If coming from the west go through Dorchester as if heading for Poole (B3150), but at about a 1/4 mile beyond the derestriction sign turn left (B 3143 S.P. Piddlehinton etc). Through Piddlehinton then in middle of Piddletrenthide pass a turn to your left (S.P Cerne Abbas) and almost immediately turn right (S.P. CH-B -NE) up steep hill .Continue on this road, pass sign for Thorncombe Farm cottages, then down steep dip with farm and white house on right. Climb to top of hill to small crossroads, with farm road to your left (S.P. Nettlecombe Farm G.R. 744032). Park here on the grass verge, which is quite firm near the telegraph pole near to the road.

If your are coming from other directions map read your way through Milbourne St. Andrew, Dewlish and Cheselbourne.

Start your walk heading north up the farm road, pass Nettlecombe Farm and continue along grassy track. Keep heading in a Northerly direction, passing a dense copse on right. Eventually as you near the top of the hill see an elevated storage tank ahead. Make for this where you turn right across open field (fairly faint path). Through gate and swing slightly right to go down sunken track. Through steel gate and in just a few yards see sign for the Gap, and just beyond the sign scramble up bank to your left, then in a short distance go down to join sunken track coming from the left, and in a few yards reach the Dorsetshire Gap.

Pause to sign the Visitors book, and if you have had enough there is a short cut (~ 5 miles) to take you back to the car. Leave downhill (S.P. Higher Melcombe), and this track takes you past Higher Melcombe farm, where the track becomes a road, bringing you out on the main road just south of Melcombe Bingham at Cross Lanes. Turn right here.

Otherwise to continue the main walk head eastward up track (S.P. Binghams Melcombe), through steel gate and up the hill. From the top you will see a transverse hedge with a gap just to the left of a small tumulus. Head a bit to the left of this gap and soon see an iron gate which you pass through. Continue eastwards with fence and wood to your left. Eventually reach, and go through, a wide steel gate to head approximately north through farmyard. Continue north on metalled lane to Breach Wood. Opposite farm buildings the road turns sharp right. Take this turning, ignoring bridleway signs leading into wood. You are now on Cothayes Drove and in about 1 1/2 miles come out on to the main street of Ansty.

Turn right heading South into Melcombe Bingham. Near the end of the houses turn left off the road opposite Anvil Cottage. At present the finger post indicating the path is absent while building work proceeds. No doubt it will reappear once the houses are completed.Pass down the side of the large (thatched roof) house and see an old iron gate ahead, about 20 yards in from the road. Through to gate and follow well defined path across arable field. Reach a dense copse and here turn left to go down then up again, keeping close to a fence on your right.

At the top of the hill cross fence staves to come out into the open and head across the field to the far corner where there is a notice concerning the parts which are public walks .Over the stile, and see massive yew hedge to your left - about 20 ft high, and said to be 300 years old. After the stile turn right then left to come at the front of the house. To leave turn right on gravel drive. Before leaving time for a quick visit to the 14th century church Melcombe Horsey.

On reaching the road continue South for a short distance, then opposite side road turn right through first steel gate. Follow the track round the side of the hill then descend to country road south of Melcombe. Turn left here and if you have taken the short cut you will join from the right. In about 3/4 mile the road turns sharp left and at the apex of the corner go straight ahead uphill on track through thick woods. Quite a climb up to the top then down and up again to come out on to country road where you turn right to reach your car a short way on.

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