9. Win Green and Tollard Royal

Walk - approximately 5 ½ miles

Win Green is about four and a half miles east of Shaftesbury, and the cluster of' trees on the top is a local landmark, being visible for miles around.

This is a fairly straight-forward walk, with one long steady incline. The countryside is glorious, and you may well see deer. This is part of Cranborne Chase. Food can be obtained in the pub and the village store in Tollard Royal.

Leave Shaftesbury on the A30 Salisbury road, but almost immediately after the roundabout by the Royal Chase Hotel on the eastern edge of the town turn right on the B3081 Tollard Royal road. This road turns sharp left after about one mile, and you go up Zig-Zag Hill (an interesting experience for drivers from the flat areas of the British Isles!). Continue for about one and a half miles, and after the road bears right, turn sharp left on the road signposted ‘The Donheads’. Very shortly turn right on a rough track signposted ‘By-Way to Win Green’. Park in the National Trust car park at the end of the track.

From the back right hand corner of the car park, follow the line of the fence until you reach a waymarked stile.

Cross this, turn left and walk down the field on the left hand side of the fence.

At the bottom go through a gate and into the wood. Keep straight on.

As you come out of the wood you will see a yellow arrow marker post. Turn right here and follow further marker posts indicating the winding path down the valley.

Join the track coming in from the left.

Soon you will see on your left a large house, Ashcombe Farm, which was once the secluded home of Cecil Beaton.

Continue on this track, going through a gate beside a mature beech tree. Pass a large cottage on your right, go through another gate and carry straight on.

Where the track eventually turns right through a small band of low trees, cross two stiles on your left just before a black shed on mushroom stones. (The distance along the valley bottom to these stiles is one mile).

Go up the track, through a gate and continue down to the village of Tollard Royal passing through another gate before reaching the road.

At the end of the valley where the track joins a metalled road note the track going back on yourself, signposted ‘By-Way to Win Green’.

It is worth while stopping to wander round the village. King John's House, a magnificent building which was once a royal hunting lodge, is next to the 13th century church. There are old murals, and a wooden cross which was originally erected by Swiss peasants on the spot in the Alps where the Hon. Alice Arbuthnot was killed by lightning eight weeks after she was married in this church.

Return to the track noted earlier and walk steeply uphill between trees. The ascent becomes more gradual after about one quarter of a mile, and there are fine views.

After about one and three quarter miles you reach a junction of tracks. Go ahead, and after about one-third of a mile (just past a cattle grid and gate) take the path forking to the left by the National Trust sign to a clump of trees on the summit. (Win Green).

Beyond the trees is a triangulation pillar and a panoramic dial which will help you to appreciate the magnificent views in all directions.

The Isle of Wight is visible on a clear day!

Continue on the track back to the car park.

Map 9. Win Green and Tollard Royal