Evershot - Dorset

We walked this clockwise from Evershot, turning north beside  the church and then left onto the path that leads to Girt Lane. This follows the Macmillan Way Link and eventually meets a short section of lane at Clarkham Cross Farm before turning east towards Melbury Osmond. We stopped here for lunch. Although the route turns south at Melbury Osmond we turned left and enjoyed a rest at the church for a while where a bench has been thoughtfully provided. After a short lunch break we continued south along the Macmillan Way/Hardy Way.

This section of the route is along the drive to Melbury House, which it skirts to the right when you eventually reach the house, before continuing through the deer park. Multiple signs urge you to keep to the path/road and the private tracks are well signposted! We were lucky to spot a herd of deer in the distance. We’d also spotted one in woodland earlier in the walk.

The track leads directly down into Evershot but we decided to turn right along ‘Dirty Lane’… we couldn’t resist! It wasn’t so much dirty as muddy. In fact there were a few places during this walk that were particularly muddy – and quite deep mud. Other, drier, sections also showed signs that in wetter weather there would be deep mud to negotiate. Decent boots needed…

We were glad we’d decided to make this ‘detour.’ Although it was muddy in places it was also packed with wild flowers. At the end of Dirty Lane we turned south and, when we got to the point on the outward walk where we turned towards Girt Lane, we turned left and followed a track that came out in a narrow lane. We turned left along the lane for a few yards before turning off again and followed a footpath south that, conveniently, emerged in the pub car park. Time for a beer.

The Acorn Inn features in Thomas Hardy’s work as the Sow and Acorn. Evershot is renamed Evershead and is mentioned in Tess of the Durbevilles.

A really lovely walk; mostly well signposted and so peaceful. Food for the soul. And the beer was welcome…