16 easy-to-follow circular walks in Dorset

Sixteen easy-to-follow hand-crafted circular walks, routes & maps in Dorset of all grades in Walk Grade Order

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Grade Order | Length Order | Time Order | Walk Number or Start Location Order
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Walk do101 Swyre Head and The Jurassic Coast from Durdle Door

Coastal walk to a superb Limestone arch

Vital Statistics:

Length:	5.25 miles (8.5 km)
Ascent:	1,234 ft (376 m)
Time:	3.25hrs
Grade:		(Moderate)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do101 Swyre Head and The Jurassic Coast from Durdle Door pdf

Route Summary:

Durdle Door Car Park - Daggers Gate - The Warren - Chaldon Down - The South West Coast Path - West Bottom - Middle Bottom - Bat's Hole - Bat's Head - The Jurassic Coast - Swyre Head - Scratchy Bottom - Durdle Door - Durdle Door Car Park

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Walk do103 Eggardon Hill from Askerswell

Impressive Hill Fort

Vital Statistics:

Length:	5.5 miles (9 km)
Ascent:	630 ft (192 m)
Time:	2.75hrs
Grade:		(Easy)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do103 Eggardon Hill from Askerswell pdf

Route Summary:

Askerswell - South Eggardon Farm - North Eggardon Farm - Eggardon Hill Fort - Eggardon Hill - Haydon Down - Stancombe Farm - Askerswell Down - Nallers Farm - Askerswell

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Walk do105 Black Down (Hardy Monument) via Corton Down from Winterbourne St Martin, Martinstown

Fine ridge walk with expanding views

Vital Statistics:

Length:	7.25 miles (11.5 km)
Ascent:	847 ft (258 m)
Time:	3½ hrs
Grade:		(Moderate)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do105 Black Down (Hardy Monument) via Corton Down from Winterbourne St Martin, Martinstown pdf

Route Summary:

Martinstown (or Winterborne St Martin) - Four Barrows Farm - Great Hill - South Dorset Ridgeway - Corton Down - Bronkham Hill - Jubilee Trail - Blackdown - Smitten Corner - Black Down (Hardy Monument) - East Rew Farm - Rew Manor - Martinstown (or Winterboune St Martin).

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Walk do108 Stinsford, Puddletown Forest and Hardy's Cottage from Higher Bockhampton

The heart of Wessex

Vital Statistics:

Length:	7.25 miles (11.5 km)
Ascent:	643 ft (196 m)
Time:	3.25hrs
Grade:		(Easy)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do108 Stinsford, Puddletown Forest and Hardy's Cottage from Higher Bockhampton pdf

Route Summary:

Higher Bockhampton - Stinsford - Lower Bockhampton - Kingston Maurward - River Frome - Duddle Heath - Castle Hill - Beacon Corner - Beacon Hill - Puddletown Forest - Hardy's Cottage (Thomas Hardy's Birthplace) - Higher Bockhampton

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Walk do110 Melbury Osmond and Melbury Park from Evershot

In the footsteps of Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Vital Statistics:

Length:	5 miles (8 km)
Ascent:	558 ft (170 m)
Time:	2½ hrs
Grade:		(Easy)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do110 Melbury Osmond and Melbury Park from Evershot pdf

Route Summary:

Evershot - Paradise Wood - Evershot Plantation - Banger's Moor - Sares Wood - Lucerne Lake - Melbury Park - The Macmillan Way - Melbury Osmond - Lower Barton - Melbury House - Evershot

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Walk do111 Abbotsbury Castle and Chesil Beach from Abbotsbury

Superb views

Vital Statistics:

Length:	6.25 miles (10 km)
Ascent:	994 ft (303 m)
Time:	3.25hrs
Grade:		(Moderate)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do111 Abbotsbury Castle and Chesil Beach from Abbotsbury pdf

Route Summary:

Abbotsbury - The Macmillan Way - Abbotsbury Plain - The South Dorset Ridgeway - Abbotsbury Castle (Iron Age Fort) - Tulks Hill - Labour in Vain Farm - East Bexington Farm - The South West Coast Path - Chesil Beach - Abbotsbury

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Walk do114 Stinsford and Hardy's Cottage from Higher Bockhampton

The heart of Thomas Hardy's Wessex

Vital Statistics:

Length:	4.75 miles (7.5 km)
Ascent:	499 ft (152 m)
Time:	2.25hrs
Grade:		(Easy)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do114 Stinsford and Hardy's Cottage from Higher Bockhampton pdf

Route Summary:

Higher Bockhampton - Stinsford - Lower Bockhampton - Kingston Maurward - Duddle Heath - Bhompston Heath - Puddleton Heath - Hardy's Cottage (Thomas Hardy's Birthplace) - Thorncombe Wood - Higher Bockhampton

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Walk do115 Corfe Castle and Houns Tout Cliffs from Worth Matravers

Iconic Castle and Cliffs

Vital Statistics:

Length:	9.5 miles (15 km)
Ascent:	1,388 ft (423 m)
Time:	5 hrs
Grade:		(Moderate)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do115 Corfe Castle and Houns Tout Cliffs from Worth Matravers pdf

Route Summary:

Worth Matravers - Swanworth Quarry - The Purbeck Way - Coomb Bottom - Corfe Common - Corfe Castle - Corfe Common - Kingston - Houns-tout-Cliffs - The South West Coast Path - North Hill - West Hill - Renscombe Farm - Worth Matravers

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Walk do118 Abbotsbury Castle and Chesil Beach from West Bexington

Magnificent views

Vital Statistics:

Length:	4.75 miles (7.5 km)
Ascent:	811 ft (247 m)
Time:	2½ hrs
Grade:		(Easy)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do118 Abbotsbury Castle and Chesil Beach from West Bexington pdf

Route Summary:

West Bexington - Tulks Hill - Abbotsbury Castle (Iron Age Fort) - The South West Coast Path - Chesil Beach - West Bexington

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Walk do122 Black Down (Hardy Monument) via Great Hill from Winterbourne St Martin, Martinstown

Fine ridge walk with expanding views

Vital Statistics:

Length:	7 miles (11 km)
Ascent:	1,037 ft (316 m)
Time:	3½ hrs
Grade:		(Moderate)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do122 Black Down (Hardy Monument) via Great Hill from Winterbourne St Martin, Martinstown pdf

Route Summary:

Martinstown (or Winterborne St Martin) - Grove Hill Bottom - Great Hill - South Dorset Ridgeway - Corton Down - Bronkham Hill - Jubilee Trail - Blackdown - Smitten Corner - Black Down (Hardy Monument) - Bronkham Hill - Pen Barn Farm - Grove Hill Bottom - Martinstown (or Winterborne St Martin)

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Walk do126 Ringstead Bay, Durdle Door and The Jurassic Coast from Lulworth Cove

Coastal walk to a superb Limestone arch

Vital Statistics:

Length:	9 miles (14.5 km)
Ascent:	1,191 ft (363 m)
Time:	4½ hrs
Grade:		(Moderate)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do126 Ringstead Bay, Durdle Door and The Jurassic Coast from Lulworth Cove pdf

Route Summary:

Lulworth Cove - West Lulworth - Durdle Door Caravan Park - Newlands Farm - Daggers Gate - The Warren - Chaldon Down - Ringstead Bay - The Jurassic Coast - The South West Coast Path - White Nothe - Whitenothe Cottage - West Bottom - Middle Bottom - Bats Hole - Bats Head - Swyre Head - Scrtachy Bottom - Durdle Door - St Oswald's Bay - Hambury Tout - Dungy Head - Stair Hole,.

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Walk do128 Littlebredy from Abbotsbury

Superb views

Vital Statistics:

Length:	7.25 miles (11.5 km)
Ascent:	1,158 ft (353 m)
Time:	3.75hrs
Grade:		(Moderate)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do128 Littlebredy from Abbotsbury pdf

Route Summary:

Abbotsbury - The Macmillan Way - Abbotsbury Plains - Borad Coppice - Gorwell Farm - Kingstone Russel Stone Circle - Tenants Hill - Littlebredy - Topparts Dairy - The South Dorset Ridgeway - White Hill (Abbotsbury) - Abbotsbury

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Walk do133 Hardy's Cottage and Puddletown Forest from Higher Bockhampton

The heart of Wessex

Vital Statistics:

Length:	5 miles (8 km)
Ascent:	561 ft (171 m)
Time:	2½ hrs
Grade:		(Easy)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do133 Hardy's Cottage and Puddletown Forest from Higher Bockhampton pdf

Route Summary:

Higher Bockhampton - Thorncombe Wood - Hardy's Cottage (Thomas Hardy's Birthplace) - Bhompston Heath - Duddle Heath - Castle Hill - Beacon Corner - Beacon Hill - Puddletown Forest - Hardy's Cottage (Thomas Hardy's Birthplace) - Higher Bockhampton

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Walk do139 Athelhampton from Tolpuddle

A stroll through history

Vital Statistics:

Length:	5.25 miles (8.5 km)
Ascent:	322 ft (98 m)
Time:	2.25hrs
Grade:		(Easy)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do139 Athelhampton from Tolpuddle pdf

Route Summary:

Tolpuddle - Southover Heath - Clyff Copse - Tincleton Hang - Cowpound Wood - Athelhamton - Park Farm - Tolpuddle

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Walk do141 Abbotsbury Castle, West Bexington and Chesil Beach from Abbotsbury

Superb views

Vital Statistics:

Length:	8.25 miles (13 km)
Ascent:	1,070 ft (326 m)
Time:	4 hrs
Grade:		(Moderate)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do141 Abbotsbury Castle, West Bexington and Chesil Beach from Abbotsbury pdf

Route Summary:

Abbotsbury - The Macmillan Way - Abbotsbury Plain - The South Dorset Ridgeway - Abbotsbury Castle (Iron Age Fort) - Tulks Hill - West Bexington - The South West Coast Path - Chesil Beach - Abbotsbury

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Walk do142 St Aldhelm's Head (St Alban's Head) from Worth Matravers

One short, steep ascent to magnificent views

Vital Statistics:

Length:	4.75 miles (7.5 km)
Ascent:	754 ft (230 m)
Time:	2½ hrs
Grade:		(Easy)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk do142 St Aldhelm's Head (St Alban's Head) from Worth Matravers pdf

Route Summary:

Worth Matravers - The South West Coast Path - Emmetts Hill - St Aldhelm's (St Alban's) Head - St Aldhelm's Chapel - National Coastwatch Station St Alban's Head - West Man - Winspit - Winspit Bottom - Worth Matravers

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See this list of walks, routes & maps in:

Grade Order | Length Order | Time Order | Walk Number or Start Location Order
NB. To reverse (toggle) this order, click Grade Order again