On a clear day you can see what looks like forever... miles upon miles of fields, woodlands, roads, hedgerows and people going about their daily business, like figures on a model trainset.

You can also see Hampshire and Wiltshire and Devon and, according to Jo Churchill, chairman of the Trinity Centre Trust, even Glastonbury Tor.

“It’s over there,” she gestures, pointing to the shimmering blue yonder as a fighter jet screams overhead.

Who knew? Not me and possibly not many other people, either. The tower opened to some fanfare; “We had trumpeters on the roof!” in time to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and since then has been available to be hired by groups who want to take in what must be the best view in Dorset.

But they can always do with more visitors, says Jo, who has volunteered to show me exactly what’s on offer.

We meet at the base of the 78-foot tower of ‘tall and stately proportion’ in Bimport. Holy Trinity was built in 1841 by the noted architect George Gilbert Scott and was retired in 1977, to become a vibrant community centre.

“It’s quite narrow,” Jo warns as we ascend and for this reason they actually have a mock-up doorway at the bottom, so that more portly visitors can test whether they’ll actually be able to make it through the 18-inch wide top door and onto the roof.

We trudge up the first 60 steps to the bell-tower which has a wooden viewing platform to enable those who can to stand and look through the glass windows. “We thought people would want to peep out and if they can’t make it to the very top, at least they can get a bit of a view here,” she says.

They’ve left a space into the bell-tower so that visitors can imagine what it was like when the peal was in situ, and they also display the history of the building.

After a few minutes enjoying the view, we go up again.

This time the steps are slightly smaller, no wonder it’s not recommended for people with claustrophobia, a fear of heights, or who have breathing problems. We seem to be going round in a tighter circle and right at the top it is so narrow I can’t just step out; I have to go sideways. But it’s worth it.

The views are stupendous but there’s also the thrill of getting so close to bits of a building you normally view from the ground.

The trustees took the wise precaution of having a slate-topped stone ledge built round the viewing platform’s perimeter to strengthen and also to prevent visitors getting too close to the embattled parapet. “We’re going to have directional plaques, pointing out what you can see,” explains Jo.

The tower can be hired through the town’s tourist office for visits by groups, organisations and charities and costs £25 per three hours. “They have to agree to have three stewards; at the bottom, in the bell-tower and at the top,” says Jo. “Each steward receives a walkie-talkie as there are no passing places on the stairs so you can only let so many up at a time.”

This modest sum covers their insurance and other costs but, says Jo, a group can use it to make money for themselves: “If they want to, they can charge two or three pounds a head and raise funds through it,” says Jo.

Individual visits are not normally allowed but there are two chances coming up, during the Shaftesbury Festival at the end of this month (May) and during the Gold Hill Festival in July.

“Opening this up so that people can visit is our little gift to the town,” says Jo.

She’s too modest; allowing people to enjoy these panoramic views is the gift that keeps on giving. Even when you’ve descended, you’ll still be on a high.

  • For details of how to book a visit to the Trinity Tower contact 01747 853514