Blackmore Vale, Dorset
Blackmore Vale, a wide valley acting as a floodplain for the
River Stour , is a large expanse of lush pasture set primarily in North Dorset in England. Famous for its variety of farming and market towns,
Marnhull in particular is well known for being the inspiration for
Thomas Hardy 's novel, Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Another prominent local writer and author of the
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy , Douglas Adams, also resided here. The landscape itself, bands of alternating clay and limestone soils, is mainly used for the dairy farming. This gave rise to the busiest livestock market in Britain until it's closure in 1998.
More British Natural features?
Other Dorset Naturals
Durdle Door
Jurassic Coast
Portland Bill
Purbeck Hills
Old Harry Rocks
Lyme Bay
Cranborne Chase
Lulworth Cove
Chesil Beach
Poole Harbour
Lyme Bay
Brownsea Island
River Axe
Golden Cap
Marshwood Vale
Studland
Melbury Beacon and Melbury Down