WALKS IN DORSET at FROME ST QUINTIN (4K)

Added: 2026-05-09

[00:00:00]Hello, I'm Dave and this is Fiverr out once again for a walk in the countryside. Thanks for joining us. Now, today we're going to be visiting the tiny little village of Froom St. Quinton in Dorset. It's located about 11 miles northwest of Dorchester and we're going to be walking a roughly 4 and a half mile circular route. We'll actually be starting and finishing at the village of Evershot because well there's not really suitable parking in Froom St. Quinton.

[00:00:33]We'll then head south from Evershot along a section of the McMillan Way past a magnificent manor. We'll cross over the river Froom and head east to Froom Stinton. We'll have a wander around there before heading north, recrossing the river just south of a little hamlet and then back to Evershot. As I said, we're starting at Evershot, which is about 13 miles northwest of Dorchester.

[00:01:05]We won't have a look around there because um Logan and I did a video from there um a couple of years ago. So, if you haven't seen that, do check it out.

[00:01:14]It is another one of those quite glorious sort of early September days.

[00:01:20]The sun is out, blue sky, hardly any clouds about. Should be perfect conditions for walking. Do come along with us. Okay. Well, as I said, I parked my car at Evershot and we're going to start off the walk by heading southwards across a field.

[00:01:41][Music] [Music] I think today is going to be one of those uh walks where we're going to get some terrific views. So, this is the field that we've come across. I'm sort of looking back to the north. And so, the little village of Evershot is just behind those trees in the distance.

[00:02:30][Music] Now, we're currently on a section of uh the McMillan Way, which is that 290 mile long distance path that goes from well Boston in Lincolnshire all the way to Abbottzbury on the Dorset coast. And it was created to promote the awareness of McMillan cancer relief. I'll tell you, I'm not getting very far on this walk very quickly. I'll keep stopping just to take some of these views in. They're quite stunning.

[00:03:21][Music] Well, we're continuing to head south. I tell you, it's getting quite warm now and I need to look out for a farm which we pass by or pass through called Fortunes Wood Farm.

[00:04:17][Music] A rather sweet little pond or mini lake there with the reflections of the autumn. some sunshine.

[00:05:00]Quite a few dragon flies still about.

[00:05:04]Very popular with wildlife, that's for sure.

[00:05:08]And then just panning back, you can see where we've come down along the uh McMillan Way, just past that little bit of woodland.

[00:05:21][Music] Well, we've made our way to this quite magnificent house. It's called Chant Mal Manor. Now, hopefully I've pronounced that correctly. Um, I've spoken to four locals. Three called it Chant Mal and one called it Shantm.

[00:06:00]So, I'm going for Chant Mile. It was originally built here in 1211.

[00:06:06]John Strode bought it in6006 from the uh Chevron family and in 1612 completely rebuilt it, adding a chapel on the site, which I think is now a store. In 1951, it became a training center for the Dorset police. But then that all closed down in the mid 90s and I think it's now a private house. The name Chantm is from the Norman family name of de Chantmull who were lords the manor here in the 13th century. I think it means the song of a blackbird in Norman French.

[00:06:46]We've just crossed over the river Froom, which you can just see down there. Uh it's 30 miles long and it's a chalk stream. It source is actually at Evershot. In fact, Logan and I um visited the source when we did our walk there. Of course, the river flows eventually into Pool Harbor at Wearum.

[00:07:08]We're just crossing over a railway line.

[00:07:12]It's the heart of Wessix line sort of Bristol to Weimoth and I think the next station to the south of here is Maiden Newton.

[00:07:22]And the next one to the north I think's Czechnull.

[00:07:26]Of course Logan and I have visited both of those stations. Of course Czechnull I think is the least used station in Dorset.

[00:07:36]What a lovely display of crab apples. I think it's been a good year for them judging by the crop that's on those branches there. Looking quite terrific in the sunshine.

[00:07:53]Well, allegedly there's a footpath across here that should take us to Froom St. Quinton.

[00:08:01]Let's see if we can follow it.

[00:08:05][Music] [Music] Well, I think we're going in the right direction.

[00:08:36]I'm letting uh Fiverr lead the way.

[00:08:41]Relying on his instincts.

[00:08:46]I mean, according to the map, there's a a path across this field.

[00:08:53]Oh, well, we're heading sort of northeast, which is where we need to go.

[00:09:01][Music] Well, I've been walking up and down the side of this field for quite a few minutes trying to find a way out.

[00:09:29]And uh I'm pleased to say I have found the style, but it's certainly well hidden through the undergrowth here.

[00:09:40]And there is the welcome sight of a way marker.

[00:09:48]Well, we finally made it to the little village of Froom, St. Quinton. It was a challenge getting here. My advice to anybody doing this route is after the bridge over the railway, just take the road to the village.

[00:10:02]It really was quite a challenge. Right.

[00:10:05]Um, first thing we'll have a look at is the little church.

[00:10:10]And this is the quite pretty church of St. Mary.

[00:10:14]The naven chancel originate from the 13th century. And then a short tower was added in the 14th century and the south porch in the 15th century. And then it was all restored in 1881. I think it's got two bells.

[00:10:30]And it's surrounded by a hedge in a corner of a field with no road access up to it. Possibly the original village center might have been here before the plague perhaps.

[00:10:42]Well, we'll have our usual little peep inside.

[00:10:46]There's the font which I believe originates from the 12th century. So I presume it must have been from an earlier church. I don't know.

[00:10:58]And then coming through the nave, you've got this almost uh like flint work stone on the walls which is lovely. There's the pull pit on the left. wooden carved and then through into the the chancel up some steps.

[00:11:25]Quite uh magnificent stained glass window above the altar.

[00:11:31]And the altar itself is um stone and carved. And then behind it and around the sides, you've got this uh pattern of tiles.

[00:11:44]A pretty little church.

[00:11:47]Well, from St. Quinton's, a very small village. Only something like 150 people live here. And it started to be built up around about the Roman times. Indeed, there was a a Roman road out of Dorchester to the east of here. And there are plenty of natural springs in the locality. It was originally called Little Froom, meaning little estate by the river Froom. The St. Quinton bit was added in the 13th century in honor of the Norman family of that name, who are lords of the manor. I think they were actually d Quinton.

[00:12:22]And the manor had a mill and originally included Evershot and Holy Well, but Evershot and Holy Well became a separate parish I think in 1974.

[00:12:34]And just southeast of the church is the the rectory, a sort of H-shaped building. Parts of the east wing dates to the 16th century and the west wing to the 17th century.

[00:12:47][Music] And just west of the church is this terrific house, Froom. Boom house which was built in the 18th century. I think there's a date of 1782 on the porch. I'm not sure. What a pretty little village from St. Quinton is. Okay. Well, we're leaving the village heading northwards and on a little road and then we're going to look out for a track on our left and that should take us uh back to the railway line.

[00:13:43]Aha. There's the track that I was looking for. So, we just need to follow down here on the left.

[00:13:54][Music] It's turned into quite a a warm day.

[00:14:21]So, fortunately, I got plenty of water for myself and Fiverr.

[00:14:27]I don't think he's enjoying that.

[00:14:31]Good lad.

[00:14:33]Well, we may well have had a a long hot dry summer, but little bit of rain over the last few days has made so much difference. Just looking at the lushness of the grass now really noticeable.

[00:14:49]Oh, this is where we've got to be a bit careful crossing over the the railway line. Now, just down there is the hamlet of Holy Well, and that actually did have a railway station in the past. I think it was called Evershot Station, even though Evershot is to the west. And the station, which was on the Wiltshire, Somerset, and Wayoth Railway, it opened in 1857, but closed in 1966.

[00:15:18]Crossing over the river Froom once more.

[00:15:25]quite uh quite good flow.

[00:15:29]As I said, we're not that far from the source, so and it does look quite clear as well.

[00:15:37]Oh, I love that tree.

[00:15:40]It's funny how sometimes the shapes of some trees just catch your eye, don't they?

[00:15:47]That one certainly does with mine.

[00:15:51][Music] We're seeing as we're on some high ground here. Let's uh have another little pit stop.

[00:16:32]Evershot where we're heading towards. And this is panning round to the west. And that was our outward journey over on that ridge there.

[00:16:49]I appreciate I'm pointing towards the sun, which is quite low this time of year.

[00:16:55]This is very much your typical rolling Dorset landscape.

[00:17:05]And this is our last style of the walk over this and then across the field and back to Evershot.

[00:17:15][Music] Well folks, we've made it back to Evershot and the end of our walk. We hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please do give us a thumbs up and a like and do leave a comment and do check out our Facebook page, TA's Countryside Walks.

[00:17:52]We've had a super walk today.

[00:17:55]Challenging at times. We're a little bit muddier than when we started. Now, unfortunately, although there is a pub in Evershot, the Acorn in uh it doesn't open for quite a while.

[00:18:08]So, no pub today, but time for a sausage.

[00:18:17]So, until we meet again, thanks for watching. And sherio, good boy.

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