The Lost Pilot

Scrambling through gorse and bracken on the Dorset hills near Bridport, you'll eventually stumble across a weathered stone memorial that tells one of the county's most poignant wartime stories. The Lost Pilot marks the crash site where a young RAF airman came down during the Second World War, never making it home.

History buffs will appreciate the sobering reminder of how the war touched every corner of Britain. The memorial itself is modest - a simple stone marker rather than anything grand - but the walk to reach it offers cracking views across the Dorset countryside towards the coast. On a clear day you can see right out to the Channel.

It's not exactly a family day out, mind you. The terrain can be proper rough underfoot, especially after rain, and there's no designated path to follow. You'll need decent walking boots and a good sense of direction. Allow a couple of hours for the round trip from wherever you manage to park.

Walkers staying at nearby sites like Hidden Valley Dorset or Wytch Wood Camping will find this fits well into a longer ramble exploring the area's wartime heritage. The location feels genuinely remote - you're more likely to encounter sheep than other visitors. Worth seeking out if you're already exploring this part of Dorset, but probably not worth a special journey unless military history is your particular passion.