Page 65 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

DRIVE 4: Hardy Country and the Jurassic Coast 63

Road, following it to the Roman Town and trenches is now all grassed over
House 0 (open daily). The ruins reveal but the undulating banks vividly evoke
the heating system and mosaic floors. the ancient fortification (450–300 BC),
At the end of Northernhay, turn left overcome by the Romans in AD 43.
into The Grove, and on to a statue of ª Return to A35, heading east
Thomas Hardy. Cross The Grove and around Dorchester, turn left on B3150
walk up Bridport Road to the Keep and right on B3143. At Piddletrenthide,
Military Museum q (Apr–Sep: open turn left, following signs for Cerne
Mon–Sat; Oct–Mar: open Tue–Fri), Abbas, up a narrow, steep lane.
revealing the history of local army
regiments. From here, return to High 0 Cerne Abbas
West Street to see a fragment of Roman Dorset; DT2 7JF
Wall w by Princes Street. Cross here Amid the timbered, golden houses of
and follow West Walks, turning right at Cerne Abbas stands St Mary’s Church,
the end then left into Cornwall Road; dating from the 13th century and
cross Gt Western Road into Maumbury boasting a rare stone chancel screen.
Road, and head to the Maumbury However, the village is most famous Above Sherborne Abbey, featuring Saxon,
Rings e, a Neolithic henge, then a for the Cerne Giant, a chalk carving on Norman and Perpendicular architecture
Roman amphitheatre and later a place a hillside north of the village. Little is
of public execution. Return on known about the origins of the 55-m EAT AND DRINK
Weymouth Avenue to South Walks (180-ft) figure, wielding a club and
Road, back to the car park. proudly displaying his manhood. It DORCHESTER
ª Head south on Weymouth Avenue, was first recorded in 1694, though The Fridge inexpensive
turning off right on Maiden Castle Road. some historians believe it dates from Blue Vinny cheese, Dorset Apple Cake
and other local specialities are stocked
around 190 AD, possibly depicting in this award-winning delicatessen.
9 Maiden Castle Hercules – it has long been the site of 17 Tudor Arcade, DT1 1BN; 01305 269
Dorset; DT2 9PP fertility rituals. To view it, turn up Duck 088; www.thefridge.biz
Prehistoric Maiden Castle (open daily) Street from Long Street, following Potters inexpensive
is the largest Iron-Age hillfort in signs for the Giant and a parking area. This casual but smart café offers a
Europe. The vast and complex ª Turn right out of the viewing area, healthy selection of home-cooked
structure of 6-m (20-ft) ramparts on the A352, signed Sherborne. Follow food, from snack lunches to cakes.
19 Durngate St, DT1 1JP; 01305 260 312
signs to Abbey and park opposite.
Yalbury Cottage moderate
q Sherborne Classic French fare in a 350-year-old
former shepherd’s house, now an eight-
Dorset; DT9 3NL room hotel. Serves delicious cream teas.
The chief glory of this charming stone Lower Bockhampton, DT2 8PZ; 01305
town is Sherborne Abbey, a fine 262 382; www.yalburycottage.com
example of Perpendicular architecture SHERBORNE
whose fan-vaulted ceiling is studded The Green moderate
with colourful bosses depicting such Sophisticated modern European
images as a mermaid, an owl and a cuisine in a semi-formal restaurant
dog with a bone. To the east of using fresh, locally sourced produce.
town stands the ruined Old Castle 3 The Green, DT9 3HY; 01935 813 821;
(Apr–Oct: open daily), dating from the www.greenrestaurant.co.uk
12th century, and the New Castle Tamburino Gold moderate
(Apr–Oct: open Tue–Thu, Sat & Sun), built Sharing platters are a feature of this
for Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594, with grand popular Italian restaurant. There is a
special lunchtime menu on weekdays.
Above The chalk carving of the Cerne Giant, state rooms, a Tudor kitchen and now 1 Digby Road, DT9 3NL; 01935 389 053;
possibly a fertility symbol with parkland by “Capability” Brown. www.tamburino.co.uk
DAY TRIP OPTIONS Weymouth 6 for some fossil-hunting Coast and Castles
Dorchester and Swanage are both on Chesil Beach or Portland – but From Swanage 1, ride a steam train
good bases for exploring the keep away from the cliffs. If there’s before lunching at Worth Matravers
coastline, beaches and museums. time make a trip to Abbotsbury 7 2. Then head to Corfe Castle 3 and
with its children’s farm and swannery. Wareham 4, and finish off the day
Jurassic Adventure at Lulworth Cove 5 or Durdle Door.
Spend a morning at Dorchester’s 8 Weymouth is on the A354 from
Dinosaur Museum and Dorset County Dorchester, then use the B3157 for Take the A351, B3069, A351 and B3070;
Museum, pack a picnic and head to Chesil Beach; return as per the drive. skip Wareham, if short of time.

Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under £25; moderate, £25–£50; expensive, over £50

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