The Green Way Countryside

The Green Way wanders across working fields and along lanes in a rural backwater of northwest Dorset. Opened in 2005, the Green Way uses sections of existing public footpaths to link together the village of Drimpton with the hamlets of Netherhay, Oathill, Greenham and Childhay in a 3 mile circle.

Tourism can begin on your own doorstep. The Green Way was planned with this in mind by the community group, Village Voices, based in Drimpton. The group believe that not only do people make places, but that places make people, and, as a result, has set up and managed a wide range of whole-community projects since 1999; the Green Way is one of them.

Public Rights of Way are everywhere showing where people have walked for centuries, but are now often underused being unknown to many incoming people. Beginning in 2004, and with the support of local landowners, Village Voices, stitched together the new route from sections of old long-established ways.

The group then commissioned local craftswoman, Karen Hansen, to design and make a series of 10 uniquely different waymarkers. Her site-specific signs, made from green oak and other locally sourced timber, were inspired by both the landscape and by aspects of the communities' smallscale histories.

The Green Way invites people to walk the fields, to pause to appreciate the views, to wonder about both past and present activities, to be refreshed by gentle exercise and to make a possible visit to take tea, sup beer or sit over a leisurely homemade meal.

Oathill Farm is on the route. It is family-run, serving afternoon teas and Sunday lunches, all homemade. For details, contact 01460 30234.

The Royal Oak, is a short stroll from Drimpton Village Hall. It is a real pub with a real welcome, serving Palmers Beers and meals. For details, contact 01308 867930.

Directions

The Green Way is best started at the Village Hall in Drimpton where free off-road parking is available and free route maps can be picked up.

These maps are in the 'backpack' of a Green Way sign outside the Hall.

Drimpton is on the B3612 about 4miles from Crewkerne, 5miles from Beaminster, and 9miles from Bridport. It is on the 99 bus route operating between Taunton, Crewkerne and Chard.

Additional Information

The Green Way is not suitable for wheelchair or pushchair users, being over working land which can often be muddy.

The Green Way is extremely child-friendly; the signs calling out to be both discovered and in some cases sat on - and not only by children.

All walkers are requested to show full respect for the working land at all times, and to have any dogs under control.

The Green Way was part of the Building Bridges Project funded by Chalk and Cheese, delivering LEADER+ in Dorset.

The Green Way has links with existing long cross-country footpaths - the Wessex Ridgway, Jubilee Trail, and Monarch's Way.

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