Dorset is home to some of the best walks in the UK including many scenic coastal paths along the Jurassic Coast. Shell Bay in Studland marks the traditional end of the 630-mile South West Coast Path however there are plenty of stunning circular Dorset walks for all abilities.
Instead of listing all the best walks here on this website we’ve built a site dedicated to highlighting some of the best walks in Dorset: https://www.dorsetwalks.co.uk
DorsetWalks.co.uk includes detailed route maps with links to download the walk GPS data to enable you to easily follow the walk on your mobile phone or GPS device. We’ve also included detailed route descriptions and photos of some of my favourite walks.
Here are links to some of the most popular posts on DorsetWalks.co.uk
National Trust Walks in Dorset
Many of the best walks along the Dorset Coast pass through land that is owned and managed by the National Trust so the National Trust Website is an excellent resource for finding circular walk descriptions and maps. The good news is that access to the walks is free to everyone, you don’t have to be a National Trust Member although members will be able to use the National Trust Car Parks for free.
To keep things simple we’ve just listed the walks below and included links to their relevant web page showing a map and route description which we hope you’ll find helpful.
I can particularly recommend the walks below that are marked with a heart ❤️
Studland Walks
Old Harry Rocks walk ❤️ – Click Here
Godlingston Heath walk ❤️ – Click Here
Studland Beach sand dunes trail – Click Here
Studland woodland walk – Click Here
Corfe Castle Walks
The Purbeck Ridgeway ❤️ – Corfe Castle to the coast – Click Here
Corfe Common History Walk – Click Here
South Purbeck Hills Walks
South Purbeck cliffs walk ❤️ – Click Here
Kingston Lacy Estate Walks
Walk at Badbury Rings and The Oaks, Kingston Lacy – Click Here
Walk at Pamphill and Cowgrove, Kingston Lacy – Click Here
Walk at the Beech Avenue and Droves, Kingston Lacy – Click Here
Walk at Pamphill Green and Moor, Kingston Lacy – Click Here
Walk at Eye Bridge and Pamphill, Kingston Lacy – Click Here
Walk at White Mill and Shapwick, Kingston Lacy – Click Here
Walk at White Mill and the Droves, Kingston Lacy – Click Here
Walk at Holt Heath, Kingston Lacy – Click Here
Blackmore Vale
A circuit of Hod Hill ❤️ – Click Here
Hod Hill butterfly walk – Click Here
Walking around the ramparts at Hambledon Hill ❤️ – Click Here
Melbury Beacon Walk ❤️ – Click Here
Fontmell Down Walk – Click Here
Compton Down Walk – Click Here
Hardy’s Cottage Walks
Hardys Cottage walking trails through Thorncombe Woods – Click Here
Hardy’s Cottage Discovery Trail (Kids) – Click Here
National Trust PDF Guides
Dorset’s Hillforts – A Visitor’s Guide (pdf) – Click Here
Kingston Maurward Walkabouts 1 (pdf) – Click Here
Kingston Maurward Walkabouts 2 (pdf) – Click Here
Hardy’s Landscape (pdf) – Click Here
Trails in Dorset
The Great Wessex Way (Long Distance Walkers Association) – Click Here
Stour Valley Way (LDWA) – Click Here
The Hardy Way (LDWA) – Click Here
The Wessex Ridgeway,
The Jubilee Trail – https://www.routeyou.com or https://www.visit-dorset.com
The Stour Valley Way – https://www.stourvalleyway.co.uk
The South Dorset Ridgeway – https://www.routeyou.com
North Dorset Trailway – http://www.northdorsettrailway.org.uk
Dorset County Council
Visit their website:
https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/sport-leisure/sport-and-leisure.aspx
Then click on the link to walking then walking routes and trails
East Dorset
Castleman Trailway – Click Here
Wareham Forset Way
East Dorset Walking Routes – a series of 14 walks – Click Here
North Dorset
The Wessex Ridgeway – information pdf –
The North Dorset Trailway
Sturminster Newton Walkabouts
The Isle of Purbeck (long distance)
South West Coast Path – link to Visit Dorset website for index
The Isle of Purbeck (medium distance)
The Commoner’s Way – leaflet pdf
The Lawrence of Arabia Trail – leaflet pdf
Wareham Forest Way – leaflet pdf
The Purbeck Way (West Route) – leaflet pdf
The Purbeck Way – leaflet pdf
The Isle of Purbeck (short distance)
Wareham Town Walks – leaflet pdf
The Wareham Two Rivers Walk – leaflet pdf
Quarrymans’ Ways – leaflet pdf
The Priests Way – link to South West Coast Path map
Smugglers’ Ways – leaflet pdf
Studland and Ballard Down Round Walk – map leaflet pdf route directions leaflet pdf
West Dorset
South Dorset Ridgeway – link to South West Coast Path
Kingston Maurward Walkabouts
Cerne Valley Way – leaflet pdf
Frome Valley Trail – leaflet Evershot to Dorchester pdf
Thorncombe Wood Walkabouts
Dorchester to Weymouth Trail – leaflet pdf (download)
Weymouth & Portland
Walking maps of Littlemoor
Portland Quarry Trails
The Rodwell Trail
Jurassic Coast Trust Downloadable Walks
https://jurassiccoast.org/visit/walking-the-jurassic-coast/downloadable-walks/
Cranborne Estate Walks
Cranborne Estates have produced a leaflet that will guide you around a number of routes within the Estate. Leaflet includes routes description and map.
https://www.cranborne.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/CRANBORNE-WALKS.pdf
Related Pages: Hengistbury Head / Sandbanks / Studland / Old Harry Rocks / Durlston Country Park / Worth Matravers / Corfe Castle /