Little Bredy

Little Bredy stands at the head of the Bride Valley where the River Bride tumbles down a waterfall from its springs and is well worth visiting for its gorgeous setting. The descent into it from the east is tremendous from either of the two roads with some of the best inland scenery to be seen in the country. The village is serene – cars are not allowed through part of the village creating a peaceful, old fashioned ambience, a sanctuary miles away from today’s fast paced society. The cottages in the village are decorative and thatched (including the village hall) and the church has been attractively well built in keeping with the village. From the churchyard, it is sometimes possible to walk through the grounds of Bridehead House up to the sparkling lake formed by damning the springs which are the start of the river.

Nearby to this small village is the grand Kingston Russell house which although not open to the public, is notably the birthplace of Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy and was the medieval seat of the Duke of Bedford’s ancestors. Also near Little Bredy is the Kingston Russell stone circle, a late Neolithic or early Bronze Age circle of 18 fallen stones, on a hilltop overlooking Abbotsbury and the sea and of interest to any stone circle enthusiast.
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