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Ten miles north of Blandford, SHAFTESBURY perches on a spur of lumpy green-gold hills, with severe gradients on three sides of the town. On a clear day, views from the town are terrific - one of the best vantage points is Gold Hill , quaint, cobbled and very steep. The local history museum at the top of Gold Hill (Easter-Sept daily 10.30am-4.30pm; also some weekends in winter, call 01747/854146 to check; GBP1) is worth a glance - its contents include a collection of locally made buttons, for which the area was once renowned. Pilgrims used to flock to Shaftesbury to pay homage to the bones of Edward the Martyr, which were brought to the Abbey in 978, though now only the footings of the abbey church survive, just off the main street (April-Oct daily 10am-5pm; GBP1.50). St Peter's Church on the market place is one of the few reminders of Shaftesbury's medieval grandeur, when it boasted a castle, twelve churches and four market crosses. The tourist office is on Bell Street (mid-March to Nov daily 10am-5pm; Dec to mid-March Mon-Wed 10am-1pm, Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm; tel 01747/853514, ). Local accommodation includes Maple Lodge on Christy's Lane (tel 01747/853945; GBP40-50) and the Knoll in Bleke Street (tel 01747/855243; GBP50-60), which boasts views over three counties. Three miles south of town in the village of Compton Abbas , on the scenic A350 to Blandford, the Old Forge , on Chapel Hill (tel 01747/811881, theoldforge@hotmail.com ; GBP40-50), offers B&B in an eighteenth-century cottage with log fires. For a snack or main meal in Shaftesbury, try the Salt Cellar at the top of Gold Hill.
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