The name Blackmore Vale sums up the historic character of this area, once a royal hunting ground – a “forest” for sport rather than trees. This undulating landscape of the River Stour and its main tributaries forms the heart of northern Dorset, below the escarpments of the Dorset Downs to the south and Cranborne Chase to the east.

Doyen of Dorset walkers Rodney Legg has chosen ten of his favourite walks in the area, ranging around Stour Provost and Fifehead Magdalen, Marnhull and Hinton St Mary, Lydlinch and Stock Gaylard, Fifehead Neville and Plumber Manor, Sturminster Newton and Cutt Mill, Fiddleford and Hammoon,Okeford Fitzpaine and Shillingstone, Habledon and Hod, Hazelbury Bryan and Mappowder, Bulbarrow and Woolland.

The ten circular walks, ranging from 3 to 8 miles, suit the needs of families, groups of friends or individuals looking for a gentle stroll or a longer walk, and reflect the many varied facets of the area – its people, its history, and its working landscape and will help first time visitors to experience some of the great scenery the area has to offer.

Many of the walks feature a pub along the route. Halsgrove’s small-format guidebook, containing maps, photographs and useful information will ensure a great walking experience. Packed with colour, the book is an ideal reminder of a visit to the area.

Rodney Legg is a prolific author and historian who has published hundreds of country walks. Nationally he is active in the environmental movement having been chairman of the Open Spaces Society since 1989 and a member of the ruling council of the NationalTrust from 1990 until 2009.

Imprint: PiXZ Books. ISBN 978 0 85710 022 1, hardback, 110x155mm, 64 pages. Published March 2011