For a couple of years I have been planning to walk the St Edward’s Way which is a thirty-two mile long distance route between the west door of Lady St Mary Church in Wareham and Shaftesbury Abbey. It was devised in 2021 by Dorset Ramblers and roughly follows the route that St Edward’s body was carried following his exhumation at Wareham to his ceremonial burial at Shaftesbury Abbey.

Edward was the great-great grandson of King Alfred and son of King Edgar, it was a time when there were often disputes as to the rightful heir to the throne. Edward was the offspring of a relationship, some say a marriage, between King Edgar and a nun at Wilton Abbey called Aethelfaed, soon after the birth Aethelfaed died and later Edgar married Aelfthryth who became his queen. They had two sons Edmund, who died in 971, and Aethelred.
Following King Edgar’s death it is said that Queen Aelfthryth favoured Aethelred, her own son, to become king. However aged thirteen Edward assumed the crown and soon developed a reputation for frequent outbursts of rage.
In March 978 King Edward, then aged sixteen, travelled to Corfe Castle to visit Aelfthryth, his stepmother. On arriving at the castle gates, awaiting entry, he was set upon and died as a result of his injuries. Suspicion fell on Queen Aelfthryth of arranging his murder in order that her son Aethelred, next in line, would become king. However, other theories include it being an act of revenge by enemies who has lost land to Edward.
Initially there was a hurried burial in Wareham. A year later his body was ceremonially transported to Shaftesbury to be interned at the abbey founded by his great-great grandfather, King Alfred.
Originally I planned to complete the walk in a day and for logistical reasons walk from Shaftesbury to Wareham. Then my walking buddy Mandy suggested doing it over two days and following the route from Wareham to Shaftesbury. This is the route we are taking and we will be ably supported by Mandy’s husband Stuart who is going to provide transport between our start and end points each day.
After being dropped in the centre of Wareham we make our way to Lady St Mary’s Church. There was a Saxon Minster dating from the 8th century here. The south chapel dates from the 12th century with the chancel dating from the 14th century and the tower added in the 16th century.

Before heading off we decide to pop inside. I am always drawn towards the font in a church as this is usually the oldest bit, this one is unique as it is a 12th century lead font, one of about thirty lead fonts extant in England, but this is the only hexagonal one.

After looking around the church we leave by the west door and head to the Quay where there is a Saturday market. The opportunity to stock up with slices of Dorset Apple cake is too tempting to resist. Crossing the road we continue beside the River Frome to Abbots Quay.

At a junction we turn into Pound Lane and stay with this to reach the site of the town pound. This is a grade II listed building dating back to the medieval period of around 800. Most medieval towns and villages had a pound for holding stray animals until their owners came to claim them, a fine was paid to the Lord of the Manor for their release. Unclaimed animals would be sold at market and the proceeds retained by the pound keeper.
This pound fell into disrepair but in 2011 an initiative by Wareham and District Development Trust saw the site restored to create a community space.

Now we cross the road and continue through a car park beside the Town Walls. These embankments were built in Saxon times to defend the town from Viking invasion.
Following the road we pass the front of Wareham Hospital and keep going until we reach a gate beside a cattle grid. We go through and follow a track onto Wareham Common.

After going through the A351 underpass, we continue along the track to pass West Mills. This 19th century watermill has been converted to residential accommodation.

We go under the railway line and soon fork left at a junction of paths and head towards Ferncroft Farm. Passing the farm buildings we join a track initially heading east and then turning north through Drive Plantation.

At a minor road we go straight over onto a track leading through Middle Copse leading to Carey Heath.

On reaching a junction of footpaths we turn left and head east along the southern side of a solar panel farm. At a T junction of paths we go right and head north and soon pass the Caravan and Motorhome Club caravan site in Wareham Forest. This is a site I have previously stayed on so these paths are familiar.

Staying with the path through the trees we next pass a traveller’s site and then cross a busy ‘B’ road and follow the way marker directing us along a path running beside the Birchwood Tourist Caravan Park and leading into Wareham Forest.

Over the years I have walked a lot on Wareham Forest there is an interesting network of tracks and paths across the heathland. Our route today is very straightforward, we head north on a broad track, making a slight diversion when we reach Woolsbarrow Fort to visit the Ordnance Survey Trig Pillar that sits on this fort. I have already bagged this trig on a number of occasions.

Woolsbarrow Fort dates to the late Bronze Age to early Iron Age, 8th to 5th centuries BC, it dominates the surrounding heathland despite being only 220 feet above sea level. Even in August there is a chill to the breeze blowing on the fort.
We descend the fort and rejoin the track and continue across the heathland towards the A35.

At the main road we go straight over to join a track still heading north which soon passes a thatched cottage and continues to a junction of minor roads. We go straight across and pass through East Bloxworth. After passing Manor Farm we ignore footpaths leading to our left and right and continue along the lane for 600 metres to reach a crossing of tracks. Here we turn left to follow the track heading east, after crossing a minor road we take a farm track for Butlands Farm.

After passing farm buildings our route follows around the edge of fields.

On reaching a tarmac driveway we turn right and head towards the A31.

We cross the busy A31 with care and the path goes into a field and turns left to run parallel to the road until we reach a track, White Lane, here we turn right along the track heading north. At a minor road we go straight over into Muston Lane and walk towards the hamlet of Winterborne Muston.

One of the beauties of walking a trail like this is the frequent way markers to keep you on the right route, coupled with this we plotted the route on the OS Maps App so it is easy to follow the right route. After passing farm buildings in Winterbourne Muston we continue northward to a junction of tracks where we turn right and almost immediately go left along a farm track.

We are now heading over Muston Down towards the corner of Little Coll Wood.

At the edge of the woods we turn left onto a tree lined path which runs parallel to Combs Ditch, this 6.4km long earthwork comprised of a ditch and a bank which separated several parishes.

We pass Charisworth Farm and continue along the farm driveway to reach the A354 which we cross with care and then head across a field.

We are now heading north through a series of fields to pass woodland, The Plantation, and then we join Lady Caroline’s Drive and follow this to a minor road, Fair Mile Road, here we turn left to walk along the road for a few hundred metres, and then just as the road bends to the right we go through a gate on the left and follow a path along the edge of a field.

At a junction of tracks we go straight on to join a minor road and descend into Winterborne Stickland.

We pass the village green and then head towards St Mary’s Church, we arrive just after the church has been locked so take a look around outside.

From the church we walk through the village to reach the Crown pub, our plan is to enjoy a pint here whilst waiting for Stuart to come and collect us. However, our plans are scuppered, the pub is closed because one of the gable cob walls on this old pub collapsed in March 2024 and the pub is closed for safety reasons. [Update the Crown Inn re-opened in December 2024]
We consider our options, after walking sixteen miles on a warm day we are ready for a beer, a quick look at the map shows the best option is to walk over the hill to the Hambro Arms at Milton Abbas. It is three miles away so will take us about an hour, just about the same time it will take Stuart to reach us. Before setting off we make a quick phone call to the pub to confirm they are open.
Obviously this section of the walk will not apply to folk just walking the St Edwards Way and the GPX route below ends at the point where we leave the St Edward’s way in Winterbourne Stickland. The route we are taking between the two villages follows the Jubilee Trail footpath. This goes out of Winterbourne Stickland on Dunbury Lane and then goes left across fields towards Charity Wood.

After going through Charity Wood we continue through Milton Park Wood and then drop down into Milton Abbas where as promised the Hambro Arms is open and we sit outside to sup our pints.
To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey ExplorerOS Explorer – 118 – Shaftesbury & Cranborne; and OS Explorer – 117 – Cerne Abbas & Bere Regis
You can view this 16 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here
10th August 2024
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2024)
All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it. To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk. It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.