This South Dorset circle is easy, flat walking and good underfoot. It's 6.5 miles, about three hours walking. Use the map OS Explorer, 117 Cerne Abbas and Bere Regis, grid ref: 803 923. Park at the Affpuddle Forestry Commission car park and picnic area. From the A35 east of Dorchester and about two miles west of Bere Regis turn down the B3390 to Affpuddle. Go on through, ignoring the first road to Briantspuddle, and then on south through woodland. Turn left – this is a second road signed to Briantspuddle - and a yard or two along on the right is the parking and picnic area.

E xplore the area of South Dorset that spawned the legendary Tolpuddle Martyrs in the mid-19th century. Using very dry and easy to follow forest tracks we head for Tolpuddle, which has a special tree, museum and a pub.

Then go through fields in the valley of the Piddle, through the village of Briantspuddle and back through woods to the start.

This is a virtually flat walk and is ideal for dogs, too.

START

Go out on to the main road and cross, taking the forest track ahead under a barrier. This is ideal for striding out, with no worries about losing your way or crossing stiles. Sadly at the start there is some fly tipping along here. Landowners in areas like this cannot win. Access is allowed and then irresponsible people abuse the privilege, using it not for recreation and enjoying the peace and beauty of the country but for dumping rubbish at taxpayers' expense.

The track goes through mixed woodland and then later on through an area where the rhododendron Ponticum has taken a grip. It is a pest, but, of course, in season it is very beautiful.

Pass on the way a number of hollows which are naturally occurring sinks or "shake holes". You are heading west with Open Access land on your left.

Ignore a track right and just continue on along the main track all the way for about 1.6 miles.

1. JUNCTION

Reach a junction with a footpath left and a clear track right. Take this track right, now heading north. Drop gently down into the Piddle valley. Soon there is more open land on the left and woodland right, known as Southover Heath.

The track is Tarmac for a very short while and then reverts to a rougher surface but still pretty dry and easy. Stay in the same direction walking in the open. The track now has high hedges full of wild flowers attracting many butterflies and insects.

2. LANE

Reach a lane. Go right, bend round and head right again towards Tolpuddle and the visible church tower. Cross the Piddle on the way and continue to the village.

3. TOLPUDDLE

Reach the green and an information board about the Martyrs. In the early 1830s, a group of farm workers set up Britain's first trade union and demanded a fair wage from the landowners. Fearful of civil unrest and riots, the authorities decided to break up the organisation. In 1834, six men from Tolpuddle were found guilty of unlawful assembly and "administering unlawful oaths" and were deported to Australia.

Here on the green is the Martyrs' Tree, a great sycamore tree which could have sheltered the Martyrs as they met together. There is also a thatched shelter commemorating the centenary of the Martyrs.

To visit the museum and Martyrs' Cottages, turn left, crossing on to the pavement. Pass the flint village church. Though restored in 1855, the church at Tolpuddle is 900 years old. In the north transept is a memorial carved in Purbeck stone to a 12th-century priest.

4. MUSEUM

It is only a two or three minute walk along to this interesting museum (free but donations are suggested). In the shop you can buy drinks.

Return to the green and continue along the main road.

5. INN

Come to the Martyrs Inn. Continue on. Pass a new recreation area on the right. At the entrance to the village and the derestriction sign, turn right down the signed footpath.

6. FIELD

Come into a field and go straight ahead down the right edge. In the corner, turn left along the bottom. Go over a stile and continue on as before. At the far end, a stile by a gate leads on to a road.

7. ROAD

Go left a few yards and cross a stile in the hedge on the right. Continue in the same direction as before. Cross another stile. Follow the right edge and in the corner, go through to a stile. It may be a little overgrown so make sure you don't miss the stile.

Once over, go under trees and another stile brings you into a wildflower meadow. Continue on. In the corner of the meadow, look carefully right and go down to a stile hidden down in the hedge under trees. This leads into another field. Go along the left side and in the far left corner a marked stile brings you on to a drive.

8. DRIVE

Go straight over along a path and soon reach a lane. Cross this and follow the path on.

9. FOOTPATH

Shortly, reach a signpost and go right on the path marked to Briantspuddle taking you into and across a field.

Cross a substantial wooden footbridge over the Piddle. Continue on across the field and go over a stile and along a path to a lane in the village of Briantspuddle.

10. BRIANTSPUDDLE

Turn right along the main street in this pretty village. Reach a junction with a larger road and turn left. Go uphill winding out of the village.

11. TRACK

After about 300-400 yards, turn right on a marked track into woodland. Follow signs to Culpeppers Dish. The track bends left uphill and opposite a thatched cottage it turns right through the woodland. Continue straight on towards Culpeppers Dish, ignoring side paths. Merge into another track, but maintain your direction more-or-less.

12. CROSSING TRACKS

Reach a signpost and crossroads of tracks. Go straight on following the sign to the B3390 road. It may be rather wet in parts along here. Reach another track and go right and immediately left and soon reach the road. Cross and go through a wooden gate almost opposite and turn right on the track, parallel with the road. It leads back to the picnic and parking area.

The Martyrs Inn, Tolpuddle, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7ES. Tel: 01305 848249. Please call before setting out to confirm opening times.