Bere Regis Walks
This circular walk from the Dorset village of Bere Regis visits Bryants Puddle Heath, Bovington Heath and Lawrence of Arabia's cottage near Moreton.
The walk starts in the village where you can pick up the Jubilee Trail and follow the waymarked trail to Shitterton, Turners Puddle and Briantspuddle. The route then heads south through Bryants Puddle Heath and Oakers Wood before crossing the River Frome to visit the pretty village of Moreton. There's some river trails here, a lovely path over the clear waters of the ford, a manor house and the splendid walled gardens to see.
After exploring the village you head north east to visit Clouds Hill, the former home of T. E. Lawrence a.k.a Lawrence of Arabia. He first rented the cottage in 1923 while stationed at nearby Bovington Camp with the Tank Corps. Today it is owned by the National Trust who have preserved the cottage as a museum.
The route then heads north through Throop to return to Turners Puddle. You then climb north east to Damer Hill and Black Hill before returning to Bere Regis.
Postcode
BH20 7HQ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsBere Regis Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Bere Regis Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Bere Regis OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Bere Regis Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
Back in Bere Regis the Royal Oak is a good choice for some post walk refreshment. The historic pub dates all the way back to the 16th century when it was originally a coaching inn. They serve good quality food and have a nice garden area for warmer weather too. You can find them on West Street with a postcode of BH20 7HQ for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The heathland and woodland in the area are ideal for dog walking. The Royal Oak mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Just to the south east of the route you could visit Bovington Tank Museum where you can view one of the largest collections of armoured vehicles in the world.
Head west and there's the Sculpture by the Lakes at Pallington, Thorncombe Woods and Hardy's Cottage, Puddletown Forest and the county town of Dorchester to visit.
Just to the south of the route you can explore the Winfrith Newburgh Heath and Tadnoll Nature Reserves. The reserves include miles of peaceful heathland trails with lots of wildlife and a splendid viewpoint.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Dorset Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Bere Regis, village and church view.
Farmland north of Bere Regis. Looking down on the grid square from Woodbury Hill hillfort. The cutting containing the A35 Bere Regis bypass can be seen across the centre of the photo.
The Royal Oak
Woodbury Hill. Looking across the Bere Valley at Woodbury Hill. Appropriately enough, its SW side is covered in trees, obscuring the earthworks of the iron-age camp on the site. Woodbury Hill has been used in various ways since the Iron Age: it was the site of the Victorian Woodbury Hill Fair.
Clouds Hill, Dorset. A soft-focus view of the cottage from the garden. The cottage will be 200 years old in 2008. It was in the possession of Lawrence of Arabia from 1923 until 1935, the year of his death as a result of injuries received in a road accident on 13th May.
Piddle Ford. The River Piddle is split into two watercourses for several kilometres in this part of its valley. This ford is the one that takes the track from Throop to Turners Puddle through the main channel; a second smaller ford is situated a couple of hundred metres north.
The ford at Moreton
Moreton House. Moreton House is a Grade I Listed mansion built between 1742 and 1745 for the local squire James Frampton, replacing an even earlier house of the late C16. A good solid C18 house retaining many of its original features.