Roman Road, Puddletown Forest – Thomas Hardy's Cottage loop from Dorchester

Hiking trails & Routes

Roman Road, Puddletown Forest – Thomas Hardy's Cottage loop from Dorchester

Hard

3.7

(6)

hikers

Roman Road, Puddletown Forest – Thomas Hardy's Cottage loop from Dorchester

05:01

18.9km

190m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 18, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

2.60 km

Bockhampton Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

lovely humped back bridge over the River Frome

Tip by

4.21 km

An adventurous and varied narrow path with occasional glimpses through (or over) dense vegetation (blackberry bushes) across the hills and fields.

The farmer's gate opens with difficulty. Don't hesitate to put in a bit of pushing and pulling.

Translated by Google •

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4.79 km

Rushy Pond

Highlight • Lake

An important watering hole for wildlife and the resident Dartmoor ponies, Rushy Pond buzzes with dragonflies and damselflies, whilst the pond’s surface is often disturbed by a newt surfacing for air or a grass snake on the hunt.
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/hardys-cottage/things-to-see-and-do-at-hardys-cottage

Tip by

5.22 km

Roman Road, Puddletown Forest

Highlight • Historical Site

this continues over to Duddle Heath and then down into Puddletown forest

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5.50 km

Greenwood Grange Café

Highlight • Cafe

Not sure I would recommend. Probably neutral - not overly welcoming and tbh at present (25/06/15) a bit average. However great location for Hardye's cottages and walks. Note - you need to pay to park

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6.16 km

Thomas Hardy's Cottage

Highlight • Historical Site

Built in 1800, this stunning thatched cottage was the birthplace of the famous writer, Thomas Hardy. Built by his great-grandfather, Hardy lived here for over 30 years and wrote some …

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11.1 km

Bench with a View over the Hills

Highlight • Viewpoint

2 benches to enjoy the view over the hills, the peace and good company..🐮

Translated by Google •

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12.6 km

Meadow Path towards the A35

Highlight • Trail

The start of a beautiful stretch through hilly meadows where cows graze and can be muddy.
Warning! This path ends at the A35, a busy motorway where there is no …

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Tip by

18.9 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

14.1 km

3.29 km

591 m

376 m

340 m

289 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

8.32 km

3.66 km

3.53 km

2.22 km

591 m

237 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (120 m)

Lowest point (50 m)

Weather

Saturday 17 October

13°C

3°C

17 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 24.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

October 22, 2025,The Heart of Hardy Country 🇬🇧

Last week, during the autumn holidays, I went to the United Kingdom for an autumnal break with my partner.
I found this route from the booklet 'Dorset Walks' in our holiday cottage, which I also found on Komoot.
Thomas Hardy is a famous writer (Tess of the d'Urbervilles, among others) who apparently made a good living from it, as he …

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