Witchampton walks

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

A glorious walk in the hills between Martin Down and the Chalk Valley taking in Vernditch Chase, Marleycombe Hill, Church Bottom and Middleton Down Nature Reserve

A walk from Wiltshire's highest point and through the villages of Tollard Royal and Berwick St James

This walk takes you along quiet field and woodland paths to the site of an Iron Age hill fort. It then continues to a stream-side hamlet on the edge of Castle Hill. There are views across the beautiful Avon Valley with its wildlife-rich water meadows and pasture and an optional detour to Castle Hill fort before returning along field and woodland paths to Godshill.

A circular walk from Tuckton/Wick to Hengistbury Head using path along the river Stour and Christchurch harbour.

This walk starts at the village centre before setting out on a circular walk around the edge of the village. There is a gentle uphill climb along Castle Hill Lane where there are good views across the Avon Valley; the perfect setting for stories about dragons and smugglers. The route passes an ancient hill fort on Castle Hill before descending back to the village and along the edge of the Open Forest. The walks return to the village centre past pretty Forest properties and the Queen's Head pub.

A short Dorset walk that takes in some of the wonderful geological features of the Jurrassic Coast close to Studland. The walk also provides wonderful views across Swanage Bay.

The route starts at Woodfalls and follows a section of the Avon Valley Path through fields and woods to the charming village of Hatchet Green. You then pass Hale House and St Mary's Church before walking alongside the peaceful River Avon. At Woodgreen you can explore a rural community with a strong village identity. The walk returns via shady tracks and woods to Hatchett Green and back to Woodfalls.

Spot deer on this very short circular walk. This short stroll from Bolderwood car park leads you to a deer viewing platform overlooking fields where wild herds of fallow deer are regularly seen. From Easter to mid-September the herd is fed daily by one of the Forestry England keepers.

Wander into Bolderwood and back via the deer viewing platform. Starting from Bolderwood car park this meandering route leads you past the deer fields and some majestic trees, the oldest of which date back to 1860. Unfortunately a large number of trees were lost in the Great Storms of 1987 and 1991, but many new trees have been planted and more will be planted over the coming years.

Starting from Knightwood Oak car park, this walk visits the largest oak in the forest.

This is an easy walk through woodland, passing through the Arboretum which houses a beautiful collection of trees from many countries. The walk passes Scrag Hill Nursery and ends with a stroll down a short section of the Tall Trees Trail.

A short Dorset walk in the Isle of Purbeck enjoying the beautiful coastal scenery of St Aldhelms Head. The route uses a section of the South West Coast Path and is an ideal choice for a sunny afternoon.

A flat circular walk with views of two enormous redwoods and using a part of the Tall Trees Trail.

An easy waymarked walk through the Arboretum to experience the woodland and take in the variety of tree species. There are regular seats with backs to rest on along this route.

A woodland walk for all seasons. Stimulate your senses on this short trail around the Forestry Commission's Blackwater Arboretum, with its small but nationally important collection of trees from all over the world. Sensory information boards along the trail. This walk takes you past majestic conifers planted in the 1850s, some of the oldest Douglas fir trees in Britain and includes views of two enormous redwoods.

A lovely circular walk from Furzey Gardens that takes you through Minstead village and into the New Forest. It is a fairly easy walk although it can get muddy in places. The walk starts at Furzey Gardens Car Park (Free) where there is a delightful cafe serving drinks and light refreshments. Furzey Gardens are a charity to help people with learning difficulties and are open to the public. A reasonable donation is requested on entry.

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

Visit the Rufus Stone to discover the mystery surrounding the death of King William II. The route then follows quiet country lanes to the unspoilt village of Minstead where the famous detective writer and spiritualist Sir Arthur Conon Doyle is buried in the grounds of All Saints Church. Return via winding lanes and fields to Canterton and Brook.

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.

This walk starts in the village of Landford and explores the northern tip of the New Forest in Wiltshire among woodlands that were once Royal Forests. The walk follows a wooded path to a river ford and through pretty woods and fields to Hamptworth Farm. The route then follows the edge of a golf course to Langley Wood and to the little hamlet of Hamptworth before returning back over the ford to Landford.

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

Brockenhurst is a picturesque village in the heart of the New Forest surrounded by some of the loveliest Forest landscapes. Starting from the village with its famous watersplash, this varied walk takes you across grazed lawns and through riverside woodlands before skirting around the edge of the village to take in some great heathland views. Return through the village to Brockenhurst station.

This walk starts by passing St Mary's Church before winding through Copythorne Common and its interesting mix of woodland and open glades. The route then follows rhododendron and woodland edged tracks to the Cadnam River and the northern commons. Here you can watch ponies grazing before returning through Newbridge and Copythorne Common back to the start.

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.

Walk via the Solent Way through a nature reserve rich in wildlife. Along the route there are views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and the Needles and opportunities to watch the ever-changing bird life of Keyhaven Marshes. The path then cuts inland to follow an ancient highway behind the reserve before returning to Keyhaven.

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.

A circular walk from Frome to Whatley, then to Nunney along Nunney Combe and back to Frome via Critchill Farm.
It features the eastern end of the East Mendip Way.

This walk is intended as the return leg to the central section of the East Mendip Way from Shepton Mallet to Cranmore Tower and is originally published on the East Mendip Way Facebook page.