Fontmell Down was bought by the National Trust in memory of English novelist and poet Thomas Hardy, to protect the landscape in which his novels of the Blackmore Vale are set. On this short walk you will discover an open expanse of flowery downland, excellent butterfly populations and magnificent views in all directions.

Mike Cree

August 22, 2025

Fontmell Down is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a nature reserve located in Dorset, England, within the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is known for its beautiful chalk downland, rich biodiversity, and panoramic views.
The down is a steep, sinuous flank of a chalk plateau, offering extensive views across the Blackmore Vale, a landscape featured in the novels of Thomas Hardy. The chalk was formed about 100 million years ago from microscopic plants, and the down's steep-sided dry valleys were created by periglacial meltwater erosion during the last Ice Age.
Earthworks visible on the down are much more recent, including those from a golf course that was present in the 1930s. In 1645, the downs were the site of an assembly of 3,000 Dorset "Clubmen," who were local residents protesting against the armies of both sides in the English Civil War.

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Details

Informations

Distance 3.17 km

Uphill 40 m

Downhill 40 m

Weather

Today

Tuesday 4 November

15°C

13°C

100 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 27.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: Compton Abbas, North Dorset, Dorset, South West England, England, United Kingdom

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