Stock Hill

Hill, Mountain in Dorset

England

Stock Hill

Field, West Pulham The nightmare that is footpath N49 20 is drawing to a close. Currently my nomination for Dorset's worst right of way (of those I've completed), and there's tough competition. Visible in the centre is the roof of Chaselands.
Field, West Pulham Credit: Derek Harper

Stock Hill is a prominent hill located in the county of Dorset, England. Situated in the Dorset Downs, it forms part of the larger chalk ridge known as the South Dorset Downs. With an elevation of approximately 210 meters (688 feet), it offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

The hill is characterized by its gentle slopes and lush greenery, making it a popular destination for nature lovers and hikers alike. The area is rich in diverse flora and fauna, with wildflowers, butterflies, and various bird species being commonly spotted. It is also home to several walking trails, allowing visitors to explore the hill at their own pace.

Historically, Stock Hill has been an important site due to its strategic location. It is believed that an Iron Age hillfort once stood on its summit, providing a defensive position for the early inhabitants of the region. Today, remnants of the fortification can still be observed, adding to the hill's historical significance.

The hill is easily accessible by road, with a car park located at the foot of the hill, providing convenient access for visitors. Additionally, the nearby village of Stock offers amenities such as cafes and shops, allowing visitors to enjoy a refreshment before or after their exploration of Stock Hill.

Overall, Stock Hill in Dorset presents an idyllic setting for those seeking a tranquil escape in nature, offering stunning views, a rich history, and the opportunity to immerse oneself in the beauty of the Dorset Downs.

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Stock Hill Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.876801/-2.4522265 or Grid Reference ST6808. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Field, West Pulham The nightmare that is footpath N49 20 is drawing to a close. Currently my nomination for Dorset's worst right of way (of those I've completed), and there's tough competition. Visible in the centre is the roof of Chaselands.
Field, West Pulham
The nightmare that is footpath N49 20 is drawing to a close. Currently my nomination for Dorset's worst right of way (of those I've completed), and there's tough competition. Visible in the centre is the roof of Chaselands.
Holwell Manor House Grade II* listed. "Country House, C16 with much rebuilding of 1889" <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1118845?section=official-list-entry" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1118845?section=official-list-entry">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> . Seen past the entrance gate on Holwell Drove <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7564503">ST6810 : Holwell Drove</a>.
Holwell Manor House
Grade II* listed. "Country House, C16 with much rebuilding of 1889" LinkExternal link . Seen past the entrance gate on Holwell Drove ST6810 : Holwell Drove.
Cottage, Sandhills Tess Cottage is opposite the junction of Holwell Drove (foreground) with Stock Hill Lane. Presumably named as a whimsical reference to Hardy's famous character who spent time in the Blackmore Vale, which we are in.
Cottage, Sandhills
Tess Cottage is opposite the junction of Holwell Drove (foreground) with Stock Hill Lane. Presumably named as a whimsical reference to Hardy's famous character who spent time in the Blackmore Vale, which we are in.
Stock Hill Lane Passing Rails Farm. To the right of the telegraph pole is Magog Farm.
Stock Hill Lane
Passing Rails Farm. To the right of the telegraph pole is Magog Farm.
Damaged stile near Pulham The stile on footpath N49 20 glimpsed from the other side at <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7560802">ST6908 : Overgrown stile near Pulham</a>. A time-consuming stretch of footpath.
Damaged stile near Pulham
The stile on footpath N49 20 glimpsed from the other side at ST6908 : Overgrown stile near Pulham. A time-consuming stretch of footpath.
Stile near Pulham Compared to the last stile <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7560806">ST7008 : Damaged stile near Pulham</a>, this looks fine, but beyond it the course of footpath N49 20 is through absolutely impenetrable woodland, even if daylight can be seen on the far side of the field boundary. I've no intention of retracing my steps given the difficulty of doing so, so will have to look for another route.
Stile near Pulham
Compared to the last stile ST7008 : Damaged stile near Pulham, this looks fine, but beyond it the course of footpath N49 20 is through absolutely impenetrable woodland, even if daylight can be seen on the far side of the field boundary. I've no intention of retracing my steps given the difficulty of doing so, so will have to look for another route.
Farm, Pulham Taken while trying to find alternative route for footpath N49 20 after the impossibility of using <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7560808">ST7008 : Stile near Pulham</a>. The farm is unnamed on maps.
Farm, Pulham
Taken while trying to find alternative route for footpath N49 20 after the impossibility of using ST7008 : Stile near Pulham. The farm is unnamed on maps.
House at Pulham Chaselands also appears in <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7180955">ST7008 : Field, West Pulham</a>. Needless to say the footpath I was trying to follow has no exit onto the road where mapped; I took the trouble to search diligently on both sides of the hedge. So I have to leave this meadow via the entrance driveway to the house. Footpath N49 20 is 478 metres long (<span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.rowmaps.com/showmap.php?place=West%20Pulham&map=BingOS&lat=50.8723&lon=2.4236&lonew=W" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.rowmaps.com/showmap.php?place=West%20Pulham&map=BingOS&lat=50.8723&lon=2.4236&lonew=W">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> ) and has around four impassable stiles or crossing places, which could easily be a record, at around 1 per 120 metres. It took me 18 minutes to get from one end to the other.
House at Pulham
Chaselands also appears in ST7008 : Field, West Pulham. Needless to say the footpath I was trying to follow has no exit onto the road where mapped; I took the trouble to search diligently on both sides of the hedge. So I have to leave this meadow via the entrance driveway to the house. Footpath N49 20 is 478 metres long (LinkExternal link ) and has around four impassable stiles or crossing places, which could easily be a record, at around 1 per 120 metres. It took me 18 minutes to get from one end to the other.
Field, Pulham Pulham Business Park is on the other side of the trees on the left.
Field, Pulham
Pulham Business Park is on the other side of the trees on the left.
Holwell Drove The unfenced symbol comes into play on maps here, as the western end of the road has the very wide verges characteristic of drove roads.
Holwell Drove
The unfenced symbol comes into play on maps here, as the western end of the road has the very wide verges characteristic of drove roads.
Holwell Drove The former drove road passes the entrance gateway to the Manor House, glimpsed at <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7184701">ST6810 : Holwell Manor House</a>
Holwell Drove
The former drove road passes the entrance gateway to the Manor House, glimpsed at ST6810 : Holwell Manor House
Holwell Drove Looking left from as the wide verge appears. See also <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7564475">ST6910 : Holwell Drove</a>.
Holwell Drove
Looking left from as the wide verge appears. See also ST6910 : Holwell Drove.
Verge by Holwell Drove Looking right from <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7564516">ST6810 : Holwell Drove</a>, with the wide verge ending abruptly.
Verge by Holwell Drove
Looking right from ST6810 : Holwell Drove, with the wide verge ending abruptly.
Thatched cottages on the bend at Middlemarsh
Thatched cottages on the bend at Middlemarsh
Road through Middlemarsh village
Road through Middlemarsh village
Sandhills Manor House Grade II* listed manor house, C16 with extensive rebuilding in 1889.
Sandhills Manor House
Grade II* listed manor house, C16 with extensive rebuilding in 1889.
Manor Farm Glanvilles Wootton Mid C19 Grade II listed manor farmhouse. The southern gable was rebuilt c. 1978 when an attached cottage was demolished.
Manor Farm Glanvilles Wootton
Mid C19 Grade II listed manor farmhouse. The southern gable was rebuilt c. 1978 when an attached cottage was demolished.
The Old Rectory Glanvilles Wootton Grade II listed. The north range dates from circa 1780, the south range circa 1800. Viewed from the churchyard.
The Old Rectory Glanvilles Wootton
Grade II listed. The north range dates from circa 1780, the south range circa 1800. Viewed from the churchyard.
Show me another place!

Stock Hill is located at Grid Ref: ST6808 (Lat: 50.876801, Lng: -2.4522265)

Unitary Authority: Dorset

Police Authority: Dorset

What 3 Words

///pounces.merge.total. Near Sherborne, Dorset

Related Wikis

Glanvilles Wootton

Glanvilles Wootton, or Wootton Glanville, is a village and civil parish in the county of Dorset in southern England. It is situated in the Blackmore Vale...

Dungeon Hill

Dungeon Hill is an Iron Age hillfort, about 1+1⁄4 miles (2 kilometres) north of the village of Buckland Newton in Dorset, England. It is a scheduled monument...

Pulham

Pulham is a village and civil parish in the county of Dorset in south-west England. It is situated in the Blackmore Vale, 7 miles (11 kilometres) southeast...

Holnest SSSI, Dorset

Holnest SSSI, Dorset (grid reference ST667106) is a 54.83 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Dorset, notified in 2004.The site has...

Holnest

Holnest is a village and civil parish in the county of Dorset in southern England. It lies in the Blackmore Vale 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Sherborne. It...

Holwell, Dorset

Holwell is a village and civil parish in the county of Dorset in southern England, situated approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) south-east of Sherborne. It...

Cosmore

Cosmore is a small village in Dorset, situated just off the main A352 Sherborne-Dorchester road. It sits at the foot of Dogbury Hill, one of Dorset's...

Buckland Newton

Buckland Newton is a village and civil parish in Dorset, England. It is situated beneath the scarp slope of the Dorset Downs, 7+1⁄2 miles (12.1 km) south...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 50.876801,-2.4522265
Post Box
Post Box Type: lamp
Ref: DT9 78
Ref GB Uprn: 10015458999
Royal Cypher: EIIR
Royal Cypher Wikidata: Q33102113
Lat/Long: 50.8797046/-2.452145
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

Have you been to Stock Hill?

Leave your review of Stock Hill below (or comments, questions and feedback).