Looking to blow away the cobwebs this weekend? We have just the walk for you.
With an extra day off work for most people, and a beautiful weather forecast, we thought a stroll around Colmers Hill and Symondsbury would be perfect.
We asked local resident and photographer Doug Chalk for his guide to Colmers Hill.
Doug is known for his photos of the stunning landmark, and can be found selling his popular Colmers Hill calendars at Bridport Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If anyone knows the best route and twists and turns, it's Doug!
Here's Doug's guide:
From the Symondsbury Estate car park, park as near to the entrance as possible because you will walk out of the entrance and to the left, past the pigs and pygmy goats, to a gate stating 'permissive path', and the hill appears in front of you.
Colmers Hill by Doug Chalk
Follow that path along a hedge to the next gate and follow that path along another hedge till you reach the third gate, which is where your walk goes away from the 'permissive path', which would be through the gate now facing you.
Dorset's famous holloways
If you would like to go via Shutes Lane and see all the carvings in the 30 feet high sandstone walls, turn right and follow the track, bearing left when it forks to the right.
You are now in Shutes Lane and you will pass a very pretty thatched cottage on the right, then look out for the carvings, there are many of them!
Carvings by Sharon Cutler
Keep going to the end of Shutes Lane, which leads off to the right, but turn left and just round the corner is a gate with what I think is possibly the best view of Colmers Hill!
READ: Project to map UK's sunken holloways starts near Bridport
Please close the gate behind you and just head for the hill, the path is pretty obvious and you will rejoin the 'permissive path' at the bottom of the hill at the west side, and up you go!
At the top, while regaining your breath, look at the views! You'll be able to see the sea, Portland, and just about make up where West Bay is etc, and behind you to the north you have Pilsdon Pen and Lewesdon Hill - Dorset's highest hill - on the horizon.
To the right is Quarr Hiil where, back in the 1700s, stone (inferior oolite) was quarried and taken down into Symondsbury, North Chideock, and out towards Eype on the A35 in carts which created those three holloways known as Shutes Lane, Hell Lane and Quarr Lane which are all now super places to walk and all have history.
Atmospheric Hell Lane by Sharon Cutler
When you're done, go down the south side of the hill - towards the sea - with Symondsbury village on your left, and at the bottom you will head off to the left towards the village.
In the corner of that field there is a gate which takes you out to the bottom of Shute Lane and to the Church of St John the Baptist.
Turn left and walk along to the front entrance of Symondsbury Estate, where you will find a local art gallery, jewellery maker, a great café for lunch or afternoon tea etc, a ladies boutique, a visitor centre and a home store.
After all that, you go back up the car park to your car.
Additional info
The car park is free
The south side of Colmers Hill is a bit steep, so walking sticks are handy
Wear sensible footwear, sometimes Shutes Lane can be a bit muddy after rain, but you will enjoy yourselves!
Also if there is livestock in fields, please keep dogs on leads
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