1. Common Lane Project 1 Information Leaflet Become a Friend
You can help as a Friend of Common Lane by either joining or renewing your annual subscription, see contact details below. You will receive a regular newsletter, with details of events and progress on the restoration. There have been guided walks, treasure hunts, photographic competitions, picnics, etc. Plus there are regular working parties twice a year which are both practical and educational in a range of traditional skills. Your contribution is important.
Why is Common Lane Special?
This historic route links with the Wessex Ridgeway, and passes through the site of a Roman Villa in Halstock. In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is part of a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) and passes a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Bracketts Coppice. This stunning landscape has a wealth of wildlife. However, Common Lane’s surface had become damaged, in some places deeply rutted and poorly drained.
Common Lane Project 1
Information Leaflet
Common Lane Project Aims
To restore the Lane as a sustainable route for a range of users, safeguard its environment, history and nature; creating an educational visitor attraction, which is free, accessible, and open all year. To promote the local economy, balancing the needs of a working lane with a leisure route connecting to existing routes and projects. To ensure a healthy resource for generations to enjoy.
Become a Sponsor
There are many good reasons to become a Sponsor on this exemplary project. You will be recognised both locally and nationally. Your help to restore the lane completely, provide information points, provide facilities for a range of users, and promote publicity. See the centrefold map to see how you can be part of a “Great Day Out.”
Linking Halstock and Corscombe in West Dorset, Common Lane is a medieval lane traversing three miles through an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The lane is undergoing restoration and is suitable in most parts, for well equipped walkers, horse riders and mountain bikes with care.
How this is being achieved?
We have formed a partnership between the Friends of Common Lane, Dorset County Council, the Parish Council and local Sponsors. Between and 2013 a lack of surface and drainage were mostly restored using recycled aggregates. Now we aim to complete the surface restoration, install information boards and facilities and ensure the lane is accessible and safe for a range of users. In the future this can be an exemplar project to extend a healthy heritage across Dorset.
This leaflet provides information about the Lane and the aims of the restoration project and how you can help us.
Before
After
The Parish Council has created a partnership between the Friends of Common Lane, Dorset County Council and Sponsors to restore the lane. Providing a sustainable recreational route for a range of users, safeguarding its environment, history and nature.
To become a ‘Friend’ and receive a regular newsletter, or become a sponsor and help restore the lane
Contact:

2. Common Lane - a “Great Day Out”
To Yeovil
Via Sutton Bingham
Common Lane - a “Great Day Out”
St Juthware
and St Mary’s
Church
Halstock Leigh
Shop
(Tel: )
Higher
Halstock
Leigh
Halstock
(BA22 9SF)
Site of Roman Villa
To Crewkerne
Via A356
Ancient
Hedgerow
Clarke’s Gorse
Ocean Hill
600ft (183m)
Great
views
Ancient
Woodland N
Brackett’s Coppice
Nature Reserve
Woodfold
Hill
Weston
Legend
Domesday heritage,
home of Thomas Hollis.
Car parking
Viewpoint
Pines
Local produce
Playground
Corscombe
Food (check times)
Refreshments
Fox Inn
(Tel: )
Scale: 1 mile (1.6km)
To Dorchester
Via A356
St. Mary’s Church