The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Buckland Newton

Go to the church next door to the gardens!!!!

Well,somebody needs to cut down the bushes and trees, as that is all that can be seen here. oh, and ouch.. big, BIG nettle stings!!!

Pick the right time of year to see them..... Unlike me, and get the times wrong and it's just a field.

The Cerne Valley offers quintessentially gorgeous Dorset vistas, blending rolling chalk hills with patchy, vibrant green pastures and ancient woodlands. Historic, golden-stone villages like Cerne Abbas nestle snugly along the winding River Cerne. Climb the high ridges for sweeping, postcard-perfect views across England's idyllic, sun-dappled countryside.

Not a lake. The water "behind" Up Cerne Manor is a specific formal water feature—a serpentine canal pond—as well as the River Cerne itself, which flows through the valley just behind the house. ​Here is the breakdown of what you see in that specific area: ​1. The Serpentine Canal ​Directly to the west (behind the main house structure), there is a long, formal canal. It is distinct for its "serpentine" or curved shape. This was a classic 18th-century landscaping technique designed to make formal water appear more natural and graceful while still functioning as a grand garden feature. ​2. The River Cerne ​The house is nestled in the valley floor, and the River Cerne flows immediately behind the grounds. It is a classic English chalk stream, known for its crystal-clear water and abundance of brown trout. The river was used historically to feed the manor's ponds and create the water meadows that characterize the landscape. ​3. The Water Meadows ​The flat land directly behind the manor consists of ancient water meadows. In the 17th and 18th centuries, these were highly engineered systems of "carriers" and "drains" used to divert river water across the grass to prevent frost and encourage early spring growth for sheep. Today, they appear as lush, damp pastures that provide a scenic backdrop to the house.

The gardens were influenced by the legendary Capability Brown, but they are most famous for their "Himalayan" style, featuring a world-renowned collection of rhododendrons and azaleas sourced from early botanical expeditions. ​Fascinating Residents ​The halls of Minterne have seen some truly eclectic characters: ​Admiral Henry Digby: A naval hero who commanded HMS Africa at the Battle of Trafalgar. ​Jane Digby: Perhaps the most scandalous resident, she was a Victorian adventuress who had several high-profile marriages before eventually marrying a Bedouin Sheikh and spending her final 25 years in Syria. ​Pamela Harriman: Born Pamela Digby, she was a socialite and diplomat who eventually became the U.S. Ambassador to France. ​Today, the house remains a private family home, though the Minterne Gardens are open daily for visitors. While the house itself is generally closed to the public, exclusive guided tours led by Lord Digby himself are occasionally offered, providing a rare look at the

Minterne House is a grand Dorset estate that Lord Digby famously calls the "cradle of the Churchill dynasty." While the current house was rebuilt in 1905 after a nasty bout of dry rot, the story of the land and its families stretches back centuries. ​A Tale of Two Families ​The house has been the seat of just two families since 1620: the Churchills and the Digbys. ​The Churchill Connection: The first Sir Winston Churchill (ancestor to the PM) lived here in the 1600s. His eldest son, the Great Duke of Marlborough, spent his childhood at Minterne but famously had to "settle" for Blenheim Palace after his younger brother inherited the family home instead. ​The Digby Takeover: In 1768, Admiral Robert Digby bought the house on a "walk-in, walk-out" basis, meaning he bought everything—even the furniture and the original Churchill tapestries, which remarkably still hang in the house today. ​A "Himalayan" Oasis:

The Cerne Abbey Abbot's Porch is a stunning, three-story fragment of history that serves as a grand reminder of the abbey's former glory. It’s the kind of place where you can just sit and admire the intricate stonework and that iconic two-story oriel window. ​It feels wonderfully peaceful, tucked away at the end of Abbey Street. Since it’s one of the few pieces of the 15th-century monastery still standing, it has a very grounded, quiet presence. It’s perfect for a slow wander when you want to soak up the medieval atmosphere without any rush.