Take a Hike: A perfect potter from Pilsdon Pen | 8.1

A moderately energetic but incredibly peaceful circular West Dorset walk (as it’s West Dorset, you can obviously expect plenty of upping and downing!) through the undulating heart of the least populated part of the county. Starting at the free car park at Pilsdon Pen and once you leave the National Trust hilltop you’ll be lucky to see another person on the whole route!

All images © Laura Hitchcock

The route is well signed and easy to follow, switching between some of the biggest long distance Dorset trails (the Jubilee Trail, the Monarch’s Way, the Liberty Trail and the Wessex Ridgeway). It’s a varied route, mostly across open farmland, but with some small patches of woodland and crossing lots of small streams (all easily bridged or passable, even in February) and there’s a permanent sense of peace. We chose not to go over Pilsdon Pen, but if you’ve never been before, do go up and over for the wonderful views – come down the back end, there is a gate which allows direct access to pick up the route again. Click here for more notes, images and an interactive map (plus a downloadable gpx file) a warm sunny day

We have always created and recently walked the routes we feature (See all previously-published routes here), so you know you can trust them. We aim for unpopulated routes with no roads and big views! You can see all our routes (including many which are unpublished in The BV) on Outdoor Active, and all include a downloadable gpx file.

There be unicorns here…

The dark-edged bee-fly, with a fluffy round body, ridiculously long legs and a protruding tongue All images Jane Adams