Buckland Newton Tourist Information
Buckland Newton is in central West Dorset amongst the beautiful Dorset countryside. It's a popular rural location for countryside walks and extensive views.
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The village itself has some interesting traditions like the Goose Auction held twice a year to raise funds for charities.
Buckland Newton Tourism Attractions
Buckland Newton is a rural village on the edge of the Dorset Downs and within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village is in a conservation area at the head of the Blackmore Vale commanding extensive views of a largely wooded landscape. It lies between Sherborne and Dorchester.
The village has local amenities including a pub, post office and village shop. The village hosts an Art and Flower festival in which an exhibition displays paintings, drawings and other works by local artists, as well as floral displays.
Goose Auction Buckland Newton
Another popular local event is the twice yearly "Goose Auction" featured on Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's "Escape from River Cottage". Its purpose is to raise money for charity. A variety of pre-bred feathered friends are put up for auction at the local pub aptly called the "Gaggle of Geese".
The event attracts visitors from all over Dorset and is usually held on the late May Bank Holiday Monday and on a Sunday in early September.
Walking Holiday West Dorset
The countryside in this area of Dorset is popular for countryside walks and there is a network of public footpaths in and around the village.
The Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty encompasses the village and covers most of the county. The Dorset AONB website has downloadable leaflets on walks and bike rides in the AONB.
Dorset Poets - William Barnes
In the village is a memorial plaque to Thomas Barnes an ancestor of William Barnes the prolific Dorset dialect poet.
He wrote hundreds of poems throughout the nineteenth century and was noted as making a significant contribution to publishing in Dorset dialect; most notably in the "Poems of Rural Life" series. He also published philosophical works and called for the purification of the English language by removing Greek, Latin and foreign influences so it could be better understood by those without a classical education.
Barnes was a friend of Hardy who was greatly influenced by him. Hardy published a selection of Barnes' poetry in 1908.
Photo Credits
Old house image contributed by Mike Searle. Thatched cottage image contributed by Mike Searle. Church image contributed by Mike Searle. All images are copyrighted but licensed for further reuse under the Creative Commons License.
