Yetpid one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Yetpid here.

I walked after weeks of rain (December 2023) and it might be totally different at other times. Walking to the South its easy till you have gone under the railway but then it became increasingly muddy. Herbury Lane has deep tractor ruts. Sometimes there are brambles on both sides and mud in the middle. Wear gumboots or be prepared to get wet feet, as I did .
At Chetnole there is a pub perhaps 500 metres off the route if you want a rest. At Charing Cross Farm the map on Slow Ways suggests you walk to the west of the farm buildings then turn east.My OS map says to go through the farmyard and a little round footpath sign sent me this very way - a good chance to see the cattle indoors. Immediately past th efarm buildings, turn south across several meadows. Yellow footpath signs on most gates. There is one electric fence covered in plastic pipe and 2 stiles. After the second stile keep the hedge on your right for a time then cross and keep it on your left.
You then have several miles of tarmac. Load Lane is long and strait - a typical enclosure road, with large fields either side. As you get to the southern end of Hilfield parish you get to the more twisting lanes, very probably established in Saxon days, when there were 'fields on the hill'. After the large house on the left, Church Farm, you could take a side trip to Hilfield Church 200 metres away. it is usually open, with an outside bench with good views of the Blackmoor Vale. But it is not as interesting as the churches you pass in Yetminster, Cerne Abbas or Piddletrenthide.
At Hilfield Friary, you are welcome to the chapel, the courtyard, and the public WCs. The shop is usually open Wed - Saturday afternoons. Walkers can book to stay in the guesthouse. See hilfieldfriary.org.uk.
Be careful as you walk up the hollow way, as there is an occasional enormous tractor taking up the whole road, between the steep banks.
At the top of Hilfield Hill, cross over and follow a track which used to be covered with brambles but was well cut back this year. If it is muddy many people cross the narrow wood and walk on the field side. You then follow a gravel road a short distance and take the left hand of 2 metal gates. Even in summer there can be a large puddle to cross.
(The other matal gate is a wonderful ridge route to Dorchester. This point is also on the Wessex Ridgeway - notice the wooden signs)
Following the hedge on the left, the way soon becomes an easy downhill track, with a first view of the giant. Be careful of traffic on short stretch on the A352. There is a permissory path to avoid it but its not on the map and hard to find till you reach the Giant View car park where it is signed. Don't believe the recently set up notice board about the 2 possible ages to the giant. There's now a theory that it has a third date - Saxon.
A much nicer walk into the village - and no further distance - is to turn first left off Duck St, pass the village hall and turn right to walk along the River Cerne, emerging at Abbey House, built with materials from the enormous Abbey after 1537. Turn right. The church has a good local history exhibition. At the village centre on Long Street there are public toilets and nearby are the Cerne Abbas stores wich sells almost everything, 3 pubs and a tea shop. There are buses from here every 2 hours to Dorchester and Sherborne.
There is a steep walk up Piddle Lane, with a few passing cars, but the turn to the left onto the field is well signed. Past a farm there is a bench on the route.
Be careful crossing the main road if it is foggy on the Downs, as it often is. The long track to Piddletrenthide is easy, steadily downhill. Piddletrenthide Church, is a short detour from the point where the slow way turns right.
you now head due south keeping the road and river at the valley bottom to the left.

A most enjoyable, quiet country side walk, like into the old days.
The first section, along the Wriggle River (3km), can be muddy.
About 8km is on tar road, the rest is trail.
No special obstacles, except some steps, stiles, kissing gates.
There are no facilities between Yetminster and Cerne Abbas.

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