Local Guide to the Best Walks in Dorset
This is a medium 9.3 mile circular walk taking in some of the most picturesque locations on the Isle of Purbeck including Corfe Castle, Kimmeridge, Swyre Head and Kingston village. On a clear day you’ll get spectacular views as far as Bournemouth Bay, Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Swanage Bay, Weymouth Bay and the Isle of Portland.
Continue reading “Corfe Castle to Kimmeridge, Swyre Head and Kingston Circular Walk”
Colmers Hill is one of the most recognisable scenes in the West Dorset landscape, this iconic conical-shaped hill rises 417 feet above the village of Symondsbury on the edge of Bridport. It has been part of the Symondsbury Estate for over one hundred years and is open to the public with a permissive path up to the top. There are several walks in the area, the shorter Colmers Hill Walk is described below.
Distance: 1.6 miles Circular
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Ascent: 295ft, Highest Point 417ft
OS Map: OS Explorer 116 Lyme Regis & Bridport
Date of Walk: June 202
Manswood is a small hamlet located 1 mile north west of Witchampton and 1 mile west of Moor Crichel in the soft rolling hills of Cranborne Chase. Manswood Walk is a circular walk that takes you through conifer plantations, coppiced woods and arable farmland.
Distance: 3.5 miles Circular walk
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated time: 1 hour 45 mins
Date of walk: late August 2022
Map: OS Explorer 118
Maiden Castle is the largest Iron Age hill fort in Britain and lies just outside Dorchester. It is owned by English Heritage but entrance is free, so is the car park. This short Maiden Castle Walk is an easy stroll around the banks and ditches of the hill fort offering beautiful views of rolling south Dorchester countryside.
Distance: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated time: 1 hour
Date of walk: 31 August 2022
The Durdle Door to White Nothe Walk is an excellent stand-alone walk starting in Durdle Door car park or it can easily be added to the Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door walk. The first half of the walk can be quite challenging with some steep sections but you’ll be rewarded by some stunning coastal views and you’ll be able to escape the crowds at Durdle Door during the summer.
Distance: 5.5 miles (circular)
Difficulty: moderate (uneven ground, some steep ascents)
Estimated time: 3 hours 15 minutes,
Total ascent 1001ft, Max elevation 554ft
Date of walk: March 2021
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
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 is one of the longer Cranborne Estate walks starting in the picturesque village of Cranborne and taking you through water meadows, rolling farmland and forest.
Distance: 4.8 miles
Difficulty: easy
Estimated time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Total ascent 210ft, Max elevation 351ft.