King William IV - Route 1

(S/E) Turn left from the King William IV car park and walk uphill on the lane for about 1km. As you enter the woodland, ignore a permissive bridleway on the left and continue on for a further 1.5km, taking the left hand fork.

(1) As you approach Homer Cottage, turn right through the metal kissing gate, taking the footpath across a field and keeping to the right of overhead power cable route. Go through another kissing gate descending through woodland to Urquhart Lane.

(2) At the bottom, turn right and walk along Urquhart Lane and after about 250m you will pass the entrance to Handsmooth House. If you look back up the hill, you will be able to see the complete modernist edifice of the building and make your own judgment on its architectural merit. Continue on this track passing Well Place Farm on the right and Well Place Manor on the left. When you reach the junction with the Berins Hill on the left and Well Place Road straight ahead, continue along Well Place Road for about 250m until you reach a footpath on your right.

(3) Take the footpath up the side of Warren Hill, passing on your right what was the site of the Well Place Zoo that closed in 2006.

(4) When you reach the lane turn left and walk downhill to the King William IV Pub.(S/E)

As you descend through the woods, you will pass a gate on your right. At this point you will be able to glimpse the side of a large white building (Handsmooth House) commissioned by Rowan Atkinson.

Berins Hill is said to have been the site of a hermitage established by St Birinus who brought Christianity to this area in the 7th century and was the first Bishop of Dorchester.