HIKING

Dorset is a hikers paradise. There are hundreds of different walks you can take including the wonderful Dorset coastal path which travels along the whole of the coastal area passing fantastic scenery along the way. It is however quite challenging in places and should not be undertaken if you don't like climbing hills (often very steep hills).

For those who just want a gentle stroll there are many seaside towns with paved promenades. The closest to Charmouth is Seaton a delightful little town with a beautiful beach and nice promenade. Weymouth has the best and longest promenade in the area and strolling along here can be delightful especially out of season when it's not full of deckchairs and other tourists.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU PURCHASE AN ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP OF THE AREA BEFORE BEGINNING ANY HIKES.

SUGGESTED WALKS FOR SERIOUS HIKERS.

CHARMOUTH AND LYME REGIS.
The Dorset coastal path runs directly through the village of Charmouth. From there you can walk towards Golden Cap (east) or Lyme Regis (west). There are several places you can park to take your hike. There is a small car park at Charmouth beach, which is usually difficult to get into in the summer but easy enough most other times of the year. You can park here and walk along the clifftops into Lyme Regis which is a fairly short walk. There you can browse around the shops have lunch and either walk back or take the bus to Charmouth village. You can park in Lyme Regis but you will have to use the long term parking on the outskirts of the town and either walk in or take the shuttle bus. Parking here is excellent if you wish to take the path towards the west into Devon. However buses back are not as frequent and you most likely have to walk back.
From Charmouth you can also walk east towards Burton Bradstock (where you can also park, but the area is small) on as far as West Bay. This is a nice little port town with an unusual protected harbour. You can stop here for lunch and then walk back again. Buses do run but not as frequently. After West Bay the path diverts inland around Chesil Bank and The Fleet. The walk is still pleasant across rolling farmland, but other walks offer better scenery and coastal views. You can if you wish walk along Chesil bank itself but the loose gravel is very hard going and once you are past Abbotsbury there is no way back to the land until you reach Portland. The walk is fairly monotonous unless you are beachcombing and I would not recommend anyone try to walk all the way down to Weymouth along the beach.

PORTLAND.
It's possible to take the path and walk all the way around the outside of Portland. This is a wonderful day walk. You could do it faster but it's better to go a little slower and take in the scenery. Start early in the morning and drive to Portland and up to the top of the very steep hill to the top of the Portland Plateau. There is a huge parking area here beside a pub restaurant there. The views down along Chesil from here are wonderful and worth the trip alone. It would be hard to miss this area. Leave the car here and strike out to the right, the signs here don't help much they often point in the wrong direction. You will pass through the old world war two gunnery emplacements to the east coast of Portland. From there it's easy to follow the path around the edge of the island.
Take water with you and be aware that it's ALWAYS windy on Portland. The east side of Portland has all the best views. The dramatic cliffs and huge limestone blocks are impressive. (They used this area to film many scenes from Horatio Hornblower).

Walking at the right pace you can arrive at Portland Bill in time to have lunch in the excellent pub (The Pulpit Inn) located there. Their restaurant specializes in seafood and is certainly worth a visit. They usually stop serving food around 2pm so if you arrive late hit the pub first then explore the bill afterwards. You can then take the path along the steep west side of the island (it's really windy here) and finally back to the car.

Lighthouse at Portland Bill from trail. © Visual Encounters 2004

The west side of the trek is shorter but you will want to explore the old limestone quarries on the way back. These abandoned quarries have been taken over by sculptors who have carved some very interesting works into the old boulders and Cliffside there.
NOTE. Most of Portland was once a working quarry. The area can be dangerous with steep sides and drop offs. Take care when you walk anywhere and NEVER walk very close to the edge. The rock is limestone and may fall into the ocean.

COASTAL PATH BEYOND WEYMOUTH. The area from Owermoinge or Osmington to Lulworth is a dazzling walk and quite beautiful. The best way to do this is to drive to Osmington Mills and park in the parking lot there. Make sure you have enough payment on your sticker to last all day. Then take the coastal path. This area is quite up and down across the hills but leads past some wonderful scenery. It quite easy to arrive in Lulworth by lunch time. When you do this don't stop at the cove, walk up into the village around the narrow streets to the village pub and have lunch there (again they stop serving at 1.30 and shut by 2.30 so make sure you are prompt.) They have a lovely garden around the back of the pub on the hill where you can eat your food if the weather is good. If not the pub inside is really charming. You can then walk back to the car the other way after lunch. It may be possible to get a taxi back but it will be costly.	View from trail back towards Osmington. © Visual Encounters 2004
The Coastal pathway beyond Lulworth is not usually open as it goes across the army tank ranges. Due to unexploded bombs and shells it's a dangerous area. However most years for a month in the summer the area is cleared and opened for hiking. The area is very beautiful but the hills are far more challenging than those towards Lulworth. If you are going to hike this area it's best to park at Tyneham village and walk to Lulworth then back again. Be aware that Tyneham village is not really a village but a ‘ghost town’ It was evacuated by the army when they took over the ranges and although the area is now open to the public full time - as is access to Warbarrow Bay a really beautiful area - it has only been so in the last 15 years. There are no amenities at Tyneham at all, hence the best way is to walk to Lulworth for lunch and back. Do not attempt to walk this unless the ranges are open. Check with the local army office first.	Portion of the trail on the gunnery ranges. © Visual Encounters 2004

CORFE TO SWANAGE WALK.
A really wonderful walk for those who have the stamina is the Corfe Castle to Swange coastal walk. It's long (about 16 miles) and strenuous up and down hills.
To do this you need to drive to Corfe Castle, a wonderful village with the ruins of a castle perched on top of a very high mound. The area is worth a visit in its own right. Park in the car park on the outskirts of the village, do not attempt to park in the village itself. You can easily park in the outlying lot all day. Follow the Dorset path signs to Kinston. This will take you across some wonderful countryside and give you excellent views back at Corfe Castle. The mound that the castle is build on is not natural it was carved from the hill ridge which can be easily seen from a distance at this angle. The path leads on down to Chapmans pool another very beautiful coastal area. From there the path leads along the coast past Dancing ledge and up to Duriston head and Old Harry Rocks. It offers spectacular scenery which changes with every new bend in the trail. Finally you walk into Swanage a really lovely sea town with a nice semi sandy beach and beautiful scenery. It is also a very popular tourist destination and is usually crowded in summer. Unfortunately Swanage is on the end of the Purbeck Peninsula so it's a bottleneck to traffic to get in and out. The roads are quite narrow and the traffic jams in the summer are horrendous.
You however have a better way out. You can if you wish walk back to Corfe from Swanage but by far the best way is to take the steam train back. The train covers almost the same route that the trail does but in much more style. Also having walked all the way from Corfe you owe your feet a treat and a rest on the way back.
Check the train times before you go. The train runs every day in the summer but on a reduced schedule the rest of the year and not at all in January. Check the train is running and what time it leaves before you set out.

Purchasing an ordnance survey map of the area (available in almost any shop) will show you many other paths and rights of way you can walk. The local tourist office can also supply brochures for walks (such as the Portland walk which is not on the OS map) and hiking guide books.

WALKING RULES AND ETIQUETTE.

Dorset is a very rural farming area. Many of the trails go across farmland. Be courteous and stay on the path. If the path has been diverted use the path as laid out. (Often a right of way may pass straight across a farm field, the farmer may choose to divert the trail to the edge of the field to protect his crop or livestock, please abide by his wishes and don't walk through the crops.).
Don't chase the livestock. Dorset is sheep country, sheep can be very cute but don't chase them, they get stressed out and the farmer will get very upset. Leave them alone. If there are cows in the field just walk quietly. Many people don't realize just how big a cow is until they are up close and personal with it. They can be quite alarming. Cows are also very curious and they may stroll over to see what’s going on if they are not used to hikers on this trail. Don't be alarmed just walk on and they will get out of your way. Don't harass them and DON'T RUN. If you run they think there is someting going on and will often chase you.

KEEP AWAY FROM THE CLIFF EDGES.
As explained in the Geology section the cliffs in Dorset are limestone, shale or clay. This means that they crumble easily and fall off. Don't walk too close to the edge, it may collapse and you will fall. Pieces of the cliffs fall off every year and people have been lost, don't let one of them be you.

DON'T LITTER. Pack it in, pack it out. English people mostly do not throw litter around the way it often happens in North America. Respect the cleanliness of the countryside and bring your trash (rubbish) out with you. Leave it as you found it, pristine and beautiful.