LEAVING Bournemouth, we pass through Upper Parkstone, Oakdale and Upton and reach Bere Regis, a fine old Dorset village standing in the centre of the "Hardy" country. The next village is Tolpuddle, the home of the so called Tolpuddle martyrs, who were the leaders of the first organised strike in this country, which took place in 1834.

From Tolpuddle we pass on to Puddletown and Dorchester, leaving on our left the large mansion known as Keyneston Malwood, once the home of the Hanbury family but now a National Trust Property. Dorchester, the county town of Dorset, contains many relics of Celtic and Roman times, among them an Amphitheatre, Maumbury Rings, and Maiden Castle. Leaving Dorchester, we pass on our right a beam wireless station and then travelling through Winterbourne Abbas, we reach the top of the Dorset Downs where a splendid panorama of the Dorset and Devon coastline can be enjoyed.

Leaving the hills we descendinto Bridport, a market town whose main industry is the manufacture of rope and fishing nets. Driving on through Chideock, a small village, with a picturesque 15th Century Church, we climb Chideock Hill to Morecombelake and Charmouth, where Charles II stayed whilst attempting his escape to France. Soon after leaving Charmouth, we cross the Devon boundary and notice an immediate difference in the colouring of the scenery. Dorset soil is chalky white whilst Devon soil is mainly red sandstone.

Descending for 2½ miles we reach Axminster, once noted for its fine carpets which were first made in 1755, and then nine miles on we come to Honiton, obtaining a wonderful view of the valley of the River Otter and the Heights of Dartmoor and Exmoor as we descend Honiton Hill. It was this view that Daniel Defoe considered the finest in the world and most Devon folk will agree. After a short stop in Honiton for morning coffee, we make our way to Exeter, the noble citadel of the West Country with its Roman, Saxon and Norman architecture. The city itself was badly blitzed during the war, the main shopping centre being entirely wiped out and the beautiful old Cathedral severly damaged. In the High Street stands the oldest Guildhall in the country, with a roll of Mayors which exceeds even that of London. Driving past the prison and St. David's station along by the River Exe, we cross the Exe Bridge on to the main Plymouth road. As we ascend Telegraph Hill the Exe Valley lies on our left and from the top of the hill, Dartmoor is on our right with three Tors clearly defined. These are known as Ripon Tor, Saddle Tor and Haytor.

Our journey then takes us through Newton Abbot and we reach Torquay by way of King's Drive and the Sea front. To the right of Torbay is the headland known as Berry Head and nestling under the cliff is the fishing town of Brixham. The first thing that strikes visitors to Torquay is its hills, for like Rome it is built on seven. A stay of two hours is made for lunch and sight-seeing. Returning we travel by way of Newton Abbot along the River Teign to Teignmouth, Dawlish, Starcross and Honiton.

We then cross the boundary into Somerset passing through Chard, and Crewkerne, after which we climb our last hill, Winyards Gap, from the top of which on a clear day the five Counties; Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire, can be seen. Continuing through Maiden Newton, we reach Dorchester again and then following our original route we journey back to Bournemouth, the final stop of our Tour which has covered approximately 220 miles and given us a sample of some of the finest scenery of Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset and Devon.