Our walk today started at the new housing development of Charminster Farm near Dorchester.

Our group of 10 regulars and 2 visitors, set off across old Charminster with its grand houses and the fine Anglican church of St Mary's, then left the village to cross mixed arable farmland also passing several farmsteads. We then descended into the Frome valley water meadows, to the north of Dorchester, with its myriad channels, sluice gates and bridges, initiated in the 17th century to improve grass production for the abundant sheep farming in the area. Although no longer in use, the channels and sluice gates provide an attractive contribution to the general beauty of the area for leisurely walks.

On reaching the 18th century Greys Bridge to the east of Dorchester, crossing the road and further water meadows, here we found the hamlet of Stinsford, home to the highly successful Kingston Maurward agricultural college and the church of St Michael, the burial place of the heart of Thomas Hardy, the famed Dorset novelist and poet, his body of course being buried in Westminster Abbey.

Continuing further across the meadows, once we successfully moved a herd of black cattle, we gained access to the gate leading to the lower reaches of Dorchester, to eventually arrive at the delightful Fordington Green for our lunch stop. The Green, with its impressive trees providing shade on sunnier days, is a delightful Square of fine Georgian houses, the very popular 'Bean on the Green' coffee shop/restaurant, and the impressive St George's church, standing proudly on its hill, once the site of a Roman cemetery.

Once refreshed, we set off down through old Fordington, then following the walkway by the River Frome, below the ramparts of the old Dorchester prison. It is a leisurely walk with plenty of trout in the river and many ducks and occasional swans. It is also skirted by very productive and colourful allotments!

On reaching the beautiful thatched 'Hangman's Cottage', we changed paths, crossing more ancient bridges to cross the Dorchester/ Sherborne Road, by the ever popular 17th century 'Sun Inn'. The next path, this time across arable farmland, skirts the medieval and Elizabethan 'Wolfeton House', but alas, could not be seen due to the profusion of trees! And here we arrived back in the village of Charminster once again and eventually Charminster Farm.

Tony, a previous GOC member, who lives next to the start and end point of today's walk, kindly invited us for tea and cakes in his new house, to view at our leisure, the many paintings he has produced over the years, making a very pleasant end to a lovely walk in a beautiful area!