Take a Hike

The routes we feature have always been created and walked recently by ourselves, so you know you can trust them - we aim for unpopulated routes with as little road and as many views as possible! You can always see the route and follow it yourself via the free Outdoor Active app - see all our routes here.

Kingcombe Meadows Favourite - 13 miles

(for shorter versions there’s the obvious pinchpoint in the middle of the route - the Jubilee Trail joins the two sides and you can enjoy the full route as two shorter walks )

This is a beautiful and varied walk through Dorset’s stunning AONB, covering some ancient and untouched parts of the county - it’s one of the most ‘Dorset’ of our Dorset walks.

The route covers woodland, protected nature reserves and holloways. If you’ve never visited Kingcombe Meadows, it’s a wonderful step back in time with flower rich grassland, ancient hedgerows, rough pasture and wet woodlands, almost untouched by artificial fertilisers and pesticides, with a handy cafe & water point at the car park. Definitely worth a visit and explore.

The wonderful valley sitting between South Poorton and Loscombe Nature Reserves. The climb up is lung-burstingly STIFF - but the view is definitely worth it.

CLICK THE MAP TO SEE THE INTERACTIVE ROUTE ON OUTDOOR ACTIVE

My favourite path - C always has to stop and wait for me along here. I adore this track along a deep, secret streambed from South Poorton, overgrown with ferns and the water burbling over the stones underfoot.

The track through South Poorton Nature Reserve is just a footpath but feels like ancient drovers way

There are a lot of streams on this route (a favourite is the streambed section as you leave South Poorton, it’s truly magical on a sunny day) - beautiful in a dry spell, but probably quite sploshy in the wetter months!

All paths are clearly signed, and all stiles/gates easy to navigate. Number of people encountered - zero. Utterly unspoilt and tranquil walking, with just the birds and the odd cow for company.

Stop to apprecaite the views across the Dorset AONB before you descend into Powerstock.

Hambledon Hill. Loved by locals 5,500 years ago.