Compare prices for books and maps on

 WALKING IN DORSET

Bestwalks home page     England Menu    Freewalks- in this area and across Britain
 

LONG DISTANCE PATHS RUNNING THROUGH THE REGION ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN WHITE
 

100 Walks in Dorset,  - Part of a series for the keen walker, this book features 100 route descriptions of circular walks ranging from 3-12 miles in Dorset. Each walk has a map, points of interest and places to eat and drink en route, plus suggestions for easy car parking. Dorest has some of the most interesting coastline east of Cornwall, such as Portland and Lulworth Cove. Perhaps it is best known as the centre of Hardy's Wessex. Keen walkers will also enjoy the Purbeck Hill, Cranborne Chase and Lyme Regis areas. Published February 95.	AA 50 Walks - Dorset - Walking is one of Britain's favourite leisure activities, and this guide features a variety of mapped walks to suit all abilities. The book features all the practical detail you need, accompanied by fascinating background reading on the history and wildlife of Dorset, as well as other local points of interest. All walks are annotated with places to visit along the way, including tea rooms and pubs, with extra details on their character and the food on offer. Every walk is given a summary of distance, time, gradient, level of difficulty, type of surface and access, landscape, dog friendliness, parking and public toilets. Published Feb 09. New Edition April 13 available for pre-order.	Footpaths for Fitness: Dorset, Anne-Marie Edwards - The 20 graded, circular routes vary in length from 2 - 6 and a half miles and have been designed as a simple programme for those who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Each route has been given a grade from 1 to 3 to indicate the level of effort required and an estimation of the calories burned during the walk. The routes give the walker the chance to experience Dorset at its very best. Published April 09
South West Coast Path, Dorset and South Devon Coast - Plymouth to Poole Harbour, Henry Stedman and Joel Newton.  Published February 13.  Available for pre-order.	Dorset, Pathfinder Walks, Brian Conduit - Dorset must rank as one of the most unspoilt counties in England. Dominating the landscape are the chalk downs open, sweeping, grassy uplands that stretch from the former forest lands of Cranborne Chase on the Wiltshire and Hampshire borders right across the middle of the county to the coast. The many ridge-top footpaths (including one starting from Cerne Abbas which ends with the Cerne Giant in all its glory) that cross these downs provide splendid walking and a succession of panoramic views. Published November 08.	All Terrain Pushchair Walks Dorset, Marie Houlden - Situated at the very South of England, Dorset benefits from magnificent coast lines, beautiful country parks, stunning areas of natural beauty and history and wildlife in abundance. The 25 walks will allow the reader to experience amazing views, historic sites, fascinating and quaint market towns and gain information on accessible family attractions. The walks vary the length, coving mixture of terrains and different types of environment, so that there is something for everyone. Published July 12.
Dorset AA 30 Walks (Cards) - This original concept takes the most popular walks from the AA's best-selling and newly updated walks database and packages them on individual laminated cards in a durable box. The small and handy size means that the box can be stowed away in a pocket or handbag and single cards extracted at each walk start point. Clear and concise instructions plus a full-colour route map make the cards a joy to use. Published March 10.   Walking in Purbeck, Andrew Bibby.  Published April 10. A Dozen Dramatic Walks in Dorset, Simone Stanbrook-Byrne and James Clancy. Published May 12.	Ramblers Short Walks in Dorset - A practical little walk guide to Dorset endorsed by the Ramblers. All the walks are 5 miles or under in length and can easily be completed in less that 3 hours. 20 walks are included and use clear Ordnance Survey maps to show the route plus easy to follow walk descriptions. The southern English county of Dorset contains stunning coastal scenery and beautiful rural countryside waiting to be explored. The area is famous for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, which features landforms such as the sublime Lulworth Cove, the impressive shingles of Chesil Beach, and the great natural arch of Durdle Door. This guide, produced in co-operation with the Ramblers and featuring Ordnance Survey mapping, is the perfect way to get out and enjoy the stunning scenery. This compact little guide contains walks, all of which are 5 miles or under, which are ideal for an afternoon stroll. Published March 11. K	Kiddiwalks in Dorset, Nigel Vile - Here is a book of twenty safe walks devised with active children in mind. Packed with fun things to see and do, each circular route offers a great outing and passes the Kiddiwalks 'S' test. That means Simple routes with not too many hills and climbs; Short routes - all less than 3 miles; Stimulating - with nature trails to follow, beaches to investigate, wide open spaces to run in, birds to spot, and ancient ruins to explore. And of course Stops - from tea gardens and ice creams to cafes and family friendly pubs with good food! With maps and photographs.   Published April 08.
A Boot Up Mid Dorset, Rodney Legg - Mid Dorset is dominated by the chalk massif of the Dorset Downs. This was sheep country, for a generation after Thomas Hardy's time, until most of the flocks melted away during wartime ploughing and the agricultural revolution of the 1960s. Many of the ancient monuments have escaped the plough but great expanses of Celtic fields and settlements lie under prairie-sized fields of grain. It is on the escarpments and hilltop ridges where patches of natural downland have survived. The characteristic flora comprises distinctive chalkland plants which flourish on impoverished alkaline soils. Several areas of open country, designated as such for public access, are crossed en route. Though the area is ringed by country towns its heartland is as sparsely populated as anywhere in Dorset. In places the road system is also minimal - which makes the paths network even more important. The ten circular walks, ranging from 3 to 8 miles, suit the needs of families, groups of friends or individuals looking for a gentle stroll or a longer walk, and reflect the many varied facets of the area - its people, its history, and its working landscape and will help first time visitors to experience some of the great scenery the area has to offer. Many of the walks feature a pub along the route. Published April 11.	A Boot Up Dorset's Jurassic Coast, Rodney Legg - Rodney Legg provides all the answers in ten walks, packed with colour photographs, along Dorset's unique World-Heritage Jurassic Coast. In hardback, small enough to slip into the pocket, colourful enough to keep as a souvenir, the new Boot Up Guide will be the indispensable bench-mark for the twenty-first century. Published March 10.	A Boot Up Purbeck, Rodney Legg - The Isle of Purbeck in Dorset is England in microcosm. Geology, which has thrown together several very different landscapes in the space of 70 square miles, provides the raw materials for a story that unfolds on the ground. Underneath, Mesozoic dinosaurs have left footsteps set in stone from the mud of warm lagoons, contemporary with the above-ground Fossil Forest. These are prize treasures of the Jurassic Coast which was designated by Unesco in 2001 as the first natural World Heritage Site in Great Britain. It also boasts classic landform features ranging from Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove to Old Harry Rocks and Studland's sands. Literary associations abound, from Thomas Hardy to Enid Blyton, and we meet the military in the form of Colonel T.E. Lawrence of Arabia and The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.  The ten circular walks, ranging from 3 to 8 miles, suit the needs of families, groups of friends or individuals looking for a gentle stroll or a longer walk, and reflect the many varied facets of the area - its people, its history, and its working landscape and will help first time visitors to experience some of the great scenery the area has to offer. Many of the walks feature a pub along the route. Halsgrove's new-format guidebook, containing maps, photographs and useful information will ensure a great walking experience. Packed with colour, the book is an ideal reminder of a visit to the area. Published July 09.
A Boot Up Blackmore Vale, Rodney Legg - The name Blackmore Vale sums up the historic character of this area, once a royal hunting ground - a "forest" for sport rather than trees. This undulating landscape of the River Stour and its main tributaries forms the heart of northern Dorset, below the escarpments of the Dorset Downs to the south and Cranborne Chase to the east. Doyen of Dorset walkers Rodney Legg has chosen ten of his favourite walks in the area, ranging around Stour Provost and Fifehead Magdalen, Marnhull and Hinton St Mary, Lydlinch and Stock Gaylard, Fifehead Neville and Plumber Manor, Sturminster Newton and Cutt Mill, Fiddleford and Hammoon, Okeford Fitzpaine and Shillingstone, Habledon and Hod, Hazelbury Bryan and Mappowder, Bulbarrow and Woolland. Published March 11	Coastal Walks in South West England, Sue Viccars - Are you planning a holiday to Devon, Cornwall or the Jurassic Coast? Do you enjoy a walk with stunning coastal scenery? The South West Coast Path is the UK's most popular National Trail with Tintagel voted the best walk in Britain in a survey of 4,000 readers of Country Walking magazine. Pathfinder Guide to Coastal Walks in South West England takes walkers and holidaymakers to the most scenic sections of the South West Coast without needing to walk all 635 miles. Selected from Pathfinder Guides covering South West England, this collection of 30 coastal walks ranges from 2-13 miles in length and is suitable for walkers of all abilities. With walks ranging from family rambles to challenging hikes, each circular walk takes in some of the many delights of the dramatic coastline of South West England from Somerset and Devon to Cornwall and Dorset. Each walk in Pathfinder Guide to Coastal Walks in South West England is accompanied by clear, large-scale Ordnance Survey route maps and GPS waypoints to help you navigate your walk with ease. There is also a wealth of useful information accompanying each walk, including good pubs nearby and places of interest en route. Published May 11.	Walking the South Coast of England, David Bathurst - A Complete Guide to Walking the South-facing Coasts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire (including the Isle of Wight), Sussex and Kent, from Lands End to the South Foreland. Every year, people flock to England’s south coast to visit heritage sites or simply to relax on the beach. But to see the real beauty that these glorious counties have to offer, pick up this detailed guide to some of the best walking in Britain. David Bathurst has walked 650 miles of coast, taking in breath-taking natural landscapes and significant landmarks on the way. With rugged cliffs and ancient cathedral cities, historic ports and wonderful wildlife, there’s something for everyone; whether you’re a seasoned hiker ready to take on the entire walk, or a summertime stroller who wants to experience this rewarding ramble in smaller doses. Published May 08
Pub Strolls in Dorset, Anne-Marie Edwards - Thirty short, circular walks based on good local pubs. Includes routes near Bridport, Weymouth, Swanage, Dorchester, Blandford, Shaftesbury and Sherborne.  Published March 01.	Pocket Pub Walks in Dorset, Nigel Vile - Fifteen circular walks, of between 3 and 7½ miles. Each route is based on a local pub serving good food. Includes routes near Lyme Regis, Sherborne, Blandford, Wimborne, Weymouth and Poole. With maps and photographs. Published December 98.	Exploring the Bournemouth Coast Path - Leigh Hatts - This guide divides the path into eight sections and each is accompanied by a sketch map, photographs, clear walking directions and information about points of interest along the way.  Published June 05.
Dorset, Jarrold Short Walks - Dorset remains one of the most unspoilt and unchanged counties in England and has much to offer the walker. Inland the Dorset scenery is stunning, and while the gradients are rarely taxing the chalk uplands and limestone hills afford some fantastic views across south-west England. It is a county with a rich literary heritage and the Blackmoor Vale around Sturminster Newton is the backdrop to one of Thomas Hardy's best-loved works, Tess of the Durbevilles. From maritime history, short, rugged coastal walking and marine discovery, to gentle rambles in verdant scenery among charming villages, the Dorset landscape is perfect for all ages. Published November 08.	Walks into History, Dorset, John Wilks - The lively and informative walks in this guide take you past sites of vast hill forts, medieval castles, smugglers' coves, and bloody battles whose outcome altered the course of England's history. The circular walks explore some of the most beautiful countryside in England. They vary in length between 3 - 71/2 miles and can be undertaken by everyone including the young, the not-so-young and the not-so-fit. The subjects of the walks include Cerne Abbas, and its giant hill figure; Maiden Castle where a last stand was made against the might of Rome's XXth legion; the port and Georgian resort of Lyme Regis; and Tolpuddle, the village where some of the earliest rights of working men were fought for.  Published May 07.	Walking in Dorset, Joan Baqbie - Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Published March 11.
A Round Dorset Walk, Steven Crockford - A Round Dorset Walk is a long-distance route of 181 miles, on ancient paths and trackways, on the perimeter of one of the most remarkable counties in England. From the stunning Poole Harbour beneath the Purbeck Hills, the walker sets out towards the peaceful downs of Cranborne Chase, across the rolling hills of Blackmore Vale and Marshwood Vale, finally to return to the dramatic coastal path from which the walk began, there to complete a journey through 250 million years of history. Whether it is achieved in one challenging effort, or in a series of stages, it is a very special journey around a beautiful and often unexplored part of Britain, that will live long in the memory of anyone who completes it.  Limited availability. Published July 06. Pub Walks in Hardy's Wessex, Mike Power & Brenda Flint. Limited availability. Published November 97. Adventurous Pub Walks in Dorset, Anne-Marie Edwards - 20 circular walks varying in length between 7 and 12 miles, and based on good local pubs. Includes routes near Symondsbury, Osmington Mills, Gussage All Saints, Studland and Sherborne. With maps and photographs.  Limited availability.  Published April 03. Family Walks in Dorset, Nigel Vile - 16 walks of between 1 and 6 miles. Limited availability.  Published 95.	Walk Dorset, Charles Davis - There is a genuinely enduring patch of England that matches and improves on the bucolic clichés, a place where modern services collude with picturesque villages and unspoiled countryside to provide the perfect holiday destination, and where geology and history have conspired to fashion a landscape that can only properly be explored on foot. This book aims to take you into that real Dorset, a living vital place that would nonetheless be familiar to Hardy, and to ensure that, when you get there, you're not disappointed by a case of mistaken identity. All 30 walking routes and alternatives include: walking route summary, ratings for Effort Time Distance Ascents/Descents Refreshments and Vertigo risk, fully detailed walk description including frequent timings to aid navigation and check your progress, GPS waypoints at every key point on every route, full colour 1:40,000 scale Ordnance Survey licenced mapping for each route, short walk and stroll alternatives.  Published January 06. Walk! Dorset, CD Rom, Charles Davis.  Published November 09.

MORE MAPS AA Leisure Map South Dorset and Purbeck - A brand new range of 30 AA sheet maps utilising the 1:50,000 data supplied by the Ordnance Survey. The Leisure series uses optimised map coverage centered on the more popular areas of the country for leisure activities, including towns and rural areas. This map has the familiar look and style of OS mapping, with improved coverage of the featured areas. Published April 12 AA Leisure Map Weymouth and Central Dorset. Published April 12 South West Coast Path 6,  Sidmouth to South Haven Point (Walker's Route S) Harvey. Published Feb 09 Dorset County Atlas (A-Z County Atlas) - This A-Z map of Dorset is a spiral bound County Atlas containing 118 pages of coloured street mapping featuring all the major towns and villages, and 9 pages of road mapping covering the whole county. Published July 11

►BESTWALKS HOME PAGE AND FULL INDEX OR USE QUICK LINKS BELOW TO GO DIRECT TO ANOTHER AREA LONG DISTANCE PATHS BRITAIN GENERAL AVON BEDFORDSHIRE BERKSHIRE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE CAMBRIDGESHIRE CHESHIRE CHILTERNS COTSWOLDS CORNWALL DERBYSHIRE DARTMOOR DEVON DORSET DURHAM ESSEX GLOUCESTERSHIRE HAMPSHIRE HERTFORDSHIRE HEREFORDSHIRE LEICESTERSHIRE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE OXFORDSHIRE PENNINES ISLE OF WIGHT KENT LAKE DISTRICT AND CUMBRIA LANCASHIRE LINCOLNSHIRE LONDON NORFOLK NORTHUMBERLAND PEAK DISTRICT SHROPSHIRE SOMERSET & EXMOOR STAFFORDSHIRE SUFFOLK SURREY SUSSEX WARWICKSHIRE WORCESTERSHIRE WEST MIDS/HEART OF ENGLAND WILTSHIRE YORKSHIRE DALES NORTH YORK MOORS YORKSHIRE [OTHER] WALES [general] BRECON BEACONS/ BLACK MTNS CLWYD DYFED GLAMORGAN & GOWER GWYNEDD POWYS SNOWDONIA ANGLESEY SCOTLAND [general] SOUTH-EAST SCOTLAND SOUTH-WEST SCOTLAND ARGYLL & BUTE STIRLING PERTH & KINROSS, ANGUS AND FIFE NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND [Aberdeenshire, Moray, Cairngorms] HIGHLANDS ISLANDS IRELAND [general] NORTHERN IRELAND WEST OF IRELAND EAST OF IRELAND SOUTH OF IRELAND

AUTHORS/PUBLISHERS Listing information           LOCAL LINKS Do you have a website with content relevant to the subject matter of this page. Anything at all to do with the area? Add your link here Footscape - the specialists in self guided walking holidays in Dorset Northwood Cottages - 4 star b and b in the beautiful Blackmore Vale. Dorset Holiday Accommodation iknow-dorset accommodation Farm Cottages in Dorset

If you are looking for a book which is not listed here or find a broken link, please email me.