Our verdict
One of the best proper walks in this area — a free 25-space car park off New Lane (note: 2m height barrier) gets busy at weekends, and dogs can run off lead, but do watch for deer and clean up after them; it does get muddy in winter.
One of the largest ancient woodlands in North Dorset, covering the summit of Duncliffe Hill west of Shaftesbury. Recorded in the Domesday Book, later owned by Eton College before passing to the Woodland Trust; expect fallow deer, and heavy horses are sometimes used for extraction work on the tracks.
Woodland Trust wood — free to visit on foot, open every day.