View down an avenue of autumnal oak trees, with a stone church tower in the distance — Autumn views down the oak avenue at Kingston Lacy to St Stephen's church | © National Trust Images

Dorset

Walk at Pamphill and Cowgrove

Enjoy a gentle walk through the beautiful unspoilt villages surrounding Kingston Lacy, enjoying good views across the Stour Valley along the way. The route starts in Pamphill at St Stephen's Church, built for the prominent Bankes family in 1907. It then proceeds along ancient tracks to Cowgrove before looping back the starting point via a winding country lane.

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Total steps: 7

Start point

Pamphill Green car park near St Stephen's Church; grid ref: ST990008

Step 1

Turn left out of the car park along the Oak Avenue with St Stephen's Church at the end, then left again into Abbott Street.

St Stephen's Church

St Stephen's Church at the western end of the oak avenue is well worth a visit and is surrounded by some magnificent trees. The present church was built in 1907 to replace the medieval church, founded by John de Lacy in 1236 which gradually fell into disrepair in the 16th century. Walter Ralph Bankes made a financial bequest for a new church on the estate in his will when he died in 1904 and it was eventually built in 1907, as a memorial to him, under the leadership of Henrietta Bankes. The oak avenue was planted in 1846.

Step 2

Adjacent to the property marked 542 Abbott Street, with the forge below, turn left down the lane known as All Fools' Lane. After 280 metres there is a squeeze stile on the right providing the opportunity for an additional circular walk in Abbott Street Copse.

All Fools' Lane

All Fools' Lane links Pamphill with Cowgrove Common. All Fools' Lane was once called All Souls' Lane and probably changed when someone transcribing mistook the 'S' for an 'F'. This lane is part of the ancient track way from Salisbury to Dorchester. Today the lane has steep banks covered with ivy and ferns, a canopy of hazel and field maple and a few elms at the bottom. A few hundred metres down the lane on the right is a stile leading to Abbot Street Copse, which is a wonderful bluebell wood.

Step 3

Continue down All Fools' Lane, passing prominent overspill from badger setts. The bridleway arrives at Sandy Lane, which is the road towards Cowgrove.

Step 4

Continue down All Fools' Lane, passing prominent overspill from badger setts. The bridleway arrives at Sandy Lane, which is the road towards Cowgrove.

Step 5

At the bottom of All Fools' Lane turn left on to a grassed bridleway, shortly passing through a gate. Carry straight on ignoring the squeeze stile on the left, until Cowgrove Common is reached adjacent to Poplar Farm.

Step 6

Turn left up Holly Lane, which is adjacent to Walnut Farm and proceed past Holly Farm Cottage. Go through a squeeze stile and a gate leading to an uphill sunken lane with a gravel path. Climb up and just before the end of the gravel path climb the steps to the left and take the squeeze stile to the right. Go into the field keeping the hedgerow on your right and continue climbing over the pasture. At the top of the field to the right go through the gate by the cottage and go along a track. Walk round a gate and where the track curves round to the right turn left onto Pamphill Green.

Step 7

On reaching the green go to the left and make your way towards the oak avenue and the car park where you started.

Pamphill Green and Manor

This was known as Fayres' Green in the 1400s because of the fairs held every September from the 13th century. These fairs were where livestock, wines, beers, food, clothing and domestic articles were sold. To the south a dense screen of trees and bushes largely conceals Pamphill Manor. The white-painted gateway reveals more of this fine 17th century onward house, which is of outstanding architectural importance. It was the home of the steward to Sir Ralph Bankes of Kingston Lacy, Matthew Beethall, who made a number of changes.

End point

Pamphill Green car park near St Stephen's Church; grid ref: ST990008

Trail map

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Wimborne Minster, Dorset, BH21 4EA

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kingstonlacy@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Walk at Pamphill and Cowgrove

Total steps: 7