The best cycling routes around Woodlands

St. Giles Church is known for its numerous monuments, particularly those dedicated to the Earls of Shaftesbury. Sir Anthony Ashley's Tomb: A historic highlight is the spectacular gilded tomb of Sir Anthony Ashley, dating to 1628. The tomb features intricate classical columns and symbolism. A curious detail is a sphere at his feet, which has been the subject of various theories, including that it represents a globe, a jewel, or even a cabbage. Ashley-Cooper Family Memorials: The church houses several other memorials to the Ashley-Cooper family, including tombs for the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 9th Earls. The 1st Earl's memorial includes a bust by Rysbrack, and the 3rd Earl's is a grand wall monument by Scheemakers. Crusader Effigy: There is a much-restored 14th-century effigy of a crusading knight, believed to be Sir John de Plecy. Comper's Work: The interior is almost entirely a result of Sir Ninian Comper's restoration. This includes the highly decorated screen separating the nave and chancel, new stained glass windows, and the gilded tester over the altar.

19th-Century Gothic Revival: In the 19th century, the church was remodeled twice. The most significant work was in 1887, a Gothic Revival-style memorial to the 8th Earl of Shaftesbury. The 1908 Fire and Comper's Restoration: A catastrophic fire in 1908 destroyed most of the church's interior, leaving only the walls standing. The 9th Earl of Shaftesbury commissioned the renowned Gothic Revival architect Sir Ninian Comper to restore and rebuild the church. Comper's work, completed between 1908 and 1910, is considered one of his masterpieces. He kept the 18th-century external walls but completely redesigned the interior, adding a new north aisle and a lady chapel. His intricate work, including stained glass, a wooden screen, and numerous sculptures, makes the church a "treasure-house of Comper work," as described by Sir John Betjeman.

St. Giles Church is the parish church for the village of Wimborne St Giles in Dorset. It has a rich and complex history, marked by several rebuilds, a major fire, and the patronage of the Ashley-Cooper family, the Earls of Shaftesbury. The church's origins date back to at least the 13th century, with the first recorded rector in 1207. The current building is a fascinating mix of architectural styles due to its turbulent history. 18th-Century Georgian: The church was almost entirely rebuilt in 1732 by the Dorset architects John and William Bastard, who were also responsible for much of the reconstruction of the town of Blandford Forum after a fire. The exterior of the church, with its greensand and flint walls, still largely reflects this Early Georgian design.

nice stopping off point, too the many bridleways and tracks in this area..

The gothic, five-storey, brick tower was built in 1750 by Lord of Horton Manor, Humphrey Sturt, who was an architect and a Dorset MP. The reason for its construction is not known but it’s possible Sturt planned to use it as an observatory for star gazing. At 43 metres high (140 feet) it was once claimed to be the tallest no-religious building in Britain. It’s now a Grade II* Listed Building. Visitors used to be able to enter the tower and look up to the top, as the floors had fallen away. Vodafone now use the tower for their masts and have undertaken restoration work. Their mobile phone signal masts are fixed to the sides, near the top of the tower. In the 1960s a cock fighting scene in the film The Mayor of Casterbridge was filmed at Horton Tower starring Terence Stamp and Julie Christie.

Can be quite deep.

Verwood is a relatively small town in East Dorset, which is famous for the potteries which used the local clays. At the height of the town's pottery industry, there were over 30 kilns, however the last commercial pottery closed in 1952.

The village of Witchampton is a picturesque setting, with a church dating back to the 15th century. About a kilometre north of Witchampton stands the archway of Crichel House, an imposing stone archway.