New Barn Farm Loop
New Barn Farm is very close to where we live, on the Jurassic Coast, and one of Mr Shadow’s favourite places. We used to visit our dear old friend Jack here, who taught us all about the fields that framed our home. Mr Shadow’s favourite field when he was a puppy became known to us as The Zorbing Field, due to a huge inflatable ball that people paid to climb in and roll speedily down the hill to the railway track! In this field Shadow was at his naughtiest, including eating a whole rabbit and climbing up on the railway track. Apart from a training ground for a very disobedient golden retriever puppy, this field presents one of the best views of the steam trains, including the Christmas Specials, with their dazzling lights, and Thomas the Tank Engine, a familiar sight in the summer months.
Following the footpath to the top of the Zorbing Field, you’ll probably need to pause for breath, but it’s well worth a short rest looking back over the enormous field, to admire just how lush and expansive the grass is (depending on the time of year!) Sometimes there are young bullocks in this field, which might be best avoided if they happen to be close to the footpath. Although this is a well-trodden path, it is rare to meet other walkers on this route and unless there are cattle in the field it is perfect for allowing dogs to run off the lead.
Once you have climbed over the stile at the top of the field, turn right and walk down the bridleway with Knitson Farm on your left. There are occasionally cows and horses in this strip of land, so best to put dogs on the lead to be on the safe side. It’s a pretty bridleway with lots of plants and wildlife to look out for such as foxes, squirrels and deer, as well as blackberries and sloes in the autumn. The bridleway leads down to Knitson Tourers caravan site, and once you have gone through the gate/climbed the stile at the bottom, and continued along the dirt path a short distance, turn left onto the lane.
The next part of this inland walk takes you off the lane to the right, over a stile and following the footpath in front of Godlingston Manor, a medieval house which dates back to 1300 but has obviously been added to and adapted in modern times, particularly after a fire in 1871. Nowadays there is a kitchen garden at the Manor Farm, which provides produce to local delicatessens, such as The Salt Pig, in Wareham.
From Godlingston the path leads you up onto the lee of Nine Barrow Down, close to Ulwell Campsite. Take a moment to rest at the wooden bench where the two paths fork, and admire the views to Swanage Bay, Ballard Down and further in the distance to the Isle of Wight. From here you follow the underhill path along the side of Nine Barrow, which can be muddy depending on the weather, then cutting throught the field just after Knitson Farm and before Knaveswell Farm. Going through the gate at the base of this field, turn right and follow the lane, turning left at the triangle of land. On this triangle used to stand a beautiful old fingerpost signpost, which was sadly knocked down by a wayward vehicle in 2020. Despite it being lost, I visualise the signpost whenever I walk past, to remind me that I have a choice of which path to take next time. If you’ve enjoyed this rural walk check out more of my favourites here.
3.2 miles
1 hour 20 mins
436 ft
Fields and Paths
Yes - woof!
OS Grid Ref: SZ 002 797
Latitude: 50° 37' 3" N
Longitude: 1° 59' 54" W
Elevation: 85ft
