With retired Dorset rights of way officer CHRIS SLADE.

Park near the Church, which is usually open.
There’s a lovely patch of snowdrops in the Churchyard. Then cross over the bridge on which you are encouraged to play Pooh sticks and maybe toss a snack to the resident otter.
You’ll notice from a plaque that it’s over 20 years since Zelston was a best kept village!
I wonder why as it looks pretty good now.
Walk along to the village green at the water’s edge and read the helpful and interesting notice board.
Then make your way back past the Church and walk north-west uphill for a mile along the private road/public bridleway through Bushes Farm and into the final field before the woodland where the hedge is the parish boundary.
You’ll have to stray into the adjacent Mordon parish as there’s no loop in Zelston.
Having gazed at the view, enter the woodland where there’s a crossing of bridleways. Turn right and head north eastwards along the edge of the wood for about half a mile until, at the end, the path joins a farm track leading downhill south east for a mile to the tiny hamlet of Mapperton where there’s a junction.
Turn right and in a third of a mile you’ll be close to the main road, the A31.
Just before the road there’s a signed footpath that takes you south westward alongside the Winterborne.
After a furlong you’ll cross the parish boundary back into Winterborne Zelston at the hamlet of Huish.
The path then continues westward along the edge of several fields and passing a pond that might have swans in it.
Then the Church will be in sight and you head towards it and will soon be back at your car, having walked a little over four miles.