WALKS IN DORSET at SYDLING ST NICHOLAS (4K)

In this episode of my series “ Walks in Dorset”, I take a walk in and around the pretty village of Sydling St Nicholas - located about 9 miles North West of Dorchester. Once again I am accompanied by my Whippet, Logan.
I park my car in Church Lane and start my 5.5 mile circular walk at the church of St Nicholas (sadly closed due to some restoration work at the time of filming). After passing the old Court House I head along the main street through the village - which is full of delightful houses & cottages. One house has a very old petrol pump outside (used in the 1920's I believe but no longer in use).
After checking out the Greyhound Inn, I head back along East Street, over a stream (Sydling Water), and out into the countryside.
I initially follow part of the Wessex Ridgeway Trail up the side of a ridge towards Cowdon Hill - where there are stunning scenes across the valley & down into the village below - and then on to Higher City Farm.
My route then takes me South along a ridge towards Crete Hill and after passing the memorial cairn to Harriet Tory, I turn Westwards and drop down to Pond Bottom.
My homeward journey takes me past the location of a bronze age settlement on the Northern slopes of Shearplace Hill and down past Huish Farm and back into the village.
Map courtesy of Google Maps.
Aerial pictures courtesy of Google Maps
OS Maps. Media License.
Information Sources: Wikipedia, Dorset Churches, Historic England, British History Online & Dorset OPC.
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) Marching The Moors 2) Pembrokeshire, 3) Nicely Stone, 4) Marching The Moors , 5) Eko Eko, 6) Martin Down & 7) Open The G. 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.

[@susantaylor927]

Thank you Dave and Lovely Logan! We smiled at Logans blackberry nibbling! That was soo interesting with beautiful cottages and items you wouldnt think you would find en route! We love seeing Logan, whatever he is doing. He is a cracking dog! Thank you for taking us along!😊

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. Logan does love his blackberries!

[@jackwyatt9312]

Pretty countryside and delightful scenery. Thank you Dave.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Jack. :)

[@colindowkes7061]

Another wonderful walk through the Dorset countryside. Thank you .

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Colin. Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching.

[@melissaphillips3088]

I just wanted to say Dave congrats to you and Logan. He is a beautiful dog. Wonderful walk through the village. It is so pretty and the houses are spectacular. Just a gorgeous day and views. Thanks Dave and Logan.☀️

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Melissa. Looking forward to Crufts already!

[@willallen7757]

Lovely country, always entertaining to accompany you and Logan.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Will. There were some great views from the top of the ridge on that one!

[@Shinerfamily569]

Hi Dave - we loved this video of you and Logan. Such a beautiful part of the world. We’re big fans of The Greyhound Inn as well as the picturesque countryside around Sydling St Nicholas. Thanks so much!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you and indeed thanks for watching. We certainly enjoyed our walk around there and the views from the ridge were amazing.

[@keithjoseph5671]

Beautiful walk in the countryside and it is amazing

[@DaveFord]

Many thanks Keith.

[@aleksk2279]

Congratulation on your shows with Logan. Always enjoying you walks around Dorset.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Aleks. Logan is a good lad.

[@laviniagray5637]

Beautiful village of Syding and the homes are just amazing and all the flit walls. So cute Logan eating the blackberries. What a View . Logan you are so special. love all the history as always. Good job to both of you. You may be dry there but still looks beautiful. Enjoy the stop at the pub.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Lavinia. A late Summer walk just isn't complete without a "blackberry pit stop" for Logan!

[@VisionAssoc]

Superb walk…Another to put on the list for next Spring / Summer. There’s a couple of walks near Downton on your channel that’ll try and do in the coming weeks if the weathers reasonable. Thanks Dave and Logan and congratulations Logan on your successes in the shows 😀

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. I have another walk due to come out very shortly that is not too far from Downton so do look out for that!

[@rachelt-s]

I do love this area of Dorset - always something interesting to spot along the way. Thanks Dave for the guided tour. 😊

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Rachel. It is such a pretty village there.

[@bobbyspix]

Well done Dave and Logan with the dog shows

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Robert. Something to look forward to next year!

[@kevinedw2002]

Another wonderful video - it made a bad day better! Thank you.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Kevin, glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching.

[@blueteeth.spooker]

Another lovely film, Dave, thank you, and hearty congratulations on Logan’s success at the shows and obviously your excellent training. For four years I lived just south of where you were - although the address was Sydling, the location was closer to Grimstone at the foot-end of the Sydling valley, so we got to know the area quite well. Always loved that walk and views from Higher City Farm going southwards - well-drained enough chalk to be easy-going where other places could be quagmires in the wet! Thank you for posting - thoroughly enjoyable, and Happy New Year 🙂

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Andy and Happy New Year to you as well.

[@SkylarkFields]

What an interesting walk, and I'm glad it didn't rain on you. There's a ford at the end of the village where Logan could have had a quick paddle, in between the odd passing vehicles! Lovely village, and spectacular views from up top! Congrats to you and Logan, by the way!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. Yes, I thought we might be in trouble when those clouds appeared but we escaped! Thanks for the info about the ford.

[@jeanblemings5352]

Sidling Water to Up Sidling reminded me of the Lym trail to Uplyme on one of your earlier walks and both linked by the Wessex Ridgeway trail. Well done to Logan on all his rosettes and awards. Richly deserved. I loved seeing him picking the blackberries. Another stunning walk!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Jean. Yes, Logan does like his "blackberry pit stops"!

[@Jane-cb9iu]

Hi Dave love your walks my favourite walk is studland and old Harry’s rock also lower bockhampton along the river is lovely

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Jane. Logan & I really enjoyed the video walk we did at Studland last year. We are planning on filming a walk at Stinsford & Lower Bockhampton next year. Thank you for watching.

[@CityWalks]

Beautiful village and tour. Love the lingo too. Not sure what a "stonking conker" is though. 😀 -H

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. There were certainly some very impressive conkers on that tree! Thanks for watching.

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Lovely walk Dave. Some very pretty houses and quite spectacular views. I was amused to see Logan chasing the ball. He found the ball and then waited for you to pick it up, as if to say "Here it is Dad. You pick it up ".Congratulations to you and Logan for the success in the recent shows. Great work.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Lionel. Yes, I think that Logan was making his Dad work there!

[@anthonynichols5053]

A lot of my family still lives there today I have pictures of the Bells and clock if you would like to see them.

[@DaveFord]

Hi Anthony. What a lovely village to live in. I am due to go back there again this year to film a walk in another direction that finishes in the village so I hope to have a look inside the church then. Thanks for your kind offer offer though.