The Parish of Holwell is located in West Dorset and has a population of approximately 370 residents (DCC, Dorset Data Book, and Census 2011). It covers approximately 10 square kilometres (or 2,400 acres) of gently undulating, mainly agricultural land. The main settlement of Holwell is focused around Fosters Hill, Crouch Hill, Pleck and Gunville, and the wider area comprises generally undeveloped, small clustered hamlets (including Holwell Borough; Buckshaw; The Manor and Sandhills; Westrow; Hill Street; Packers Hill and Piccadilly; and Woodbridge) and individual farmsteads. Although there are now significantly fewer smallholders and farms than in the 1900s, Holwell’s 10 working farms remain largely non-intensive, supporting a thriving wildlife community and distinctly rural environment which is much appreciated by its residents.

The surrounding landscape comprises chalk escarpments and limestone hills, as the parish borders the rolling hills and valleys of the Blackmore Vale, with views to Bulbarrow and the Dungeon Hills. The undulating land is largely Oxford Clay, drained by numerous small streams running north to join Caundle Brook, with an area of sandy loam at Sandhills.

Outside the parish the nearest settlements include Bishops Caundle to the north, Kings Stag to the east and Pulham to the south; these small settlements are set apart by large spans of agricultural land and patches of woodland and contribute to the remote, rural character of the area.  Larger settlements are a further distance from Holwell including Sherborne 10km to the north west and Dorchester 25km to the south.