Moreton

About

Moreton is a small village near the county town of Dorchseter. The villages highlights include St. Nicholas Church and its beautiful glass windows engraved by the late Sir Laurence Whistler.

The famous writer T.E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) lived nearby at Clouds Hill, Bovington and his last resting place is in Moreton cemetary. You can walk the 7 mile Lawrence of Arabia Trail from the village which will take you over the River Frome, through Moreton Plantation on the way to Clouds Hill (now owned by the National Trust) and then to the Tank Museum before returning to Moreton.

Moreton has its own mainline railway station (on the London Waterloo to Weymouth line), with the Frampton Arms pub next door. The old village school is now home to Moreton Tearooms and the Walled Garden has its own cafe as well as a beautiful five-acre landscaped formal garden to wander around.

Tadnoll and Winfrith Heaths which are managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust are found just south of the village. This internationally important heathland and wetland is an iconic piece of Dorset landscape, divided by the Tadnoll Brook. The heath is a carpet of purple in late summer, and natural pools are home to a lots of wildlife, including a number of rare heathland species. Birds include the nightjar, which can be heard 'churring' after dark, and the Dartford warbler. Many interesting dragon and damselflies live in the wetter areas, whilst silver-studded blue butterflies can be found on the open heath. 

The Jubilee Trail walking route and Lawrence Cycle Ride both pass through Moreton village, taking in the ford through the River Frome.