We have introduced a walk of the week for our newsletter subscribers to enjoy over the weekend.

Each Friday we will be sharing a circular walk in and around our local area with directions and photos. We use the OS Map app, which is very useful if you are out walking.

This week's walk is a 6-mile loop taking in Hardy Cottage, Hardy Way and Yellowham Wood, taking around two hours and 45 minutes. It is of easy level walking.

Start in the car park for Hardy's Cottage and Thorncombe Woods and walk towards the visitors centre near the entrance. Go past it turn right, when the road bends to the left, to walk down a bridleway signposted 'Puddletown'.

You will pass a few houses on your left and right before Hardy's Cottage comes up on your right. Just after the cottage, go down the footpath on your left signposted 'A35 parking via Snails Creep'. Follow this path through the trees, continuing straight.

When you come to a wooden gate, go through it and turn left onto the road and left again when you get to the main road before turning right down the next road to go over the bridge over the dual carriageway. Turn left when you start to approach the dual carriageway again.

Continue along this road, going past Claas Western Dorchester on your left. After, on your left, there will be a footpath by a free range eggs sign, go down there. Keep following this path and just after a left-hand bend there will be a track to your right before a 'please drive slowly' sign. Go down there.

Keep following this path until it meets another and turn left to go up the grassy path, not the one heading into a field. Follow this path and continue straight when it turns to gravel. Where the gravel path turns left, continue straight.

You will come to a metal gate, go through it and take care crossing the road. On the opposite side of the road from Waterston Farm there is a gate. Cross back over the road and go through it. Walk straight through the field, turning right at the end of the corn field.

At the end of the corn field, and field, turn right to go into the corn field and follow the track. Continue straight through the farm, turning left when it comes to a T-junction.

The path will come out onto the busy A35. Please take care and be patient when crossing the road as traffic is travelling very fast.

When you have crossed the road, go through the gate and walk towards trees where you will see a footpath marker. Walk right around the trees and after them there will be a small path on your left just up the hill. Join it and continue walking straight.

Follow the path to a gate in the right-hand corner, go through it and walk up the left-hand side of the field to a gate on your left just before the end of the field. Go through it up to another gate before another gate leads onto a lane where you turn right.

When you come to the next gate, go through it and turn left onto the road before turning right down the road signposted 'Hardy's Cottage' and follow the road round to the right and back to the car park.

This walk is just a suggestion, you can of course take any different routes you wish to make it more direct or make it longer. Always take extra care where the ground is uneven or wet.

Please leave gates as you find them - if you opened it, close it.

Please keep dogs on leads around livestock.