ANSTY AND DORSET GAP - THE FOX INN, ANSTY

4.25 miles

AT one time, one of the most remote inns in the county, there can be hardly anybody in Dorset who hasn't heard of The Fox at Ansty, even if they haven't actually been there. Now's your chance, not only to visit The Fox, but to enjoy a wonderful walk to the mysterious Dorset Gap. Thousands of years of traffic have deepened the junction where many ancient trackways meet at a natural dip in the escarpment into a jumble of sunken tracks. Since walking became a pleasure, rather than a necessity, Dorset Gap has achieved a legendary status, and passers-by are invited to enter their names and a few words into the Dorset Gap log-book.

At The Fox, Abigail James and Ian Chalmers have a good range of hearty bar meals for winter weather, including sausages with mash and onion gravy, pie of the day, ham and fried eggs, or an ever-changing Monday to Friday 12-until-2 lunchtime menu at £5 for one course, £7.95 for two, or £9.95 for three. With Badger Best, Tanglefoot and Pickled Partridge beer and Katy Rose cider, your thirst is certain to be assuaged. There is a food-themed night every month (telephone 01258 880328 for details and visit www.anstyfoxinn.co.uk). One more thing - The Fox is a dog-friendly pub, so feel free to sit with Rover at your feet as you enjoy your bar-meal.

From The Fox, walk down the road past Heastige Cottages and Old Brewery Hall. Down over the infant Devil's Brook bridge, continue up into Melcombe Bingham, soon passing a left footpath for 'Bingham's Melcombe'. Leaving Melcombe Bingham, continue up the sunken road with Henning Hill appearing ahead. Descending to 'Cross Lanes' take the right Higher Melcombe road, signed 'Dorset Gap Bridleway 1¼'. Up the lane, emerge into countryside with pleasant downland farm views. Past a 'Private Road' notice, walk under the avenue of trees with near-distant hills including Bowdens Hill ahead left, Nordon Hill ahead right and Henning Hill behind.

Rejoining the lane before Higher Melcombe Farm, pass a bridleway crossing with 'Dorset Gap ½' right. Keep straight on, ignoring 'Higher Melcombe House's left fork, onto the walled drive through the farm. Now between fields, meander round a left and right bend, with cottages right, and take the left gated 'Lyscombe Bridleway' track, before the farmyard. At the bottom left bend, take the right bridleway half-gate and follow the right hedge up the field. Through the end bridleway half-gate, turn left up the left hedge to the gate sunken in an ancient track way. Through this, keep on up the steeply ascending sunken track with lovely views to Ansty and Melcombe Bingham. Near the top, pass the fence's right gate. Through the top corner bridleway-gate, and a second gate with four bridleway pointers, turn right for 'Nettlecombe Tout' along the right wood's fence.

Rising gently for nearly ½ mile, with Lyscombe Bottom over the field's left brow, you pass two ancient cross dykes and go through another bridleway-gate into the top field. Arriving at the water tank, turn right across the open field, passing left of the cattle-trough. There are superb views over the Blackmore Vale, including Stourhead, Duncliffe Hill and Win Green. Go through the fenced half-gates in the hedge into the next field. Past the right pond, join the sunken track down to the bridleway-gate. Through into the wood, take the left 'Dorset Gap' bridleway up through the trees onto the bridleway track. Then, follow the ever-deepening track down through the woods until you arrive in Dorset Gap.

Make sure you choose the correct route out, by passing and signing the book in the blue box on the 'Bulbarrow 3' bridleway track. Through the gate, walk up onto the crest of the earthworks with Higher Melcombe Farm down to your right and magnificent views over Blackmore Vale to your left. Keep straight on, descending very slightly, to fenced half-gates in the facing hedge. Through these, walk down the long field near the left wood to the end bridleway-gate. Through this, follow the track down and through the barnyard. Bending right after the farmhouse, cross the drive to the footpath half-gate. Through this, take the right fork 'Lower Ansty' footpath over the field, aiming for the left end of the woods before joining the farm track to the footpath-gate. Through this, follow the right hedge down the field with Cothayes Farm down to your left. Through the corner gate, take the left footpath stile onto the diagonal path over the field slope.

Down to and over the hedge's twin footpath-stiles by the corner gate, continue half-left down to the gate onto the lane. Cross to the footpath-stile. Follow the left deer-fence down to the stream-bridge and the footpath-stile. Over this, follow the field's left edge to the gated and footpath-stiled grass clearing which leads back into Ansty. Turn left back to The Fox for some well-deserved hot food.