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View looking south-west towards Holt Heath Nature Reserve
©John Smitten
This Inn is situated just north of Holt Heath, Dorset.
©Stuart Buchan
Dist:0.2km<br/>The bracken on this, one of the few remaining pieces of genuine Dorset heathland, turns golden brown in winter as it dies off and the only greenery to be seen are the evergreen trees and the gorse (furze) bushes which were the original source of firewood for the poor commoners who lived on the heath for many hundreds of years up until the end of the 19thC.
©Nigel Mykura
Dist:0.3km<br/>With gorse in the background enlivening an otherwise sombre spring scene.
©Mike Faherty
Dist:0.3km<br/>Across the northern corner of the heath.
©Mike Faherty
Dist:0.3km<br/>View across the north side of the heath from close to the road from Mannington to Holt. This is one of the largest tracts of heathland left in Dorset, now owned by the national Trust. Only 15 per cent of the original acreage of this rare habitat now remains in Dorset. It is also a Nature reserve. Originally the local commoners' practice of grazing stock and gathering firewood kept the heath in this condition. Nowadays this has to be done artificially to preserve the heath and it rare flora and fauna. Thomas Hardy made this kind of heathland famous in his books such as Return of the Native
©Nigel Mykura
Dist:0.3km<br/>A postbox on a pole, opposite the Cross Keys Inn.
©Chris Downer
Dist:0.4km<br/>A pleasantly unrestored pub between Holt Heath and Mannington. Internally, central bar with drinking and eating areas at front and back; games, with darts and TV at rear; low ceilings and inglenook fireplace. Cask ale on offer at my visit: Ringwood Best. For some customer comments, see http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/86/8616/Cross_Keys_Inn/Mannington
©Mike Faherty
Dist:0.4km<br/>A lovely old country pub.
©Chris Downer
Dist:0.4km<br/>The pub is on the edge of Horton Heath.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.4km<br/>The footpath takes walkers from the minor road to the heathland of Holt Heath.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.4km<br/>At the north-western edge of unenclosed heathland.
©Mike Faherty
Dist:0.5km<br/>
©Lorraine and Keith Bowdler
Dist:0.5km<br/>Easy to get to on the path but very overgrown and ill-defined. Good views over Holt Heath.
©Lorraine and Keith Bowdler
Dist:0.5km<br/>Taking Burts Lane across Mannington Brook; currently, the road is almost dry.
©Mike Faherty

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