The best cycling routes around East Orchard

Okeford Hill Bike ParkClick to open side panel for more information is a premier downhill mountain biking destination located on the steep northern escarpment of the Dorset Downs, offering some of the most challenging terrain in the region. Diverse Trail Network: The park features a variety of downhill-specific trails that cater primarily to intermediate and advanced riders, including technical "rooty" sections and fast, flowing jumps. Uplift Service: To maximize ride time, the venue provides a dedicated uplift service (usually a tractor and trailer) that shuttles riders from the bottom of the hill back to the summit. Operating Hours: The park is typically open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, though it is often closed during the weekdays. Spectacular Setting: Riders can enjoy the same famous views of the Blackmore Vale described from nearby Bell Hill between runs.

Architectural Features: Chancel: Features single-stage angle-buttresses at the northeast and southeast corners. The east window is a well-proportioned 13th-century design with modern glass. There's a narrow 13th-century doorway in the north wall. Nave: Retains its original late 12th or early 13th-century north wall. It has 15th-century windows and a notable timber roof from the mid-15th century or later, supported by three trusses with moulded principals and tie-beams, decorated with wooden foliate bosses. Font: A 14th-century octagonal bowl on a modern plinth. Pulpit: Dates from 1635 and is an assembly of oak panels with incised ornamentation. Reredos: A late 14th or early 15th-century stone reredos depicting the Crucifixion with figures of saints. It was acquired in 1945. Porch: Added in the 16th century, constructed with Corallian limestone rubble walls and Shaftesbury Sandstone quoins.

17th Century: A pulpit from 1635 is a notable feature. 19th Century Restorations: The chancel arch was rebuilt and the nave extended to the west in 1885. A wooden belfry was also added in 1885. A more extensive restoration took place in 1896, costing £900. Building Materials: The church incorporates various local Dorset building stones, including Shaftesbury Sandstone, Corallian limestone from Marnhull, and Forest Marble.

History and Development: Foundation: The church was founded in the 13th century, with the first recorded Rector in 1297. Early Construction: The north wall of the nave, likely from the late 12th or early 13th century, is the oldest surviving part. It was originally an aisleless, two-compartment building. 13th Century Expansion: Around the mid-13th century, the chancel was rebuilt on a larger scale. A project to build a larger nave was started, with the south wall being built, but it was not completed to match the chancel's axis. 15th Century Additions: In the 15th century, new windows were added to the old north wall, and the nave was re-roofed.

The Church of St Paul in Hammoon, Dorset, is a charming and historically significant parish church, notable for its age and architectural features. It is a Grade I listed building, signifying its exceptional architectural and historic interest. Here's a breakdown of what makes St Paul's Church, Hammoon, special:

Victorian Additions: Major rebuilding occurred in the 19th century. The south wall of the nave was extended to create a new south aisle and porch in 1852, and the chancel was rebuilt in 1881. Wall Paintings: The church features 16th and 18th-century wall paintings, including a mural painting of the Creed and the Lord's Prayer above the chancel arch, dating from Queen Anne's reign (1665-1714). Rood-Loft Stairway: There is a rood-loft stairway on the northern side of the chancel arch, which would have led to a rood loft stretching across the chancel arch, typically holding figures of the Cross, St Mary the Virgin, and St John the Baptist. Consecration Crosses: Traces of Consecration Crosses, traditionally incised into churches during the Middle Ages as visible signs of dedication, can be found on either side of the oak screen below the west gallery (from the Charles I period). Stained Glass: While much of the stained glass is 19th-century, there is one small piece of medieval glass in a north aisle window. The east window of the chancel has a good example of William Morris factory stained glass.

Splendid 15th-Century Tower: A prominent feature of the church is its impressive 15th-century tower, which can be seen for miles around and is considered by some to be the finest example in Dorset. Norman Remnants: While largely 15th-century in its present form, the church retains an intriguing lone Norman pier decorated with scallops and masks in the north arcade, indicating a substantial building on the site from that early period. A 12th-century font bowl also survives. Coffered Nave Roof: The nave boasts a richly coffered roof from about 1520 with carved panels. Hussey Chapel: The north transept was incorporated into a north chapel, now known as the Hussey Chapel, named after one of Marnhull's prominent families. This chapel contains the Carent tomb, an alabaster effigy of a knight with his two wives, dated 1450. The somewhat mutilated state of the effigies is thought to be due to thieves stealing alabaster to make dies for coins.

St Gregory's Church in Marnhull, Dorset, is a truly remarkable and historically significant parish church. It's a Grade I listed building and plays a central role in the life of the large rural village. Here's a detailed look at St Gregory's Church: Ancient Roots: The church's origins are deeply rooted in history, with construction beginning around 1150 AD on the site of a former Saxon church. The first Rector was appointed about 100 years later. Expansion Over Centuries: The church has evolved over many centuries. What is now the Hussey Chapel (housing the Carent tomb) dates back to 1250. A north aisle, bell tower, and in the Victorian era (around 1850), a new south aisle and chancel were added. Thomas Hardy Connection: St Gregory's holds a literary connection, being one of the locations for Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles. The churchyard is where Tess's baby, Sorrow, was buried, and her attendance at a service is described in the book. Continuous Worship: Despite its age, St Gregory's remains an active place of worship with a reasonably sized congregation and is spiritually significant to a wider community who attend major festivals.