Ancient Ways aimed to improve rights of way and opportunities for people to explore the riches of Cranborne Chase for themselves.

The Chase & Chalke landscape area is criss-crossed by paths, many of them ancient ways, including drove-ways high on the ridges to the south of the A30, sunken hollow-ways, old Roman Roads and the Shire Rack; the footpath that beats the boundary between Dorset and Wiltshire.

In centuries past these were the main routes between settlements, the way the rural economy functioned before the coming of the motorcar and the roads we use today.

Many of these longer routes are well known to experienced walkers, cyclists and horse-riders, but many are less well-known to others and in some sections not always easy to use.

Project aims

The Ancient Ways project aimed to create opportunities for people, particularly family groups, to discover, explore and enjoy the riches of the Cranborne Chase and Chalke Valley.

• To work with volunteers to create projects that will lead to the improvement of 35km of rights of way and the maintenance of 75km of rights of way.
• To record stories and features that help us understand the importance of these ancient ways.
• To define new circular routes and produce new walking guides to encourage volunteers to lend a hand in the design and maintenance of these routes.
• To widen access and link routes, as well as working with landowners in identifying new informal parking spaces.

Chase & Chalke Parish Walks

We worked with local communities in the Chase & Chalke Landscape Partnership area to create a series of new walking, cycling and tramper-accessible routes through the Chase & Chalke Parish Walks initiative. 

This has enabled people to come together through workshops to share their enthusiasm and passion for getting outdoors and help develop a Parish Walk for each parish, linking them up to create longer inter-parish walks.

We supported the initiative by working with local communities and our fantastic volunteers to survey routes, make a significant number of improvements, improve waymarking, signage and maintenance. These routes don’t just benefit new recreational users, but showcase the beauty and importance of the area for everyone, improving access and connecting more people with this wonderful landscape.

Chase & Chalke: Walk & Talk

Working with our local communities we set up a programme of monthly walks so that we could check our paths together, enjoy being outdoors and check for problems such as broken stiles or vegetation growth that needs cutting back.

As a Route Checker, you could be part of the team and help improve the rights of way network in the area. As part of the national Walking for Health initiative we established new walking groups and a Chase & Chalke: Walk & Talk programme of regular weekly walks to boost our health and wellbeing.

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