Horse Riding

Riding a horse around the Parish is quite delightful with varied rides through woods, across heathland and over hills.

One of our riders in Briantspuddle says:

“A favourite ride of mine is to head north leaving Briantspuddle towards the main road over two pretty bridges crossing the river Piddle. There is a bridle track called “Gulley Lane” on the right signposted to Turnerspuddle. This route will take you to another signpost indicating Kite Hill on the left then up the hill and through Piddle Wood. Keeping on the track through the wood you eventually come up through two gates onto Black Hill. There are farm barns on the left and further on ignore the track to the left, which runs runs down to Shitterton and Bere Regis (there is a most unusual tree down that track – a mobile phone mast disguised as a fir tree!!), to reach another gate straight ahead.

Suddenly there you are right at the top of Black Hill with all these magnificent views around you! To the northeast lies Shitterton and Bere Regis, and to the southwest, on a very clear day, you can see the tall Hardy Monument, now a National Trust site, at Black Down, Portesham, Dorset. This was built in honour of Vice-Admiral Hardy who was Flag-Captain to Admiral Lord Nelson on board HMS Victory at Trafalgar

From Black Hill there is a route back south down to Turnerspuddle Farm. The first gate you ride to is a bit stiff, but manageable; then down through a spooky tree-lined track, round a left hand bend and over a white/grey cattle grid and through a small gate at Turnerspuddle Farm.

Turn right past the last gate and onto Gulley Lane again. There it is your choice to ride straight on all the way back to the road and left along the road into Briantspuddle, or to turn left to take the track south opposite Tonerspuddle Farm and splash through two water fords (photo). This takes you past a cottage on the left which used to be the home of the rector of Turnerspuddle church (see history page – Glebe cottage). Turn right at the road at Throop and ride back along the road which leads from east to west into Briantspuddle village.

The total mileage of the round ride back to Briantspuddle is approximately 5 miles”.