Dorset Adventures

Explore the deepest, darkest corners of Dorset by foot, wheel or hoof. Discover hidden ruins, beautiful views and ancient monuments. Visit places where mystery exists but only traces remain. Follow the footsteps of our ancestors and escape into this wonderful landscape.

Go where the people don’t go, make the world your own.

Search for a place, theme, activity or era to find a self-guided adventure for you.

For a quick guide see Dorset Inspiration

Check out the Ultimate Jurassic Coast Drive

Or discover The Stourton Caundle Stile Trail

August’s Walk of the Month

🌤️🌱 Shapwick – from the River Stour into a Roman landscape 🌱🌤️

‘The most comprehensive site on walking in Dorset’ – Folde Bookshop

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Hand drawn maps are provided for every area mentioned. Prints are also available. See Map page for the full selection.

Articles by Tess of the Vale also feature in Dorset Magazine

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tessofthevale@gmail.com

Top 5 most popular walks of July

See Top 5 walks for more!

Walking Tour Operator of the Year 2025/6

Dorset Adventure Enterprise of the Year 2024

Dorset Adventure Enterprise of the Year 2023

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Recent Posts

Shaftesbury

by Tess of the Vale, posted in Walking

Travel through the layered landscape of Shaftesbury. Begin high on its chalk peak, and descend the iconic Gold Hill to the mills, manors and woodland that once sustained the great abbey founded by King Alfred. Follow forgotten lanes back up to the heights to circle the earthworks of the Iron Age hillfort that later rose … Continue reading Shaftesbury

Holton Heath

by Tess of the Vale, posted in Walking

From deep within the explosive landscape of the old Cordite Factory, where heathland meets the edge of Wareham Forest, discover the scattered ruins of both defence and industry. Cross the faint lines of forgotten tramways and follow paths named after colourful local characters, from witches to wayward clergy. Skim the thick woodland edge to the … Continue reading Holton Heath

St Nectan’s Glen

by Tess of the Vale, posted in Walking

From the blue horizon of the northern Cornish coastline, follow the magical waters of the River Trevillet. Weave between fern-lined paths and moss‑softened woodland, keeping to the trodden route over little footbridges and stepping stones. Climb up St Nectan’s Glen as it narrows to emerge at a rocky crest. Drop down into the gully of … Continue reading St Nectan’s Glen

Launceston Down

by Tess of the Vale, posted in Walking

Circle the mysterious landscape of Launceston Down. Climb up from the valley of the Crichel Brook onto Crichel Down, which was thrust into national debate during the post‑war fight over land. Step into the earthwork‑rich Launceston Down, scattered with unexplained humps and hollows that have shaped boundaries for centuries. With long views up the Tarrant … Continue reading Launceston Down

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