Tess of The Vale

19/06/2026

Cranborne, a small village, rich in history including naughty monks, revengeful princesses, ruined castles, smugglers and highwaymen. The landscape is filled with wild wood, spiritual burial mounds, Iron Age settlement, and Neolithic mystery, all of which is the playground for a plethora of wildlife. It has all been preserved thanks to the first conservationist – William the Conqueror, his Chase Law surviving the centuries and protecting the ancient monuments and darting deer we still encounter today. Follow the little chalk stream of the River Crane through old farms and fields, all part of the Cranborne Chase Farm Cluster, dedicated to care and protect the environment. Cross a Romano British Settlement and medieval deer park before entering in to the deep, dark woods of Burwood. Return with views to the old castle back to the village and the little River Crane.

See Cranborne Walk for more details…

19/06/2026

Explore the landscape once ruled by tribes, romans, monks, kings, smugglers and highwaymen.

Cranborne, a small village which is rich in history, including naughty monks, revengeful princesses, ruined castles, smugglers and highwaymen. The landscape is filled with wild wood, spiritual burial mounds, Iron Age settlement, and Neolithic mystery, all of which is the playground for a plethora of...

18/06/2026

The beaches in Dorset can fill up quickly, but there are plenty of other places, away from the crowds, to escape the high temperatures. It may even be possible to find your own little spot! However, not all are easy to get to; some require a little more of an adventure than others. Landowners may also impose certain rules, so please take notice of any warnings. On the Tess of the Vale website is a small collection of watering holes free of the hustle and bustle of life!

See wild swimming on the Tess of the Vale website for more…

18/06/2026

A collection of Dorset’s best watering holes with the best spots for wild swimming, paddling, and splashing!

Dorset is experiencing a massive boom in tourism, the beaches can fill up quickly, but there are plenty of other places, away from the crowds, to escape the high temperatures! It can even be possible to find your own little spot.

18/06/2026

Don’t forget, Dorset can claim to have the first Stonehenge template at Flagstones, in Dorchester!

For details see the Max Gate Walk (free to honour Thomas Hardy’s birthday this month - link in comments!)

The structure consisted of two posts that lined up with the solstices 5,000 years ago.

18/06/2026

Steeple is one of the the smallest settlements on the Isle of Purbeck. Concentrated down a dead-end road, it consists of only a few of farm buildings, the church, a rectory and a 17th century manor house, most of which are constructed from the local Purbeck stone. As part of the Creech estate, the land was once under the ownership of the Lawrence family, who can claim to be ancestors to George Washington, the first President of the United States of America.

In 1390, Edmund Lawrence married heiress Agnes de Wessington. John Washington, a member of a junior branch of Agnes’ family, moved to Virginia in 1656, escaping an uncertain time at home under Cromwell. In 1732, George Washington, John’s great-grandson, was born. Another branch of Agnes’ wider medieval family line is linked through distant European nobility to figures such as King Charles III.

At the end of the village road is the Norman church of St Michael and All Angels. Above a little red side door, in the porch, is a stone engraved coat of arms of the stripes of the Wessington family, combined with the Lawrence stars, symbolising the marriage of Edward and Agnes. The emblem is identical to that engraved on the first President’s signet ring and has long been associated with the design of the American flag of the Stars and Stripes.

Inside the church is a flag of the US capital, presented on 25 July 1977 by Walter E Washington, Mayor of Washington DC from 2 January 1975 - 2 January 1979

See June’s Walk of the Month - Blackmanston for more…

16/06/2026

Swanage Beach!

On live soon!

15/06/2026

Don’t forget - Dorset Magazine out now! Just in time for the solstice!!!☀️🌙☀️

Find the best spots to watch the sunrise or sunset before the nights start drawing in.

Dorset Magazine