Beamai one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I've walked a lot of Slow Ways and this is a real cracker. Absolutely beautiful countryside - rolling hills, stunning views, woodlands, meadows, nature reserves roaring with the sounds of insects, deep history... didn't see a single other person walking and it was a beautiful weekend day.

We were walking the route to check it as part of the Slow Ways National Parks Trail and I 100% recommend it for that. The route largely follows the Wessex Ridgeway Trail through the Dorset National Landscape.

The previous reviews are good. Some things to be aware of.

- The route follows the A356 for about 100 metres. I have added a photo from where the footpath connects with the road and the sign to leave the A road can be seen in the distance. This is less than ideal. We could always step off the road, but it is a fast road and you will need to take care. Some people would flag this issue and make this route a "maybe", but the route does follow the official Wessex Ridgeway route here. Note to path/land managers - how about a hole in the hedge opposite Higher Drove?

- Bring a stick and/or some secateurs. We were fine, but the path was getting rich with vegetation in places.

- We had to work around a big couple of puddles on the track between Gold Hill and Coombe Farm, west of Mapperton. Someone local might be able to check if dropping down into the valley might be preferable to having to deal with that. If you are a local land owner, can you drain or fill the puddles in please!

- There is lots and lots of grass. If it's been wet you are likely to get wet!

BUT, don't let that put you off. This is one of my favourite Slow Ways.

Not quite perfect today because of some monster puddles (see below), but a beautiful and varied walk with plenty of views and I would happily walk it again. Good for a lover of nature as it leads through a developing rewilding site at Mapperton (grazed by beautiful Park White cattle) along the way, as well as Kingcombe National Nature Reserve, managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust, which boasts hundreds of acres of traditionally-managed farmland, including old-fashioned flowery meadows, and a visitor centre close to the route, which has a cafe open five days a week in the summer. Its probably the only place along the way where you can lay your hands on food and drink. Generally, though you’d best tackle this route well supplied with both.

It’s an up and down route and thus a big 11 miles. I walked it Beaminster to Maiden Newton though my photos are all looking backwards.

There are a few some small things to note, the biggest issue being those puddles on a couple of hundred metre section of the bridleway south of Gold Hill and approaching the road towards Mapperton. There had been some thunderstorms recently so there were large inundated stretches (pictured). This is obviously a bit of a problem at wet times because walkers have sensibly developed a path along inside the north side hedge-bank to avoid them, but now the landowner has put up notices in big red letters telling folk not to do this, announcing tree planting. My advice? - ignore and use the path! I’m all for accommodating landowner requests, but this one is fanciful. It’s either that, or walk in wellies all day, or have wet feet the rest of the day.

The second issue is the 150m stretch of main A road mentioned by the previous reviewer. It was ok to walk today and I felt safe. It was not too busy, there are good sight-lines and there is a little verge. It is clearly impossible to avoid this section of road as the way-marked Wessex Rdigeway path uses it, but I agree, the verge should be cut and it hadn't been. Consider wearing something hi-viz here when visibility is poor and watch your back generally.

Otherwise the only other thing to mention is a couple of places where the path isn't exactly as mapped, owing to exuberant vegetation. The first place is heading up the hill through the meadows coming out of Lower Kingcombe where the path jinks straight up left at w3w broached.staked.scare to get through the scrubby bit rather than through the middle of it as shown on the map. The second is on the way into Maiden Newton on the path along the Frome. Instead of crossing the thick sedge beds diagonally from w3w shameless.riders.stubborn, it turns left and goes around the edge of the field, heading straight towards the river bank.

I don’t recall a single stile on this route. Refreshing not to have to climb over anything. And all the gates opened ok.

The railway runs through Maiden Newton. Hard to get to Beaminster on public transport. There is a very roundabout and limited bus service that runs from Yeovil to Bridport three 6 days a week at the time of writing so possible, but not at all efficient.

I really enjoyed this route going from Maiden Newton to Beaminster. It starts off with a lovely Riverside walk, and travels through beautiful countryside the whole way. Much of the route uses the Wessex Ridgeway, and it is well maintained and well signed. There is a very short section walking on the A356 where there is no path, but there is a verge. As this is part of the Wessex Ridgeway I was surprised that a path hadn't been cleared on the verge.
Approaching Mapperton the views really open out, and you can see the tops of the coastal cliffs.
There are 2 very minor plotting errors, but the footpaths are clearly marked on the ground, so easy to follow.
Approaching Beaminster you go through Parnham Park where there are deer who will stare at you, so this bit might be tough for the paranoid. I also spotted David Attenborough just hanging around.
There are plenty of places to eat and drink at the start and finish, but nothing between.
Great walk.

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