Zig Zag Hill

The road up Zig Zag Hill is precisely what the name suggests - a proper winding climb that switchbacks its way up the hillside near Shaftesbury. It's not a dramatic landmark in the conventional sense, more a geological oddity that's caught the attention of locals and passing drivers for years. The zig-zagging route itself is the draw here, a neat bit of Victorian engineering that solved the problem of getting up a steep slope without killing your brakes.

Walkers get the most out of it. Park near the base and follow the path up - it's a decent ramble, nothing punishing, with good views across the Dorset countryside once you reach the top. On a clear day you can see for miles. The climb takes maybe thirty to forty minutes at a reasonable pace, and it's the sort of thing that works well if you're already in the area exploring Shaftesbury's steep streets and market square.

There's no visitor centre or facilities here - it's just the hill and the path. Free to access, naturally. Families with older children won't find it boring, but little ones might grumble at the uphill slog without a proper destination at the summit. If you're staying at Gold Hill Glamping nearby, it's absolutely worth adding to your walk roster. Combine it with a wander around Shaftesbury itself, which sits just down the valley and has genuine medieval character. Go midweek if you can - weekends bring tour groups and the magic dims a bit.