We love getting outside with the children as much as we possibly can, but when we have little legs to think about, longer walks can become impossible. So it is great to know some easy circular walks that the kids can do and parents will enjoy, too!
River Frome Walk (25-30 mins each way)
There is a very easy river walk along the River Frome in Dorchester, that is made extra enjoyable by the addition of a pub at the end! You can start this walk either from the cut in on London Road, or further up at Hangmans Cottage (accessible from Glyde Path Road). Parking can be in any of the town car parks or on the street. Easiest parking for beginning at the top would probably be outside the Old Library / Council buildings, and for starting on London Road I would park in the Durngate Street car park behind the San Telmo fish and chip shop / opposite the Dinosaur Museum.
This walk takes you along the riverside, past the allotments (if you start on London Road) and past the famous Hangmans Cottage, a beautiful historic cottage with weeping willow draping into the river. You follow the easy cycle path (little ones can scoot, ride bikes, or be in the pushchair) all the way around to a fork in the path. Here you can either carry on a more country route which is longer and muddier, or you can fork off over the little bridge and head towards the Sun Inn pub, a favourite of ours for their Sunday carveries!
The path is tarmac all the way and you will go over a couple of lovely little bridges that offer delight for children every time. Look out for swans, kingfishers, ducks and dog walkers! The best bit is rewarding everyone with a drink and some chips in the pub, which has a lovely garden complete with obstacle course to burn off any last remaining energy.
The challenge is keeping up the energy for the return journey! But thankfully it really isn’t too far and even easier if you have a pram you can pile the babies into.
Charminster Village Loop (25 minutes adults only)
Taking you slightly out of town to the nearby village of Charminster, there is a lovely little loop again incorporating a river that you can have a paddle in if you want! This walk is not suitable for a pram so you will need a sling for this.
Parking can be outside the Three Compasses pub in the Square in Charminster and you will walk down to St Mary’s Church from the Square – down a little alleyway we refer to as ‘Dragon Alley’ (because of the boiler from a house that lets out steam now and then like a dragon!) – the alleyway is opposite the phone box which is now a little lending library – pick up a book here if you like!
Next you go through the church yard and through the little gate where you will find the river and here you can have a little paddle if you want. Go over the bridge and head up towards Mill Lane, here you will pass the little orchard which is a lovely spot to stop for a picnic. Keep going up the hill and you will find another little footpath that turns off to the left. Follow this and keep going along the hedge line to the left under the tree canopy. This is a lovely little walk along the hedge line with bunnies in the field to the left and trees over and under foot. Watch out for roots and slippy mud!
You will next come across the gate into Princes Plot, a little meadow on a steep hill where you can run / roll / skip all the way down, not before enjoying the view at the top though! At the bottom we find another river and a little bench where we can rest weary legs. You carry on back around the corner here and along the little Mill Lane all the way back to the orchard and back over the river and alongside the church, back to your car. You can stop here for a drink in the Compasses which we recommend as a proper pub with friendly locals (booze / fizzy pop and crisps only!).
Poundbury
Starting off in Queen Mother Square you can enjoy a walk down through the pretty houses of Poundbury, snaking your way towards the huge ‘mega park’ at the Great Field. Here you will find a replica of the Buttermarket in tiny form – my one big important tip here is do not wear sandals! The gravel floor is super annoying with any sort of open toed shoe!
After a play in the mega park you can enjoy refreshments from PiPs Café, or take yourselves back up to Queen Mother Square to the Duchess pub or Olives et Al café which is attached to the garden centre. This is an easy walk that is perfect if you have limited mobility and need the security of roads and pavements. There does seem to be a micro climate on the Great Field though, so I would say wrap up warm! The wind does get incredibly gusty up there!
The Roman Walk
You may be aware of Dorchester’s great Roman history, and the beautiful avenues of trees that run all around the town. For a gentle but fairly long walk, park up at the Top O’ Town and start walking down towards the centre. You will come across the tree lined avenues that start at Top O Town roundabout and run all the way around the town. I would take a walk down towards Borough Gardens from here, and all the way along, turning left at the bottom and heading towards the main shopping street.
This tree lined avenue – called Bowling Alley Walk – has been on the records since the 1600’s and leads onto South Walks, which goes all the way to Salisbury Fields, where you can see the Elizabeth Frink statue of the Three Martyrs, another famous piece of Dorchester history. Here you can enjoy the park at Salisbury Fields, or I would recommend carrying on a little into the residential area and going for lunch at Bean on the Green Café, on Fordington Green.
After the pit stop you can carry on down Salisbury Walk, another tree lined walk that will take you back to London Road. Here a bit further up you can join onto the River Frome walk mentioned above, which will take you back to Hangmans Cottage, and onto the tree lined walks of Northernhay and Colliton Park – here you can call in for a look around the Roman Town House too if you feel up to it.
This is a very long walk if you complete the whole loop, but you can take bikes, scooters or the pram to make it easier on little legs!
Maiden Castle
For a quick walk that is sure to burn off plenty of energy park up at Maiden Castle and run all the way to the top! Enjoy a race around the ramparts and back down again to the car. The view from the top is amazing and you might even be treated to some friendly sheep!
We love climbing all the way to the top and imagining what it would have been like to live here in the Bronze Ages!
Poundbury Hill Fort
Like the above you can park in Old Poundbury and enter the hill fort from a gate on the roadside. Here you can enjoy a fantastic view across the south of Dorchester and beyond. It’s a great place to just let everyone off the lead and let them run about as far as they like! The hill fort takes you round in a natural loop – of course you can go farther if you wish but this would take you on an adventure of unknown proportions!
I hope you enjoy getting out and about with your children on these walks around Dorchester - if you try a walk why not let us know?!
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