Piddletrenthide

Piddletrenthide lies on the small River Piddle, in a valley on the dip slope of the Dorset Downs, 8 miles north of Dorchester. The odd name joins the river to the thirty hides the village was assessed for in the Domesday Book. The parish also takes in Plush to the north-east and the hamlet of White Lackington, and had 647 residents at the 2011 census.

The Grade I listed church of All Saints stands on the northern edge of the village. The south doorway is Norman, the tower carries the date 1487, and the churchyard holds two headstones for the Durbefield family, later referenced by Thomas Hardy in Tess of the d’Urbervilles. At the northern end of the village a footpath leads to Morning Well, where several springs feed the Piddle.

For walkers, a 6-mile circular route from the village goes over West Hill to Plush, following part of the Hardy Way, with 800 feet of ascent and few other walkers likely. Dorchester is 8 miles south, and Cerne Abbas, 6 miles north of Dorchester, lies in the neighbouring valley.