Night walking may be feared, especially by the daunting possibility of getting lost in the darkness, but there is nothing to be scared of. Everyone and everything is more likely to be scared of you! The world can become a different place, lived in by animals that don’t emerge until the sun has set. Our eyes adjust and, with the accompanying glow of monthly moon beams, it is never as dark as it first seems.
Walking at night can help quash the worries and better develop our own senses and awareness. It can make the brain more focused, sharpening attention to the natural surroundings while also improving our own sense of well-being. Wildlife can be rich, the sky filled with owls and the forests with deer and badgers.
Dorset is lucky to have a Dark Sky Nature Reserve at Cranborne Chase. This acknowledges the fact the it is one of the rare spots in the country which is not affected by any surrounding urban light pollution. The result is astronomical, but only truly appreciated when it is the blackest of nights.
Care, of course must be taken! Take a torch, fully charged, know your route and let people know where you are going!
The list below provides some good opportunities for safe night walking, some with the benefit of a sunrise or sunset if timed right!
On Cranborne Chase
Beach walks
Forest Walks
– Wareham
Hill Top Walks
