Local Guide to the Best Walks in Dorset
This circular walk from the village of Worth Matravers follows a well made track downhill to the old stone quarry at Winspit. It then turns west to join the South West Coast Path walking along the exposed clifftops to reach St. Aldhelm’s Head with its small chapel and Coastguard Lookout Station.
Distance: 4.4 miles (circular walk)
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Ascent: 558ft, Highest point: 440ft
Great alternative to the Golden Cap walk. This circular coastal walk starts in the sleepy village of Seatown and has great views west towards Golden Cap, east towards West Bay (Bridport) and north to Colmer’s Hill.
Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Estimated time: 1 hours 30 minutes,
Total ascent 653ft, Max elevation 486ft.
Golden Cap is the highest point in Dorset so you’ll get stunning views west along the Jurassic Coast towards Lyme Regis, east towards West Bay, Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland and green rolling farmland to the north.
Distance: 4.1 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Estimated time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total ascent 1175ft, Max elevation 604ft.
Popular circular coastal walk with great views of Lulworth Cove, Man O War Bay and the famous arch at Durdle Door. Can get busy during the summer months
Distance: 2.1 miles,
Difficulty: easy
Estimated time: 1 hour 30 minutes,
Total ascent 653ft, Max elevation 406ft
Swyre Head is the highest point of the Purbeck Hills. The hill commands extensive views of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast including St. Aldhelm’s Head and Chapmans Pool to the east and Clavell Tower, Kimmeridge and as far as the Isle of Portland and Weymouth Bay to the west. To the north you can see Corfe Castle and Poole Harbour.
Distance: 2 miles,
Difficulty: easy,
Estimated time: 1 hours 10 minutes
Total ascent 214ft, Max elevation 671ft
This circular walk starts at Southbourne beach and follows the beach all the way along to the beach huts at Mudeford Sandbank before returning back over the top of Hengistbury Head.
Distance: 4.2 miles
Difficulty: moderate (mostly level but made more difficult by walking on sand),
Estimated time: 2 hours 30 mins
Total ascent: 128ft, Max elevation: 131ft
This is one of my favourite walks in the Worth Matravers area and a great choice for first-time visitors to the Purbeck region. The walk starts off with an easy stroll across farmland and down a sheltered valley to the abandoned stone cliff quarry at Seacombe. The path follows the coastal cliff tops west to another disused quarry at Winspit before retuning for the slow hike back to Worth Matravers along a surfaced track. Did I forgot to mention that there’s a very good pub in the village 🙂
Distance: 2.9 miles (circular walk)
Difficulty: easy (uneven ground, some uphill sections)
Estimated time: 1 hours 45 minutes
Total ascent 436ft, Highest Point 433ft
Stanpit Marsh is a local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest on the north side of Christchurch Harbour just below where the River Avon and River Stour meet. This walk takes you through salt marsh and freshwater marsh with reed beds absolutely teeming with wildflowers, butterflies and birds. The marsh is also home to semi-wild New Forest ponies that graze on the grassland.
Distance:Â 1.6 miles
Difficulty:Â easy,
Estimated time:Â 45 minutes
Total ascent 7ft, Highest point 13ft
The Worth Matravers to St Aldhelm’s Head and Chapman’s Pool walk is a stunning mix of countryside and coastal views.
Distance: 2.9 miles (Circular walk)
Difficulty: Medium (steep steps descent and ascent at Emmetts Hill)
Estimated time: 1 hour 30 mins
Total ascent 394ft, Highest point 427ft
Date of walk: June 2020
Photos of the Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door Walk taken back in June 2014.
For more recent photos and route description see blog post Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door Walk 2020
Distance: 2.1 miles
Difficulty: easy
Estimated time: 1 hour 30 minutes,
Total ascent 653ft, Highest point 406ft
Date of Trek: June 2014