Walk · Dorset

The Frome water meadows, Dorchester

Dorchester

2.8MILES

1h 25mON FOOT

30mCLIMB

CircularSHAPE

Off-road 70% 30% shares tarmac with cars

Field & moor path 50%Lane & track 20%Road with traffic 30%

Our drawing of the route — the shape of the walk, not a navigation aid. Carry OS Explorer on the hill. Off-lead information here is what walkers reported or what signage allows — never our advice. Whether and when a dog is off the lead is the owner’s decision and legal responsibility; keep dogs under control near livestock and follow signs on the day.

Starts at

Hangman’s Cottage, at the bottom of Friary Hill below the town centre

Parking

Free on-street in North Square for two hours, or pay and display at Top o’ Town and Acland Road; the riverside itself has no car park

Directions to the start →

A flat 2.8-mile town walk of an hour and a half from Hangman’s Cottage along the Frome water meadows to Grey’s Bridge, back under the chestnut avenues of the old walks that replaced the Roman defences. Gravel and mown grass by the river, pavement on the return, and the meadows flood after heavy rain, which is the point of them. Start on the free on-street parking in North Square or the pay and display at Top o’ Town; Dorchester West and South stations are both under ten minutes away. Dogs are welcome off lead on the meadow paths and there is easy shallow river access for a drink and a paddle, but leads on the walks and the road sections, and the mill leats run fast and deep in winter.

THE SMALL PRINTDogs must be on leads in the formal walks, council car parks and public gardens under the Dorset Council dog PSPO. The mill leats beside the meadows run fast and deep in winter and the meadows themselves flood.

House rules, decoded

Off-lead allowed

REGION · DORSET

GRID · 50.7185, -2.4388

SOURCE · HTTPS://WWW.KOMOOT.COM/GUIDE/20611/HIKING-IN-DORSET

The Frome water meadows, Dorchester

House rules, decoded

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