Worth Matravers to Corfe Castle

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Walk directions

Turn down the street for 80yds (75m) then right, up a path by a fingerpost signed ‘Hill Bottom’. Turn left through the first of three gates, walking behind the village. Turn right at another fingerpost (‘Hill Bottom’), up to cross the wall and continue down the next field. At the bottom bear left over the stile, walking down a narrow cutting to cross a stile at its foot.

Turn right on the Purbeck Way. Ignore a left fork to continue on the main track. The path runs up the valley, bending left as the valley divides. It turns right, then gently uphill (north). Go through the gateway at the top, ahead on a track. Go through a field gate to pass to the left of a farm to the road. Cross into the track opposite, signed ‘Purbeck Way’. As the track bends right, take the second path on the left, passing through a kissing gate. Continue down the left edges of three fields, left across a footbridge and back right. Pass through a gate, a copse and another gate, cross a boardwalk and two footbridges. Bear half left at a fingerpost (‘Corfe Castle’) to cross a further footbridge. Stay left as a wider grassy path comes in from the right and walk to the road.

Cross to a track on the other side. Bear round to the right behind houses to a gate. Follow the path towards the village centre. Head along a cul-de-sac, cross a road and head along an alleyway. Turn right, through a gate, and cross fields into a playground. Turn left, then right into West Street to the square.

At the castle entrance turn left on the path below the walls. Go left up the road and in 160yds (150m) left again through a kissing gate into fields. Cross them (southeast) over a pair of footbridges, to a car park. Bear right, then right again into West Street. At its end, go straight on over a cattle grid. Bear left (south) on a path across the heath with a view of Kingston and its church up ahead. Cross duckboards and go uphill, bearing right off the main path at a National Trust post signed ‘Kingston’. Turn right at a T-junction then take the first left to cross the crest to the right of a stone block. Following another NT signpost (‘Kingston’ again), head down to a hidden gate. After two footbridges, slant up and left to a hedge gap, then carry on over the next field to a gate, footbridge and duckboards beside the stream. Continue straight uphill, emerging from woods into a field. Carry on uphill, over two stiles as you cross a track. Above the next field, join an earth track below Kingston’s first houses.

Take the earth track up to the right. Immediately after a track junction, turn left, up through trees, then left at the top to a road. Turn right, soon taking the track on the left, signed ‘Houns Tout’. Follow this for 1.5 miles (2.5km) to the sea, and left along cliff tops. Descend steps, then cross a stile at the bottom. Head inland to a road. Turn right and follow it to its end, bearing left on a track signed ‘Coast Path’. Beside Hill Bottom Cottage bear right. Carry on for 150yds (140m) until the road swings right, and turn left up Hill Bottom. After 0.25 miles (400m) turn right over a stile; retrace your steps to the car park.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Village lanes, rocky lanes (slippery after rain), moorland tracks, grassy paths, steep cliff path with steps

Landscape - Fields and tracks, path, coastal path

Dog friendliness - Good, though some stiles challenging. On lead in Worth Matravers (free-range poultry) and in pasture around Corfe and Kingston

Parking - Car park just north of Worth Matravers

Toilets en route - At car park and at Corfe Castle by car park

Walks in Dorset Dog-friendly walks in Dorset

About the walk

Worth Matravers is a picturesque village of lichen-encrusted grey cottages. Men from here have worked the nearby quarries for centuries, and local stone was used to build Salisbury Cathedral. By contrast, the huge and toothy ruin of Corfe Castle seems to fill the gap in the wall of the Purbeck...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

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Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

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About the area

Dorset is made up of rugged coastlines, high chalk downlands and a chain of picturesque villages and seaside towns that make up Britain’s Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, noted for its layers of shale and numerous fossils embedded in the rock. Hidden gems of Dorset can be found down winding, country lanes that lead to snug villages hidden from view.