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Minterne Magna Gardens Walk

1.2 miles (2 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Explore the stunning gardens surrounding this fine house in the village of Minterne Magna in Dorset. The house has been the home of the Churchill's and Digby's family for the last 350 years. The first Sir Winston Churchill rented Minterne from Winchester College in 1660, and left it to his younger son General Charles Churchill. His widow then sold the house to Robert Digby.
The house is surrounded by wonderful gardens with good footpaths taking you to lakes, waterfalls and streams with delightful little bridges. Flora and fauna includes Himalayan Rhododendrons and Azaleas, Cherries, and Maples. The gardens are generally open daily between mid February and early November but check the website link below for more details.
If you'd like to continue your walking in the area then you could pick up the Wessex Ridgeway and follow it to the nearby Cerne Abbas Giant.

Postcode

DT2 7AU - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Please click here for more information

Minterne Gardens OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Minterne Gardens Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Minterne Magna

  • Wessex Ridgeway - This wonderful trail runs from Marlborough in Wiltshire to Lyme Regis on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset
  • Cerne Abbas Giant - This circular walk visits Giant Hill in Dorset where you will find the striking chalk hill figure of the Cerne Abbas Giant
  • Evershot - This circular walk from the idyllic Dorset village of Evershot visits the delightful Melbury Park.
  • Maiden Newton - This Dorset based village sits in a rural spot on the River Frome near to the county town of Dorchester
  • Sydling St Nicholas - This pretty little village is located in a lovely rural location in the chalk hills of the Dorset Downs

Pubs/Cafes

The on site Tea Terrace opens Daily, serving homemade light lunches, cakes and Cream Teas.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head a few miles to the north west and you could visit the idyllic village of Evershot. The village has strong connections with Thomas Hardy and includes a noteworthy 16th century pub and walking trails to the nearby Melbury Park Estate. The Frome Valley Trail can also be picked up here and followed along the picturesque river to Maiden Newton and Dorchester.
Just to the south west is the neighbouring village of Sydling St Nicholas. It's a delightful place with thatched 18th century cottages on a chocolate box High Street, a noteworthy 15th century church and a fine centuries old pub. There's also nice walks along the pretty Sydling Water here. You can follow the Wessex Ridgeway Trail north east for about 2 miles to reach the village.

Photos

Minterne Gardens, top end - geograph.org.uk - 518653

Minterne Gardens, top end

Minterne Gardens, alongside the Cerne - geograph.org.uk - 518657

The River Cerne as it flows through Minterne Gardens.

Minterne Gardens Weir - geograph.org.uk - 4913361

Waterfall

Lady Eleanor's Bridge, Minterne Gardens - geograph.org.uk - 4206400

Lady Eleanor's Bridge, Minterne Gardens

Minterne Magna, the church through trees - geograph.org.uk - 1876066

The village and the church through trees

Minterne Magna, phone box and cottage - geograph.org.uk - 1876051

Minterne Magna village, phone box and cottage

Minterne House and Minterne Magna from East Hill - geograph.org.uk - 1658409

Minterne House and Minterne Magna from East Hill

Minterne House - geograph.org.uk - 32751

Minterne House. Thomas Hardy called this village Great Hintock in his novel The Woodlanders.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Minterne Gardens.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Minterne Gardens.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)