West Compton walks

A Dorset walk that explores the pleasant landscape to the east of the pretty village of Abbotsbury. The ropute includes a section of the South West Coast path including a potion along the shores of West Fleet, the lagoon behind Chesil Beach.

Easy walk with a short climb to St Catherine's Chapel, which is based on a small hill. At the top, it offers a nice 360° viewpoint.

A circular walk giving beautiful views over the surrounding countryside of rolling hills and meadows.

If you want beaches, cliffs, woodlands and meadows and a walk that will test your fitness, this is the one for you.

This linear Dorset walk follows the South West Coast Path from Charmouth to Seatown. The coastal scenery on this part of the Jurassic Coast is dramatic and the walk includes the highest point on the Dorest Coast at Golden Cap.

A hilly walk with fantastic views over Osmington Bay starting from the pretty village of Osmington. Not suitable for children as parts of the walk are along public roads with a few road crossings.

A wonderful peaceful walk to the hidden gem of Mupe Bay. Super coastal views and some nice hills too!

Lulworth Cover and Durdle Door are two of the best known features of Dorset's Jurassic Coast. This short walk includes some uphill walking but the path is good and well graded.

The walk follows the Corton Ridge and offers great views across the Somerset Levels and the Dorset Hills. It has great historic significance as Cadbury Castle is reputed to be Camelot King Arthur's Castle. You also cross the ancient medieval village of Whitcombe. It's an up and downer and can be boggy in wet weather. As an incentive there are two great pubs you can call in at!

Species rich hay meadow. To see the reserve at its best visit between April and mid-July before the annual hay cut.

Species-rich limestone and marshy meadows beside River Yarty.

A gentle exploratory ramble along nearby footpaths with pleasant views. Nothing onerous.

A mosaic of calcareous grassland, scrub, ancient oak woodland, secondary woodland and conifer plantation on Dundon Hill. The top of Dundon Hill features significant archaeological remains with a hill fort, Bronze Age round barrow and ancient quarry.

Unimproved neutral grassland and a small copse. The site has open access via rights of way from Butleigh. Please keep to the edges of the field until the hay has been cut.

A gentle meander alongside Blackbrook and around pleasant Hamilton Gault Park. The stream is a traffic-free route for wildlife in and out of the town, including otters and water voles. Come out on a summer evening and watch bats flying above your head catching insects.

A pleasant route of reasonable distance, taking in a beautiful stretch of Taunton’s crowning glory the River Tone, and a quiet tract of the Bridgwater and Taunton canal. Wildlife abounds.

Circular, family-fun story trail 1.5km riverside walk.

Take in a lively stretch of the River Tone, a new wildlife mural, and the Mill Stream running through Goodland Gardens. Visit by day you’ll see Little Egrets hunting for fish, and at dusk, you might be joined by bats who are out hunting for their supper.

A thoroughly pleasant and not very arduous walk from Evercreech to Chesterblade, then to Batcombe and back along the River Alham. There are quite a few hills but none of them are very long and the total ascent of the walk is surprisingly modest.