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Puddletown Forest – Thomas Hardy's Cottage loop from Stinsford

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Hiking trails & Routes

Puddletown Forest – Thomas Hardy's Cottage loop from Stinsford

Moderate

4.5

(2)

hikers

Puddletown Forest – Thomas Hardy's Cottage loop from Stinsford

02:44

10.1km

140m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 17, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

15 m

Hardy's Cottage

Highlight • Cafe

If you are a Thomas Hardy enthusiast this is a must - the small cottage where he was born and grew up, writing his early novels. The garden is large …

Tip by

1.35 km

An important watering hole for wildlife and the resident Dartmoor ponies, Rushy Pond buzzes with dragonflies and damselflies, whilst the pond’s surface is often disturbed by a newt surfacing for air or a grass snake on the hunt.
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/hardys-cottage/things-to-see-and-do-at-hardys-cottage

Tip by

1.51 km

Roman Road Through Duddle Heath

Highlight • Trail

Actually you're supposed to not cycle through Duddle Heath, due to fear of cyclists coming off the track here and disturbing wildlife, nesting birds, vegetation etc. Regeneration of the heathland etc

Tip by

1.96 km

Viewpoint Over Puddletown Forest

Highlight • Viewpoint

At the edge of what can be ridden at puddletown. Lots of down options from here, down teep and narrow or wide and cruisey

Tip by

6.37 km

Puddletown Forest

Highlight • Trail

Puddletown Woods in Dorset offers Mountain Bikers lots of short natural singletracks, downhill sections, crazy jumps even a sort of 4X track.

Tip by

9.56 km

Thomas Hardy's Cottage

Highlight • Historical Site

Built in 1800, this stunning thatched cottage was the birthplace of the famous writer, Thomas Hardy. Built by his great-grandfather, Hardy lived here for over 30 years and wrote some …

Tip by

10.1 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

8.98 km

873 m

198 m

Surfaces

5.29 km

2.15 km

1.74 km

873 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (120 m)

Lowest point (50 m)

Weather

Thursday 21 May

24°C

12°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Puddletown Forest – Thomas Hardy's Cottage loop from Stinsford

Hardy's Cottage

Rushy Pond

Roman Road Through Duddle Heath

Viewpoint Over Puddletown Forest

Puddletown Forest

Thomas Hardy's Cottage

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