WALK 6:FORDE ABBEY ESTATE
Distance: 7.95km/4.94 miles (to Forde Abbey and back)
or 4.45km/2.76 miles (circular walk excluding detour to Forde Abbey)
All walk descriptions © Eve Higgs
TVT Walk 6 Map
TVT Walk 6 pdf
This walk takes you to Forde Abbey (distance: 4.48km/2.76 miles) or you can admire
from afar and take the shorter circular walk and have a separate day out to admire
the legendary gardens and take a tour of the house. For more information go to: http://www.fordeabbey-gardens-dorset.co.uk/
1. Go up the alleyway between the Old Forge and Worcester. Cross Potter's Field as
it is known locally, diagonally, where there is a footpath leading to the stile
in the middle of the trees ahead of you.
Wilfred Potter, a member of one of Thorncombe's oldest families and a much
loved member of the community, lived at Worcester from childhood until his death
in 2008 . (Wilfred Potter) Having climbed over the stile turn right and follow
the footpath to the top of Gribb View. Pass through the gate on your left and keeping
the hedge to your right walk through two fields, passing through a field gate,
another gate and over a stile until you reach the wood.
2. Climb over the stile in the wood and follow the path ahead. You are now on the
Forde Abbey estate. At the junction of the muddy track turn left and follow the
path around the old quarry until you reach another T-junction. Ignore the path to
the left, and take the path ahead. Either clamber over or shimmy through the gap
in the fence into the field. Walk straight across the field until you reach another
stile set into a steep bank. Haul yourself over, scramble down the muddy bank . If
you can't manage the stile turn left, go through the gateway by the copse, turn right
and keeping the hedge on your right rejoin the path.
3. Keeping the hedge on your right follow the path until you reach another stile.
The house you can see ahead is Forge Grange Farm. After the stile turn left and
keeping the hedge on your left pass through two fields until you reach another rather
high stile on Horseshoe Road. There is a gate on the left if you can't manage to
climb the stile. Cross the road and follow the track ahead. Your first glimpse of
Forde Abbey is to your right. The avenue of trees marks the approach to the grand
entrance which would have first been used by 17th century visitors. Edmund Prideaux,
Oliver Cromwell's Attorney General bought the ruined abbey from Sir Henry Rosewell
in 1649. and restored and extended it, as befitted his elevated social position.
Part of the the Abbey, a rare example of English Commonwealth it is designed in the
style of Inigo Jones. Francis Gwyn, Queen Anne's Minister for War, lived here between
1702 and 1734. (Thorncombe’s Jacobites)
4. Pass through the gate and keeping the hedge on your left cross the field and go
through the gate. Ahead of you is Partway, a medieval road, leading to Holditch.
If you wish to visit Forde Abbey turn right, keeping straight until you reach the
road. If you have a valid ticket you can use the entrance into the gardens by the
lodge. Otherwise you will need to walk round to the main entrance which you reach
by turning right and taking the first turning on the left which leads to the main
entrance.
5. To return to Thorncombe, turn left and follow the track until you reach two gates
at angles to each other. Pass through the right hand gate, and walk across the field
to the stile in the hedge Turn right and walk up Horseshoe Road until you reach a
wide entrance into the field opposite a copse. This is Searchlight Wood where there
was an aircraft battery during World War II. It was also used as a triangulation
point by Ordnance Survey during the 19th century.
6. Turn left through the entrance opposite Searchlight Wood and cross the field towards
the wood where you see an opening in the hedge. Go through the opening, follow the
path immediately ahead of you. It rejoins the path back to Thorncombe.
7. Turn right and retrace your steps.
