Morcombelake and Hardown Hill

1.1 miles (1.8 km)

This circular walk visits the village of Morcombelake and Hardown Hill, near Bridport and Lyme Regis in West Dorset.
Starting from the village of Morcombelake, home of the historic Moore's Biscuit Factory, this walk leads you up to the wild, heath-covered summit of Hardown Hill. You can begin by heading north from the A35 up Verriotts Lane or Caddy Road to reach the National Trust land.... As you climb the stony tracks, the landscape shifts from enclosed banks to open commonland dominated by gorse, purple moor grass, and rare bell heather.
At the 207-metre summit, which is officially classified as a Marilyn, you are rewarded with what many consider the best view in Dorset. To the south, the massive golden cliff of Golden Cap and the dark woods of Langdon Hill frame the English Channel, while to the north, the patchwork fields of the Marshwood Vale stretch out toward distant hillforts like Pilsdon Pen.
The hill carries deep historical significance, featuring Bronze Age burial mounds and 1,400-year-old Saxon warrior graves. You will also notice scars from ancient quarrying where workers once mined "chert cobs" for local building stone. After crossing the plateau, you can return to the village via the sunken tracks of Love's Lane or continue your journey south toward the coast.
You can continue your walking in the area by heading east to pick up the Shute's Lane and Hell Lane Circular Walk.