Fancy Trying A Walk ?

page last updated 18/05/2010

There are all sorts of walking opportunities in Dorset. Many visitors to the county don't stray far from their cars. Unfortunately that means they miss some of the best views and sights. Below you will find a variety of opportunities to get walking e.g.

• Walks Led by Ramblers Leaders
• The Purbeck Plod.
• LDWA challenges.
• Charity walk challenges and other events.
• health walks (short walks).

If you know of a walk that you think might be suitable for display here please let the site webmaster know via the e-mail address on the contact page.  Suitable walks are ones intended to get people started as walkers, ones for charitable purposes or ones that are/could be used for charity fund raising. Please note although walk organizers typically put on walks between April and September visitors to this site have typically increased from October to March.

Advice For New Walkers All sporting and leisure activities have inherent dangers and walking/rambling is no exception. It is important that participants in Ramblers organised events appreciate that they have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to identify hazards and take reasonable steps to minimize or eliminate the potential for an accident to arise.  Click here for advice about safety, comfort and walking etiquette

Walks Led By Ramblers Leaders

There are many reasons for going on a walk organised by an experienced leader or trying a walk with route instructions worked out for you. The best way to find out what those pleasures are is to go on the walks. There is a Ramblers' Walks Finder on the UK wide Ramblers site which can be used to search walks across the country. You can use this to find walks in Dorset but here are some links to some group contact pages on the same site which include a facility to produce a printable copy of the group's walks from walks finder.

East Dorset , South Dorset , Dorset Young Walkers , North Dorset  , West Dorset

If you want to find out more there are group contacts on the contacts page.

Wessex Wanderers

The Wessex Wanderer Guided Walks is a series of public walks that make use of the Wessex railway line between Weymouth and Bristol. The walks are led by Ramblers leaders from groups across the South West. The 2009 series has finished but the 2010 series planning is underway and you can find out more at http://www.avon-ramblers.org.uk/railwaywalks.html The Wessex Wanderer programme is now available as a download. Alternatively you can use this walks finder search for Wessex Wanderers walks.

The Purbeck Plod

Having successfully revived the 'Plod' in 2008 the East Dorset Ramblers anticipate running it annually for some time, see http://www.dorset-ramblers.co.uk/EastDorset/purbeckplod.html for details.

Dorset LDWA Group Challenges

The Dorset Group from the Long Distance Walkers Association run a number challenge walks in Dorset.   Keep an eye on their web site at www.ldwa.org.uk/Dorset in the challenge walk section to find out more plus the results of previous challenges.  There are limits on the number of participants which have been reached recently so early entry might be needed. If you are interested in more modest social walks (e.g. up to 20 miles) try a search on http://www.ldwa.org.uk/group_events/events_list.php?list_option=S&list_type=F .  

Charity Walk Challenges And Other Events

Mencap Sponsored new Forest Walk 12 September 2010. Contact Mary on 01425 621893 or via mary@newforestmencap.org for details.

The East Dorset Group may have details of charity challenges and events. Please click here to find out.

Health/Starter Walks

Looking for short walks to start with then try the walking for health site www.whi.org.uk has a walk finder search facility to find starter groups across the UK.

Here are some more sites with health walks and starter walks:

• The 3 x 30 site http://www.wellforlife.co.uk/site/index.php  has contact info and links for starter walking groups.
• Christchurch Health Walks  - Christchurch Council and the Christchurch Community Partnership have produced a pack of self guided walks to help people have a healthier lifestyle by walking round the beauty spots of Christchurch. Copies are available from Christchurch Information Centre, the Civic Offices and Christchurch and Highcliffe libraries or if your internet access is up to it and you have Acrobat Reader there is a 4 Megabyte version available from the following link. http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media/pdf/p/m/Christchurch_Health_Walks_Leaflets_FINAL.pdf
• Bournemouth Monday Meanders & Weekend Health Walks - The Monday Morning Meanders are organised by the Community Parks and Countryside team most Mondays (bank holidays are excluded). Meanders start from 12 different outdoor locations in the Bournemouth area and feature wildlife spotting. For more information phone Richard on 01202 437833. For information about Saturday afternoon health walks from Muscliffe Community Centre car park contact Lawrence on 01202 437803.
• Poole Health Walks - See the news item at http://www.poolepartnership.info/displaynews.cfm?NewsID=3459 
• North Dorset Health Walk Info Page - http://www.north-dorset.gov.uk/index/enjoying/sports_leisure/healthy_living.htm
• Hampshire Health Walks -See http://www.hants.gov.uk/countryside/hpp/healthwalks/