Walking Holidays and Private Tours

England has to be one of the best places to walk anywhere in the world.   There are no dangerous wild animals or snakes to worry about, no extremes of temperature and its network of public footpaths is probably the most extensive in the world.  These designated walking routes are protected by law, allowing walkers access across private land via paths  and bridleways, typically marked with yellow way-markers or finger posts.   Dorset offers some of the best walking in the country, from its spectacular coast path to peaceful hills and valleys where your only company will be the birds, a few livestock and the wind in your ears.  The perfect place for anyone who loves walking.

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NOTES ON NAVIGATION

 

If you have booked one of our self-guided walking breaks, then you will be provided with the following information and tools to help you find your way:

 

Written instructions for each day’s walk.  This will have a general overview of the walk, a map showing your route, photographs of any bits which are tricky to navigate and icons to alert you to the best picnic spots, pubs and cafes, as well as areas where you need to take especial care.  We will provide a water-proof map-case for you to carry these and you should always take them with you because, whilst you will have access to digital versions of the route, mobile ‘phone signal can be extremely patchy in rural and coastal areas. 

 

A link to a website page for each day’s walk.  It can be easier to see directional photographs this way as you can enlarge them on the screen but, as we mentioned, signal will be patchy, so always take the paper copy as well.

 

A link to the walking route on the Ordnance Survey app.  If you don’t have the OS app, it can be found here and we strongly recommend that you sign up at least to their monthly subscription, which you can cancel at the end of your holiday.  This is currently only £6.99 a month.  We can then share each day’s route with you and you can follow it on the app.  We suggest signing up to the app at least a fortnight before your holiday so that you have time to familiarize yourself with it and we will share a link to your first day’s walk so that you can have a good look at it.  You can also watch a 3-D ‘fly-through’ which is a fun way to see your route.

 

what3words – If you don’t already use what3words, we strongly recommend that you download this free app before your holiday.  It is easy to use and very useful for sharing your exact location and for navigating to key points on your walk.  We include W3W points in our written instructions as their technology does not rely on ‘phone signal but rather GPS, so you can navigate to a point using its built-in compass mode, even when you have no mobile coverage of Wi-Fi connection.  Again, it is a good idea to download this at least a couple of weeks in advance so that you can familiarize yourself with it.

 

A GPX file which you can use on your GPS device if you have one.

 

Hopefully all of the above will make it practically impossible for you to lose your way but, just in case will provide you with an Air Tag which you can keep in your rucksack so that we can see where you are and hopefully put you back on the right route if you let us know you are lost.  This should be returned to us at the end of your holiday please.

 

That all sounds quite complicated but it really isn’t.  You will find our routes easy to navigate and you will have plenty of time to enjoy on the wonderful countryside, wildlife and views.

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WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING

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Apart from the obvious necessities required when you are away from home, you will also require the following for the days when you are walking:

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• Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes or boots with good grip

• Lightweight day pack, big enough to take your water bottle, sandwich box, coat, camera and binoculars (and swimwear if you are walking the coast)

• Re-useable water bottle

• Waterproof coat, even in the summer (this is England after all)

• Lightweight fleece or similar which is warm yet easily stowed in your rucksack.  Layers are the answer in the English summer.

• Sun hat

• Sun cream (we live in hope!)

• Portable power bank (for recharging your phone en-route)

• Camera

• Binoculars (if you have them it’s worth bringing them to look for birds and wildlife)

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NOTES ON SAFETY

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Dorset is generally a very safe place to walk.  Crime rates are extremely low and we don't have any dangerous wild animals so there are only a few things you need to look out for:

 

​(If you are walking the Southwest Coast Path, the first three items are particularly important to note.  You should also be aware that you are going to encounter some very steep paths indeed and great care should be taken to watch your footing, particularly when descending.  It’s always best to take your time and stopping to admire the view is always a good excuse to stop and catch your breath!)

 

Cliff falls - Dorset's Jurassic Coast is a goldmine for fossil-hunters, thanks in part to the unstable nature of some of the cliffs in the county, especially further to the east.  Remember that rock-falls are a regular feature of our coast and keep a safe distance from all cliffs, whether you are walking above them or on the beaches below.

 

Tides - It is easy to lose track of time by the sea, so it is imperative that you take good notice of the tides, especially if you are setting off fossil-hunting and may become absorbed by your search.  Always set out on a falling tide and make sure that you are back off the beach before it starts to rise again.  The Met Office have a beach forecast and tide times website which can be found here.

 

Rocky beaches - If you are on rock ledges or boulders after low tide, please be aware that the rocks will likely be very slippery.  Always wear sturdy shoes with good grip and take great care.​

 

Traffic - Some of our routes may take you down country lanes which can be narrow although they are generally quiet unless you are near the sea.  Make sure that you keep your ears open for approaching traffic and move to the side and preferably onto the verge if you hear a vehicle approaching.  Always follow the Highway Code’s guidance:

• Walk on the right-hand side of the road so you can see oncoming traffic.

• Keep in single file if the road is narrow or if traffic is coming towards you.

• If you’re walking in a group on a quiet road, you may walk two abreast but walk in single file when vehicles approach.

• At sharp bends or limited visibility sections, cross to the other side in good time so that drivers see you earlier — then cross back once safe.

 

Walking with dogs – If you are bringing your four-legged friends along for the trip, then please ensure that you keep them under close control at all times.  Most importantly, never let them worry livestock and please be aware that farmers are legally entitled to shoot any dogs they find chasing their animals.  If in doubt, keep your dog on a lead.   You will also find that some beaches are dog-free zones in the summer, so look out for notice boards giving information on the times of year they are welcome on the beach.  Finally, if you are walking by the coast, remember that there are some very long drops from the cliff-edges and it is always best to keep your dog on a lead if you are on a cliff path.  An extending lead is a good idea as that is safer for you when negotiating steep, rocky paths.

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Cattle - Cattle are generally not very interested in you, especially on well-walked paths where walkers are a regular sight for them.  However, please always be alert to cows which have their young with them and never get between a cow and her calf - always give them a wide berth.   It is unusual for bulls to be put on public footpaths and, if they are, they are generally the more docile breeds but again, always exercise caution around them and take a detour to avoid getting too close.  However, cattle can also be inquisitive and may come to have a look at you so it is best to know how to behave around them.  If you are walking with a dog, check on entering a field to see whether there are any cattle in sight and, if so, put your dog on a lead. However, if you are approached by the cattle and feel threatened in any way, then let your dog go. Your dog should be able to get to safety more quickly than you and removing the dog from the situation will likely calm the cattle.  Never pick your dog up or run away.  Face the cattle and move calmly away from them, waving your arms and shouting if necessary, until you reach the nearest gate or stile.

 

Adders -  The adder is the only venomous snake native to England but it is not considered highly dangerous. Whilst its bite can be painful, serious complications are very rare and fatalities are extremely uncommon—there have been no recorded deaths from adder bites in the UK since the 1970s. Most bites occur when the snake is accidentally stepped on or provoked, as adders are generally shy and prefer to avoid human contact.  In the Dorset countryside, adders can sometimes be found basking in the sun on heathlands, coastal paths and in woodland clearings, particularly in spring and early summer. If you encounter one, it’s best to give it space and allow it to move away. Wearing sturdy boots and being mindful when walking through long grass or rocky areas can help reduce the risk of an accidental encounter.  For most people, an adder sighting is more of a rare wildlife experience than a genuine danger.