Dorset

Dorset, Hardy's Wessex country, is perhaps the most rural and unspolit county in southern England. As such it offers many delights for the country walker. Our guides point you towards all the best locations and routes to explore. The Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is typical of this rural landscape with heaths, chalk downs, pastoral vales and deep country lanes. Winfrith Heath, a bracken wilderness of sombre beauty, home to rare wild flowers and heathland birds, is the location Hardy used for 'Egdon Heath' in his novel The Return of the Native.

The Dorset Heritage Coast include such unmissable delights as Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, Chesil Beach and the sweeping cliffs of Lyme Bay. The coastal path westwards from Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door along the spectacular chalk cliffs is a thrilling and memorable walk. Just inland, at the northern end of Chesil Beach, lies the lovely village of Abbotsbury with its thatched cottages of golden ironstone and remarkable thatched tithe barn which once belonged to the now ruined abbey. Other facinating places to discover on foot are Maiden Castle, an important earthwork fortification from the first century BC, and the famous Cerne Giant near the picturesque village of Cerne Abbas.

Long Distance Paths Traversing Dorset
Avon Valley Footpath; Celtic Way; Hardy Way; Liberty Trail; Macmillan Way; Monarch's Way; River Parrett Trail; Purbeck Way; South West Peninsular Coast Path; Wareham Forest Way; Wessex Ridgeway

	Guide Books: [For further information or to purchase]
	Dorset Walks by: Brian Conduit. 28 routes to choose from with OS Explorer mapping. The walk locations are (in order of length): Hengistbury Head; Lambert's Castle and Coney's Castle; Lyme Regis; Sturminster Newton and the River Stour; Tyneham and Worbarrow Bay; Swanage and Durlston Head; Sherborne Park; Melbury Park; Bere Regis and Turners Puddle; Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door; Godlingston Heath and Ballard Down; Bokerley Ditch and Pentridge Down; Corfe Castle and the Purbeck Ridge; Abbotsbury and Chesil Beach; Badbury Rings and Kingston Lacy; Cerne Abbas and Minterne Magna; Bryants Puddle Heath and Moreton; Ibberton and Okeford Beacon; Eggardon Hill and Powerstock Common; Ashmore and Stubhampton Bottom; Bulbarrow Hill and Milton Abbas; Worth Matravers, St Aldhelm's and Chapman's Pool; The Heart of Hardy Country - Higher Brockhampton; Cranborne and the Allen Valley; Beaminster, Netherbury and Lewesdon Hill; Kimmeridge Bay and Swyre Head; Golden Cap; The Hardy Monument and Maiden Castle.
	100 Walks in Dorset compiled by: Norman Amey, Peter Clarke, Don Pallister, Andrew Welch. An omnibus of local walks covering the whole of Dorset. The book is ideal for family outings and as a valuable reference book for residents wanting to explore their county in the best possible way - on foot. It is, of course, equally valuable for visitors to the region. The wide choice of routes are spread very evenly across the county. The walks vary in length from 2 to 12 miles, the majority being in the 4/6 mile range. In addition to the route descriptions, details are given of points of interest along the way, places to eat and drink and where to park the car. Sketch maps and route descriptions are on facing pages.
	Walking in Dorset by: James Roberts. This guide describes 39 circular walks of between 5 and 12 miles. There are details of long distance paths, with directions to follow the Dorset Ridgeway, the Wessex Way and the Liberty Trail, as well as details of the Dorset Coast Path and the Stour Valley Path. The walk locations include: Cranborne Chase; Hambledon Hill; Martin Down; Compton and Fontmell Downs; The Stour Valley and Forest Trail, Ferndown; Crane Valley; Sherborne; Milton Abbas, Hilton and the Downs; Trent and the Comptons; Minterne Hill; Plush; Melcombe Bingham; Rawlbury Camp; Sandford Orcas to Cadbury Castle; Tolpuddle and Dewlish; Kimmeridge and Swyre Head; St Aldhelm's Head; Corfe Castle and Purbeck Hills; Ballard Down; Durdle Door; The Isle of Portland; St Gabriel's and Chardown Hill; Thorncombe Beacon; Lyme Regis Undercliff Forest; The Lim Valley; Marshwood Vale; Beaminster; Pilsden Pen and Lewesdon Hill; The Bride Valley; Abbotsbury; Evershot and the Melburys; Askerwell; Kingcombe and the Hooke Valley; Bronkham Hill.
	Dorset Church Walks by: Diana Pe. Here are 40 superb walks in a landscape of fields, hills and coastline, and every walk includes a visit to at least one church renowned for its heritage or architecture. The walks are full of interest and surprises; you can call at castles and stately homes, visit a smuggler's hideout or the grave of Lawrence of Arabia, have a ride on a steam train - and be sure to look out for a naked man at Cerne Abbas! There are a wide range of walks from 2 mile strolls, ideal for family walks, to more demanding hikes of 10 miles and more. The routes chosen provide varied scenery from the spectacularly beautiful Dorset coast to peaceful walks in Blackmore Vale and remote inland hills.
	50 Walks in Dorset by: Ann F Stonehouse. Includes 50 themed walks of between 2 and 10 miles, each with fascinating background reading. The walk locations include: Hengistbury Head; Pentridge; Horton; Chalbury Hill; Wimborne; Studland; Swanage; Worth Matravers; St Adhelm's; The Blue Pool; Cranborne Royal Forest; Badbury Rings; Tarrant Gunville; Chettle; Gussage St Michael; Kimmeridge; Clouds Hill; Lulworth to Durdle Door; Mupe Bay; Tolpuddle; Ashmore; Melbury Hill; Hambledon Hill; Hod Hill; Gold Hill; Child Okeford; Fiddleford; Milton Abbas; Turnworth; Ibberton; Higher Melcombe; Marnhull; Henstridge; Osmington; Abbotsbury; Moonfleet; Purse Caundle; Sherborne; Cerne Abbas; Winyard's Gap; Forde Abbey; Golden Cap; Morcombelake; Lyme Regis; Hinton St Mary; Lower Bockhampton.
	Pub Walks in Dorset by: Mike Power. Includes coastal walks including the Golden Cap, the highest cliff in Dorset, woodland walks through bluebell woods, scenic walks through parks such as Melbury and Critchel, walks across farmland and through some of Dorset's most beautiful villages, spread throughout the county from Seatown in the west, Bourton in the north to Winkton in the east. Most of them are well off the beaten track where it is still possible to find perfect peace and tranquillity, villages such as Ansty, Plush, Powerstock, Corscombe and Stoke Abbott to name but a few. Details of all the inns are also listed in the book together with a sample of their food menu and their range of real ales.
	Forty More Pub Walks in Dorset by: Mike Power. These circular walks vary in length from 2.5 to 6.5 miles. There are coastal walks, river walks and hill walks. Locations are Alderholt, Almer, Cerne Abbas, Chedington, Coldharbour, Corfe Castle, East Burton, East Knighton, Hazelbury Bryan, Hinton St Mary, Kingston, Little Canford, Longburton, Mannington, Manston, Marnhull, Marshwood, Morden, Norden, Okeford Fitzpaine, Pamphill, Piddletrenthide, Pimperne, Portesham, Puncknowle, Sandford Orcas, Shapwick, Sixpenny Handley, Spetisbury, Stourpaine, Toller Porcorum, Trent, Tuckton, Verwood, Wareham, Waytown, West Knighton, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Winterborne Kingston, Winterborne Stickland.
	Pub Walks Along the Dorset Coast by: Mike Power. The ten walks listed in this guide range from 2 to 5.5 miles, start and finish at a pub, and are described in detail, each with an accompanying sketch map. One strenuous walk takes you to the top of Golden Cap, the highest cliff on the south coast, whilst equally demanding is the walk from Worth Matravers, one of the loveliest villages in the Purbeck Hills. There is an interesting walk around the southern tip of Portland Bill, and river walks from historic Lyme Regis and popular West Bay. A lovely family walk starts from the pretty village of Abbotsbury taking you past the world famous swannery, whilst a short walk from Langton Herring goes beside the Fleet. The guide is illustrated throughout.
	Pub Walks in Hardy's Wessex by: Mike Power and Brenda Flint. Hardy was born at Higher Brockhampton in 1840 and moved around Dorset staying for short periods in Sturminster Newton, Swanage and Wimborne gaining inspiration for his novels before finally settling in Max Gate, Dorchester where he wrote many of his most memorable works and where he died in 1928. The 20 walks listed in this book are all circular, from 3 miles to 9.5 miles and start and finish at a pub. Each walk has an association with Hardy, either the settings for his novels, the buildings he helped restore, the paths he himself walked or the homes where he stayed.
	Adventurous Pub Walks in Dorset by: Anne-Marie Edwards. In this guide the 20 routes are from 7 to 10 miles. They take you to Pilsdon Pen; Dorset Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve on Powerstock Common and to Sandford Orcas. Other walks include part of the Dorset Coast Path from Osmington Mills, past Ringstead to White Nothe; Sturminster Newton; Fontmell Down; and Bere Regis, with its glorious views and bluebell woods. Locations are: Stoke Abbott; Symondsbury; Nettlecombe; Corscombe; Maiden Newton; Portersham; Langton Herring; Sherborne; Buckland Newton; Osmington Mills; Ansty; Sturminster Newton; The Iwerne Valley; Compton Abbas; Bere Regis; Studland; Sturminster Marshall; Farnham; Gussage All Saints; Longham.
	Best Tea Shop Walks in Dorset by: Norman and June Buckley. Of course, good tea shop country has to be accompanied by at least equally good walking country. In this respect Dorset has not been found wanting. The 28 circular walks range from 1.5 to 9 miles in length, and include fine sections of the South West Coast Path. The best inland walking areas are also featured, and Dorset's lovely little towns such as Beaminster, Shaftesbury and Corfe Castle are all well represented. Equally important, the usual care has been taken in selecting tea shops of an immense diversity; you can indulge yourself with afternoon tea in craft centres, stately homes, a working water mill, a beach cafe or even a tank museum!
	Nature Walks in Dorset - South and West by: Tim Goodwin. The natural history of this area is rich and varied. Because of the mild winters many southern species of plant, insect and bird are on, or close to, their northern limit, while the almost unique Dorset heaths are home to flora and fauna that can be seen nowhere else in Britain. The area is unsurpassed throughout Britain for reptiles, butterflies and dragonflies, as well as being possibly the best region of the south coast for birds, with Portland attracting an astonishing number of varieties every year. As Dorset is also famously picturesque, these walks, most of which represent roughly a half day's not too strenuous walking, offer superb opportunites for walkers who like to see the beautiful countryside, while savouring natural history.
	Nature Walks in Dorset - North and East by: Tim Goodwin. The walks in this book are all north of a rough line between Wareham and Crewkerne. 'In this region also, Dorset offers a hugh variety of natural habitats, from the great Dorset heaths with their rare birds, plants and reptiles, to the chalk downs and their butterflies and herbs. River valleys offer a rich habitat for birds in the winter and summer alike: the Dorset woodlands provide easier sightings of three species of wild deer than almost any other in the country; while the superb estuarine environments of Poole and Christchurch harbours pick up facinating rarities every year. The walks in this book vary from 3 to around 9 miles, mostly in the middle of that range, and so provide roughly a half days walking.
	Village Walks in Dorset by: Anne-Marie Edwards. Dorset is justly proud of its villages. Within them or close by lies a rich heritage of old manor houses, ruined abbeys, thatched cottages, parish churches, rivers and footpaths. The twenty routes in this book introduce the walker to some of the county's least known places such as Pamphill, part of the Kingston Lacy Estate now owned by the National Trust; Powerstock, deep in the chalk hills of west Dorset, which still has a village blacksmith; and Ashmore, formerly a Saxon hilltop settlement. The villages on which the routes are based have been carefully chosen for their interest and beauty. Each walk instruction also includes details on how to get to the start, where to park and what food and drink is available locally.
	Walk the Wessex Ridgeway in Dorset by: Priscilla Houstoun. Part one of this guide covers the Wessex Ridgeway from Ashmore, where it enters Dorset, to the finish at Lyme Regis. The Wessex Ridgeway was conceived as an extension of the Ridgeway long distance path from Avebury, following where possible the ancient route all the way from The Wash to the Dorset coast. This guide is designed for those who want to get a taste of the route, perhaps whilst holidaying in Dorset, rather than tackle the entire path. The guide breaks the route into sections with this in mind. Part two of the guide provides 11 circular routes in Dorset, all of which cover delightful and interesting countryside.
	Dorset National Trust Walks by: Rodney Legg This guide describes twelve walks of between four and seven miles, each based upon a National Trust location. The walk titles are as follows: Lamberts Castle and Tempest Cottage; Stonebarrow Hill and Golden Cap; Golden Cap and Seatown; Thorncombe Beacon and Eype Down; Eggarddon and Powerstock Common; Swyre and Puncknowle; Old Harry Rocks and Studland; Scotland and Purbeck's Texas; Moreton and Clouds Hill; Badbury Rings and Lodge Farm; Stourpain and Hod Hill; Fontmell Down and Melbury Beacon. Each walk begins with an introduction to the location, followed by route instructions and a sketch map.
	Isle of Purbeck Walking Trails by: Purbeck District Council. This set of fold-out guides provide details of three long distance routes and wildlife walks around Wareham. Also included is The Purbeck countryside Guide leaflet. The Purbeck Way is a 24 mile route. Starting at Wareham the route explores the River Frome and its water meadows, heathland, woodland and downland. The journey finishes at Corfe Castle. The Purbeck Way West is a 16 mile route exploring the beautiful and varied landscape west of Wareham finishing at picturesque Winfrith Newburgh. Wareham Forest Way is just over 12 miles long between Wareham and Sturminster Marshall, exploring the water meadows of the River Piddle and Wareham Forest.
	Purbeck Coastal Walks by: Rodney Legg. This guide describes twelve walks discovering the glorious and facinating Purbeck coastal region. Although they are coastal, all the routes are circular, thus providing both the added variety of inland scenery and practicality. The routes are titled as follows: Durdle Door and White Nothe; Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door; Arish Mell and Fossil Forest; Flower's Barrow and Worbarrow; Tyneham - Dorset's Ghost Village; Kimmeridge and Clavell's Hard; Encombe's Golden Bowl; Worth Matravers and St. Alban's Head; Dancing Ledge and Seacombe; Priest's Way and Dancing Ledge; Durlston Country Park; Old Harry Rocks and Studland.