interesting with all the local knowledge. Look after Logan , I read about valuable dogs being stolen in the new forest area this week. Thank you Dave.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Colin and indeed thank you for the info about stolen dogs.

[@KenDay]

Thank you for uploading this. Really enjoyable.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Ken.

[@haroldn1]

Thank you for sharing, the chances of me getting there from New Zealand in person in this troubled world is sadly remote, so much appreciated.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks and indeed thank you for watching. All the best.

[@ianmccaughan7121]

Fabulous video Dave .Great to see some of the places I have been on holidays .In Morton the old school was a tea rooms and I used to work for a lady in Liss Hampshire were I live thats sister was a teacher .TE Lawrence would have loved Logan's army jacket 👍

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Ian. A couple of walkers commented on how smart Logan looked in his coat as we wandered along!

[@paulineshave3880]

After watching your video we put this walk on our list of interesting places to visit, and when we got round to it yesterday it certainly didn't disappoint! Really enjoy watching your weekly walks - you give us lots of ideas, and it's great to learn a bit about the history behind the places you visit too.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Pauline. Glad you had a great walk.

[@HobsNobs]

Great video I will get out and give a lot of your videos a go once I get my legs back working and sun is out.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Stefan. Glorious sunny weather is certainly always a plus for sure!

[@wiseowl6354]

Thank you Dave and Logan for a beautifully filmed video. What a fascinating life T. E. Lawrence had... I will have to do some research on him, and make a visit to the area and his grave. Again, thank you both. ❤️

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. Yes, Lawrence certainly managed to pack a lot in to his relatively short life.

[@jeanblemings5352]

I did the Lawrence trail myself many moons ago whilst on holiday at Weymouth when my son and his dad were revisiting the tank museum. Beautiful walk for you and Logan on a beautiful day! I loved watching Logan crossing the ford - on the day I walked the trail I remember a toddler toppled into the water from the walkway but luckily was hauled out pdq by his parent! Really appreciate also all the research you do on your videos and added information and images.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Jean. Normally Logan loves a "paddle" in the water but I think it was a touch on the chilly side!

[@alcollins5179]

Been there... done it! Thanks Dave another great video and a woof woof to Logan.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Al. :)

[@francishuddy9462]

Excellent video 👍📽️

[@DaveFord]

Many thanks and indeed thank you for watching.

[@ValerieGreenhill-f2x]

Brilliant

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Valerie & indeed thanks for watching.

[@lambrettascooter]

Hi Dave , great video. We did the walk last year , and as usual, we did it the other way round ! 😂. We also made a detour to bovington and back as my brother started his army career there. Half way along we were surprised by a small amount of soldiers on an exercise! We spent quite a long time at the church looking for Laurences grave until somebody told us it was across the road ! Also out crazy jack Russell, Maisie, jumped of the walkway into the Ford ! All the best Alan and Michelle

[@DaveFord]

Thanks to you both. I nearly did carry on and do the full route to include Bovington - as I would have liked to explore there - I will have to go back there soon. Cheers.

[@insertname9916]

You've excelled yourself Mr Logan, and your mate Dave. Thank you, please keep up the walks. Having moved from Hampshire to Dorset a few years ago I look forward to enjoying these areas new to me to. 🤠

[@DaveFord]

Thanks. Hope you enjoy the future "Walks in Dorset" videos in the series. :)

[@walkingthemiles4613]

Lovely scenery and well filmed thanks for sharing 👍👍

[@DaveFord]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. :)