Child Okeford and Mysterious Hammoon

Child Okeford and Hammoon are just two of the mysterious names of the villages around the green meadows of the Stour Valley. Child Okeford, huddled in the shadow of Hambledon Hill is one of a triumvirate of Okefords. To the south lies pretty Okeford Fitzpaine, and the nearby quarrying village of Shillingstone was known as Shilling Okeford in the days when it boasted the highest maypole in the country.

Hammoon sounds faintly Eastern and romantic. In fact, the name comes from William de Moion, a Norman nobleman who was rewarded after the Conquest with a section of low-lying meadowland (or 'hamm'). The family name was later spelt Mohun (which became the 'moon' element of Moonfleet,. The hamlet of golden brown stone buildings that is clustered round the stump of an old cross is still called Hammoon. It appears on the map as little more than a handful of farms and houses built on a meander of the river (and so liable to flooding), but there is more to Hammoon than meets the eye. Tucked behind the church, the venerable Manor Farm is particularly appealing, with tiny windows cut into the deep thatch of its roof and the 17th-century addition of a magnificently carved classical porch complete with grand columns.

Next door to Manor Farm is the charming little Church of St Paul's, topped with a weathered, wooden bellcote. Step through the massive oak door to discover a harmonious interior that is not quite what it seems. Fragments of 13th-century flooring are preserved under the bell tower, but the church is probably another century older still. Some of its fittings have come from far and wide. The deeply carved reredos (the screen behind the altar) dates from the late 14th or early 15th century. It was discovered languishing in a builder's yard in London and was installed here in 1946, as part of a significant restoration programme. Another improvement at that time was the addition of the lovely 16th-century choir stalls, carved with flowing vines and grapes - these came from East Anglia.

There's one more surprise on this walk. Ham Down Woodland Burial Ground is on the site of a former vineyard. It is a 'green' burial place in all senses of the word. There are no denominational barriers in this peaceful spot and no weeping statues. Coffins and memorial plaques are required to be strictly biodegradable and your loved one's grave or scattering place can be marked with the planting of a tree (of an appropriate species for the locality) and a flush of spring bulbs.

What to look for

The multiple chimneys of Fontmell Parva (a private house) are glimpsed through the trees on this walk and there's a better view of this curious old house from the road into Child Okeford. Built of red brick and crowned with a hipped roof, it dates from 1670 and is characterised by the arched mouldings over its windows, which seem to give the house a look of surprise.

While you're there

On the other side of Hod Hill, the village of Stourpaine is worth a look. You'll have to turn down off the main road by the White Horse pub (apparently built on the side of the old, octagonal toll house) to see the best of it. Cob cottages sit snugly under thatched roofs, and a pleasing church boasts a medieval tower. The curved roof on the back of Coalport Cottage is unusual.

Where to eat and drink

The Saxon Inn in Child Okeford is tucked away, off the main road. It's part of a second row of houses and easy to miss if you're hurrying through the village, despite its lively sign and bright blue door. It's recommended in the Good Beer Guide for its ale, there's a beer garden and families are welcome.