Iconic Dorset Walks

DAY ONE Arrive in Cerne Abbas and settle into your comfortable accommodation at The New Inn. DAY TWO - Studland to Corfe Castle 10 miles - Moderate - Shorter option of 8 miles Today we are visiting the Isle of Purbeck, which isn't an island at all but a spectacular area of coast, hills and heathland. You set off across some of Dorset's best preserved heathland, home to rare reptiles and birds passing the Agglestone Rock on your way, thrown by the devil according to local legend. You then reach Studland with its miles of sandy beach and Fort Henry, the bunker from which Churchill and Eisenhower watched D-Day preparations. From here you walk to Handfast Point to admire Old Harry Rocks before climbing onto Ballard Down with its far-reaching views over Poole Harbour. You then take a magnificent ridgeway walk all the way to Corfe Castle where you can visit one of the villages hostelries or explore the castle ruins. DAY THREE The Jurassic Coast. A day walking the UNESCO World Heritage coastline which we can make as strenuous or easy as you like. There will be opportunities for swimming along the way. DAY FOUR - Sydling St. Nicholas to Cerne Abbas 7.5 miles - Easy - Option to extend to 10 miles A shorter walk today passing through one of the most peaceful valleys in the county. Climbing from the pretty chalk-stream village of Sydling St. Nicholas, you rise over a low ridgeway before dropping down into one of the most peaceful places in Dorset. You stroll along the valley bottom accompanied only by the sheep and birdsong to reach the ruins of Bushes Farm where you will find an interesting art installation designed to shatter the peace! From here you retrace your steps for a short, sharp climb to meet The Wessex Ridgeway. You follow this ridgeway with beautiful views before descending again to find yourself at the foot of the Cerne Giant. Admire his magnificence from the viewing point and then stroll along the river Cerne into the village to explore the abbey remains and the mystical Silver Well before transferring to the station to head off home.