A healthy heritage trail

1
Common Lane
Part 4 Bracketts Coppice Reserve (38
Hectares) A Dorset Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
a Site of Special Scientific Interest with access
from Common lane. This is ancient woodland
swathed with wood anemones and orchids providing
colour. The hay meadows are cut annually and the
pasture is grazed, creating fields of wild
flowers.
A healthy heritage trail
Route map and points of interest
Bechstein Bat
Early Purple Orchid
Pearl Fritillary
Part 5 Wood Fold Hill, Farmers End and
Corscombe
Return from Bracketts Coppice to Ocean Hill,
proceed towards Wood Fold Hill, one local name
that Thomas Hollis left unchanged, and commonly
written as Woodfole. The hill provides easy
burrowing which throws up the under soil often
containing fossils. Farmers End, at the junction
of the two Corscombe branches, was the site of
labourers cottages, occupied until the 1930s, now
in ruins. Branch right towards Pitts Farm, one
time the George Inn and later the Corscombe Steam
Bakery, or branch left along Brick Kiln Lane.
Pass the lost Victorian brick works kiln to Pines
House. The house, and parts of the garden wall,
are made of local bricks.
Farmers End Junction
Pitts Farm
Pitts Farm
Pitts Farm
Pines House
Corscombe Nestling on a peaceful chalk hillside ,
it has a varied history. Visit the Fox Inn on the
road that returns to Halstock.
To become a Friend and receive a regular
newsletter Contact ksmith_singleton_at_yahoo.co.uk
To become a sponsor and help restore the
lane Contact djw5_at_btinternet.com
Fold here
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Linking Halstock and Corscombe in West Dorset,
Common Lane is a medieval lane traversing two
miles through an Area Of Outstanding Natural
Beauty. The lane is undergoing restoration and
is currently a track, suitable in most parts, for
well equipped walkers, horse riders and mountain
bikes with care. It is closed to vehicles.
The villa is pre-dated by evidence of early
Bronze Age activity, and Durotrigian (pre - Roman
Celtic tribe) settlement. The Roman villa, was
established in the middle 2nd century AD, 3 miles
west of the Roman road, between Ilchester
(Lindinis) and Dorchester (Durnovaria). Four
Roman periods of development have been
discovered, with impressive halls, mosaic
flooring and a bath house.
The Common Lane Project Group is creating a
partnership between the Friends of Common Lane,
Dorset County Council and Sponsors to restore the
lane. This will provide a sustainable
recreational route for a range of users,
safeguarding its environment, history and nature.

Roman Villa Plan and Common Lane
Part 2 Clarkes Gorse The next section of the
lane passes 0.5 mile through ancient woodland,
through a Site of Nature Conservation Interest.
The bordering hedges and woodland form managed
ancient woodland, which existed before 1600 AD.

The lane starts in Halstock, 6 miles From Yeovil
Lesser Celandine
Start Here
Coppiced Hazel
Part 1 Halstock We recommend that you park in
the village, which has a shop stocked with local
produce visit or stay at the Golf Club, which
is a few hundred yards from the village along a
good road. The Club House has food, refreshments
and accommodation. Proceed along the unmade part
of the lane passing the driving range, crossing
the site of a Roman Villa. The site was excavated
in 1967-1985.
Native Bluebell
Halstock Golf Club
Part 3 Ocean Hill (121m, 400 ft approx) Thomas
Hollis named this, like many of the local fields
based on his philosophical connections. Branch
for Bracketts Coppice or Wood Fold Hill.
To Bracketts Coppice and Ryewater
Lane Branches Here
To Corscombe
Roman Villa Reconstruction
Panoramic views
Fold Here