Walks you can reach from Dorchester West by train

Chalk downland, dry hanging valleys, rounded hills, broad ridges, chalk streams, picturesque villages and historic churches.

Time: 7h

Warnings: Six hilly ascents.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Somerset Levels fringes, hillock, quiet residential streets, charming market town, dry green valley, ancient holloway, pastures, shallow river valley, hillfort plateau, steep ascents, large WWII airfield remains and broad plateau with views.

Time: 7h

Warnings: Steep ascents and descents.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

South Somerset pastures, wooded ridge forming the Wiltshire/Somerset boundary, hanging woods, landscaped estate gardens with lakeside walks, grassy U-shaped valley and honey-coloured stone-built town.

Time: 5h30

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Recommended: Some great views. Mostly across fields, some arable and some pasture but largely empty and with stretches of quiet lane walking. Well maintained and easy to follow. The ground can develop short muddy sections in winter. Mostly follows the Macmillan Way, so it is well waymarked. Passes through the landscaped estate of Melbury Park.

Time: 4h30–9h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Railwalks (inc. GPX).

Great views; picturesque. Hill and moorland paths and with substantial climbs.

Hilly: a quarter on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Time: 5h–10h

Walk details: Railwalks.

Fine views over the surrounding countryside. A very rural route following the Macmillan Way: pasture and arable farmland, quiet lanes and footpaths through Honeycombe Wood. Poorly maintained and overgrown in places, with muddy fields and field exits and fine countryside views. Follows the Macmillan Way; combines well with the Yetminster-to-Crewkerne route.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: The trail is poorly maintained: expect overgrown stretches and stiles, many through reclaiming hedgerow (difficult and low for tall walkers), and nettles. Fields and Honeycombe Wood get very muddy in the wet, and some paths are hard to spot. Cattle (including a bull on one occasion) graze some fields.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Visit Dorset.

Rural walking through fields, but with a section in the middle that is hard to follow on the ground without GPS or map and compass and can be impassable, with bramble nests and blocked stiles and overgrown hedges. Can be reached part-way at South Brewham.

Time: 5h–10h

Warnings: A section in the middle (between Jerrards Farm and Hentshill Farm, and around Colinshayes to South Brewham) can be completely overgrown and impassable, with blocked stiles, forcing a road diversion. Not a beginner's route; navigation aids are essential.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

South Somerset pastures, wooded ridge, hanging woods, landscaped estate gardens with lakeside walks and grottoes and classical temples.

Source: An alternative variant of Bruton Circular via Stourhead – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).