Routes

I have many walking routes throughout Dorset and beyond, and I will be posting some of my favourites on this page. They will range from a few miles to more strenuous long distance day walks and hopefully they will cater for all tastes. For full details, including a route description, just click on the title. Some of the routes further down are in ‘map only’ format at this stage pending my adding full details.

The first routes are below and I will gradually be adding more. I haven’t yet settled on a format for these so this is a kind of trial run 🙂 Enjoy!

If you follow any of my routes, I would appreciate your feedback on the actual route and on my descriptions, as it will help me as I fine tune the way I present them.

FULL ROUTES INCLUDING DESCRIPTION, PHOTOGRAPHS ETC

Studland and Old Harry Circuit
A 4 mile easy/moderate route around Studland, Ballard Down and Old Harry Rocks with one steep climb with the reward being some amazing views.

A Pamphill Plod from Wimborne
A 4.5/5 mile circuit around the beautiful River Stour and Pamphill on mainly National Trust land. With varied and delightful habitats, this is fairy easy walking as long as you can negotiate squeeze styles and maybe, don’t mind a bit of mud in winter.

A Lulworth Range walk from Kimmeridge
A 9 mile moderate/hard walk around the eastern section of the Lulworth MOD Firing Range. Access is limited and there are some strenuous climbs but the rewards make it worth the effort as this is a beautiful part of the Dorset coast and the views are breathtaking.

King Down and Badbury Rings Ramble
This is a fairly easy 5 mile, low level route around King Down and the Iron Age hill fort of Badbury Rings. The walk not only takes in the downs and the hill fort but also includes a stretch of Roman Road and some ancient greenways. Despite the lack of real height, there are some beautiful views, very spacious feeling, and usually skylarks along the way. 

DRAFT ROUTES
The following routes are in draft form only at this stage, just a map and a brief description, pending my writing the full route description and adding photographs etc.

Bere Regis, Milborne St Andrew and Turners Puddle circuit
A 10 mile walk starting and finishing in the delightful town of Bere Regis, taking in a holloway, the Dorset downs, the villages of Milborne St Andrew and Turners Puddle, an Iron Age hill fort, May’s Wood, and much more.

Full route description etc to follow shortly

Milton Abbas, Bulbarrow Hill circuit
This lovely 9.5 mile circuit starts at the picture postcard village of Milton Abbas and takes in Milton Abbey, the delightful village of Hilton, the viewpoint of Bulbarrow Hill, and a lovely mix of countryside and woodland. Parking and start/finish in Milton Abbas and refreshments available at the Hambro Arms, Milton Abbas.

Full route description etc to follow

Corfe Castle to Swanage route

A lovely 9/10 mile walk along the Purbeck Ridge starting at Corfe Castle, following the ridge over Nine Barrow Down, Godlingston Hill, passing the Obelisk at the top of Ballard Down, Ballard Point, and then dropping down the coast path into Swanage. This is a one way walk so why not catch the steam train back to the start, or if that is not running, there is always the bus. Refreshments are available at either end of the walk.

On the North Dorset Ridge

This is a lovely 11 mile circuit that takes in Fontmell Magna, Collyer’s Brook, Fontmell Down, Compton Abbas village and airfield, Melbury Beacon, Compton Down, and much more. With two tea rooms en route (check opening times), amazing views and some wonderful hilltop walking, it is well worth the effort of climbing the hills. It would probably be regarded as a fairly strenuous route but don’t let that put you off. There is a video of this route here.

Witchampton to Chalbury Circuit

This is a lovely route through rural Dorset, starting at the entrance gate to Crichel House, near Witchampton, taking in New Town and Hinton Martell, on route to Chalbury where there is a delightful, diminutive church which still contains the Georgian box pews. The return route follows the path of the River Allen around the outskirts of the Crichel Estate. This is a mainly flat route apart from the climb up to Chalbury.

Witchampton to Chalbury Circuit

This is a rewarding as well as challenging walk starting at East Lulworth church and taking in Daggers Gate, Chaldon Herring, West Chaldon, Holworth, and then back along the Dorset Coast Path via White Nothe, Bat’s Head, Swyre Head, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. With lots of interesting things and amazing views along the way, this walk is well worth the effort to climb those headlands.