St James's Church
Getting here
51.00044, -2.20443
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
- 🍄Mushroom foraging is at its best in summer here
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
- 🍄Mushroom foraging is at its best in summer here
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
Good to know
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
Best for
Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Mushroom foraging
Strong match
Fungi — Summer Truffle, Byssonectria fusispora, Candlesnuff Fungus +13 more · last seen 2025; Fungi — Summer Truffle, Byssonectria fusispora, Candlesnuff Fungus +13 more · last seen 2025
Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Red Admiral, Large White, Small White +157 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Red Admiral, Large White, Small White +157 more · last seen 2026
Bird watching
Strong match
Birds — Swift, Tawny Owl, Blackbird +35 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Swift, Tawny Owl, Blackbird +35 more · last seen 2025
Dog walks
Good match
Dogs allowed with public access
Cycling
Good match
Named cycling route nearby: North Dorset Cycle Way
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km🚶Walking
3 signed routes nearby · 14 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Walking
Fontmell Down walk, Fontmell and Melbury DownsWalking route1.6 km
The down has open access, so you can explore the whole area. The well-used paths and tracks include steep slopes, with uneven surfaces which become muddy and slippery after wet weather.
Melbury Beacon walk, Fontmell and Melbury DownsWalking route3.7 km
The down has open access, so you can explore the whole area. The well-used paths and tracks include steep slopes, with uneven surfaces that become muddy and slippery after wet weather. Dogs are welcome under close control, as livestock grazes the down.
Wessex RidgewayWalking route
Stoney Pathpublic footpath · 166 m
🚴Cycling
19 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Cycling
Wiltshire CyclewayCycling route155 km
Route 25Cycling route
National BywayCycling route
North Dorset Cycle WayCycling route
National Byway Dorset LoopCycling route
Main RouteCycling route607 m
🚵Mountain biking
1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Mountain biking
Wessex Ridgeway TrailMountain bike route
Wildlife to spot
Photos
Shaftesbury, St. James's Church: Dated font brought from St. Rumbold's Church in 1975
Weather for this location
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Nearby places
Useful places within 5 km
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