West Dorset Walkers Welcome
FREE information leaflet and map!
Find out how and where to find the parish boundary markers as you walk the West Dorset Coast Path, discovering the unique hand made markers as you walk from parish to parish. You can also scan the QR code on the map whilst walking to load a Google Map of the marker locations.
West Dorset Walkers Welcome
The Dorset Coast path is enjoyed by local people and visitors as a key way to experience and enjoy the stunning coastal landscape, sea views and numerous coastal communities through which it passes. The underlying geology and hydrology of the coastline result in a stunning topography which is subject to dynamic and sometimes rapid change, resulting in some difficult locations to navigate for the everyday walker. Many of these locations are found close to parish communities where the coast path is most popular. This project seeks to improve those locations.
West Dorset Walkers Welcome project was a two-phase, West Dorset Coast Path improvements and the artistic parish boundaries marker project.
West Dorset Coast Path improvements
Physical path improvement works at 12 locations along the Dorset Coast Path were carried out in 2019. Path works improved and facilitated year-round access for local people and visitors, for walkers to safely use and enjoy the path whilst also linking into local paths networks/parishes and parish attractions along the coast path.
Information Maps
If you are a local business, tourist attraction, holiday accommodation or information centre, please contact us for a supply of the information maps to share dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Parish Boundary Markers
Parish boundaries markers provide welcome entry and exit points along the coast path highlighting for the traveller passage through coastal communities.
Local artists were commissioned in 2019 for the first stage and in 2021 for the second stage to develop contemporary parish boundary artwork pieces to reveal to the walker where and when they pass from one parish to another when walking along the West Dorset Coast path. These pieces are collaboration projects between the artist, landowners and craftspeople to produce artwork pieces that represents the heritage of that particular parish boundary using a range of materials such as, stone, wood, metal.
This project has produced 16 unique, beautiful parish boundary markers demonstrating high quality expertise in both arts and crafts.
Parish Boundary Artwork
1. Devon into Dorset boundary at Ware
Grid Reference: SY 3312 9170
To celebrate the iconic 19thC women of Lyme Regis pivotal in Lyme Regis reputation as the cradle of modern palaeontology – Mary Anning, Mary Buckland, & Sarah Woodruff.
Artists:
Photo: © Pete Millson 2022
2. Lyme Regis to Wootton Fitzpaine boundary
Grid Reference SY 35048 93 808
Highlighting the beautiful undulating local landscape with its distinctive hilltops providing birds eye viewpoints, for example, Lamberts Castle, Colney Castle, Stonebarrow, and Trinity, Thistle and Timber Hills.
Artists:
Photo: © Pete Millson 2022
3. Wootton Fitzpaine to Charmouth boundary
Grid Reference SY 35048 93 808
Remembering Mary Anning and her work searching for fossils in the Charmouth mudstone cliffs and discovering the first correctly identified ichthyosaur.
Artist:
Photo: © Pete Millson 2022
4. Charmouth to Stanton St Gabriel boundary
Grid Reference SY 3698 9307
To commemorate the alleged 836 Danish Viking landings on Charmouth beach. As you approach the gate the Viking landskip warships align with the sea horizon to take you back in time and witness the Viking fleet advancing towards the shore.
Artists:
Tara Hansford
Photo: © Pete Millson 2022
5. Stanton St Gabriel to Chideock boundary
Grid Reference SY 4104 9215
Enhances the links between the two parish communities providing a seat sculpted from local fallen trees echoing the weathered trees and hedgerows in this location. Inviting local people and coast path walkers to stop, sit and contemplate and connect with their surroundings.
Artist:
Photo: © Pete Millson 2022
6. Chideock to Symondsbury boundary
Grid Reference SY 4348 9146
From the distance the walker can see the form suggesting the shape of a barrel which when reached invites the walker to stop and consider the coasts rich smuggling history.
Artist:
7. Symondsbury to Bridport boundary
Grid Reference SY 4591 9048
Remembering the “Wildcats of Bridport” a group of women netmakers who downed tools, went on strike and marched in protest of a pay cut and secured the support of Bridport.
Artist:
Photo: © Pete Millson 2022
8. Burton Bradstock to Swyre boundary
Grid Reference SY 5106 8786
Echoing how this landscape changes from winter into summer with smooth, bleached to dark jagged elements. An Oak tree protected by them will grow and distort because of this exposed landscape but provide a permanent boundary marker for future generations.
Artist:
Photo: © Pete Millson 2022
9. Burton Bradstock to Swyre boundary
Grid Reference SY 5106 8786
Echoing how this landscape changes from winter into summer with smooth, bleached to dark jagged elements. An Oak tree protected by them will grow and distort because of this exposed landscape but provide a permanent boundary marker for future generations.
Artist:
Photo: © Tara Hansford 2020
10. Swyre to Puncknowle boundary
Grid Reference SY 5401 8586
In 1667 a white house stood on Chesil beach providing refuge for shipwrecked sailors washed up along the beach. Long since lost but remembered by a boundary marker that will help walkers brace themselves in windy weather!
Artists:
Will Pinder Metal worker/forger
Jake Reilly Carpenter
Photo: © Pete Millson 2022
11. Pucknowle to Abbotsbury boundary
Grid Reference SY 5245 8689
Spiral tassleweed, common mouse ear, toothed medick …. this boundary marker celebrates the fascinating names of the remarkable plants supported by The Fleet and Chesil Beach.
Artist:
Photo: © Pete Millson 2022
12. Abbotsbury to Langton Herring
Grid Reference SY 60597 82583
Three hand-made gates, kissing fence and fencing over bridge. Incorporating artistic metalwork depicting historic imagery relating to the parishes
Artists:
13. Langton Herring to Fleet
Grid Reference SY 61596 80739
Hand-made gate depicting a map of the area showing the contour lines, the coast path (yellow line) and the predicted sea level rise (blue line).
Artists:
14. Fleet to Langton Herring
Grid Reference SY 61596 80739
Stone boundary marker with letter carvings.
Artist:
15. Fleet to Chickerell
Grid Reference SY 64137 79220
‘Under the water’ sculptured marine life information marker.
Fleet to Langton Herring
Grid Reference SY 61596 80739
Stone boundary marker with letter carvings.
Artist:
16. Chickerell to Fleet
Grid Reference SY 64137 79220
Hand carved English oak gates with screens inspired by the unique landscape of the Fleet Lagoon and the reed beds at this location.
Artists:
Contact
Dorset Coast Forum
For further information about this project please contact:
dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
01305 224833
West Dorset Walkers Welcome Project
This project was led by Dorset Council and coordinated by Dorset Coast Forum as part of the Dorset Coastal Connections portfolio. Funding was from the Coastal Communities Fund, managed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).