The best of Dorset in words and pictures

The Dorset Walk – From Burton Green

Matt Wilkinson and Dan Bold take a short walk in the rural far east of the county

Published in June ’11

Church Cottage, near the starting point of our walk

This is another shorter ‘Dorset Walk’ and starts from the village of Burton, north of Christchurch, which perhaps will not be as familiar to most readers as the higher-profile villages further west. This is a pity as it is a most pleasant spot, set in a largely flat agricultural landscape, with some interesting buildings and corners, although the majority of the village is comparatively modern.
The route passes the early Georgian Burton Hall, which is as impressive an example of any building of its period in the county, and the Victorian church of St Luke. The architect of St Luke’s was Benjamin Ferrey, who was responsible for building or restoring many churches further west in Dorset, including All Saints in Dorchester and St Mary’s at Tarrant Hinton. The hexagonal font is much older than the building.

Open fileds are still to be found not far from Christchurch in East Dorset

Distance: Just over 2 miles
Terrain: Lanes and field-paths, with no gradients to speak of. The field-paths may be sticky after rain. The lanes are quiet, but walk on the right, facing any oncoming traffic.
Start: Burton Green. OS reference SZ167948. Postcode BH23 7JT.
How to get there: At the first roundabout east of Christchurch on the A35, turn left on the B3347. Go under a railway bridge and turn first right into Martins Hill Lane. At the end, turn left into Salisbury Road and follow it up to Burton Green.
Maps: OS Explorer OL22 (New Forest); OS Landranger 195 (Bournemouth & Purbeck).
Refreshments: There are a couple of pubs in Burton, although the route does not pass them. Pubs, tea-rooms and restaurants in Christchurch.

1. Walk away from the Green at the opposite end from the shop, leaving the parish church on the right. Take the first turning on the right, into Preston Lane. Walk along this lane for ½ mile to a cross-roads, where turn left. In 1/3 mile turn left into Hawthorne Road, then take the next turning on the left into Tin Yard Lane.

2. In about 350 yards, turn left along a short track which leads into an open field. Continue straight ahead across the field, parallelling the right-hand edge. Continue along the right-hand edge of the next field. In the first corner, don’t cross the stile ahead but turn left to continue along the path which follows the right-hand field-edge.

3. In the next corner continue along a path between an open field on the left and a stream-bed on the right. Follow this path until it emerges onto a road. Go straight across onto a broad pavement. This is Salisbury Road, and follow it back to Burton Green.