Gay Outdoor Club: Dorset Walks 2008

Contact details for Dorset Group

Tuesday 1 January. Throop/Briantspuddle. Walk off those Christmas excesses with a New Year walk. Meet Throop Clump on Bere Regis to Briantspuddle road opposite the minor road to Throop. A 5-mile walk is followed by lunch-time refreshments.

Sunday 13 January. Rempstone Forest/Purbeck Heath. Meet on B3351 Corfe Castle to Studland road at turning to Bushey (opposite Rollington Farm). 7½ miles. Lunch stop Halfway House, Norden (01929 480402).

Sunday 10 February. Lytchett Matravers/Morden. Meet at Lytchett Matravers village hall car park. 7½ miles. From A35 take turning signed Lytchett Matravers. At crossroads in village by Rose and Crown, turn left into High Street. The village hall car park is about 200 yards along on the left. Parking is also possible in High Street near shops. Lunch stop is at Cock and Bottle, Morden (01929 459238).

Sunday 9 March. Melbury Down/Ashmore/Tollard Royal. Meet on higher Shaftsbury road (signed Melbury Abbas from Blandford by-pass) just north of turning to Compton Abbas airfield. 8 miles. Lunch stop King John, Tollard Royal (01725 516207).

Sunday 13 April. Hardy Monument/Friar Wadden/Upwey. Meet at Hardy Monument on the Martinstown to Portesham road. Lunch stop is Upwey Wishing Well restaurant (01305 814470).

Sunday 11 May. Melbury Osmond/Melbury Park/Evershot. Meet in lay-by on A37 Dorchester to Yeovil road approx 1½ miles past turning to Evershot. 7½ miles. Lunch stop Acorn Hotel, Evershot (01935 83228).

Sunday 25 May. Stourhead/Bourton. Meet in National Trust car park at Stourhead (free!). Lunch stop White Lion, Bourton (01747 840866). 7½ miles. Possibility of visiting Stourhead Gardens after the walk to see the azaleas and rhododendrons (free to members but £6 approx otherwise).

Sunday 8 June. Longham/Stour Valley/Canford Magna. Meet in lay-by on A348 (Bear Cross-Longham-Ferndown-Trickett's Cross road), some 50 yards south of The Angel Inn, Oongham. 8½ miles. Lunch stop is Fox and Hounds, Little Canford (01202 872881). Tea afterwards.

Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 June. Weekend at Corscombe, which is north of A356 Frampton to Crewkerne road. Meet for 4-mile walk on Saturday or later for picnic supper around lakes. Bring gear for possible swim (please, as we do not want to frighten the fish), as well as own drinks. Camping space at farm if required. Walk on Sunday followed by tea and cake.

Sunday 13 July. Gore Cross(Bridport)/Pyemore/Waytown. Meet at /Gore Cross Business Park on A3066 Bridport to Beaminster road. 7½ miles. Lunch stop is Hare and Hounds, Waytown (01308 488203).

Sunday 27 July. Bowleaze Cove/Osmington Mills/White Horse Hill. Meet halfway along minor road from Overcombe Corner to Bowleaze Cove - which is off A354 (Warmwell to Weymouth road) - near the entrance to Roman Temple (signposted in brown). 8 miles. Lunch stop "The Sunray Hotel", Osmington village (01305 832148). The co-ordinator invited us back for tea afterwards.

Sunday 10 August. Pen/Uplyme/Dragons Hill. Meet in lay-by (the old road) on A35, 1 mile east of Raymonds Hill. 8 miles. Lunch stop Talbot Arms, Uplyme (01297 443136). Tea afterwards.

Sunday 14 September. Tarrant Gunville/Farnham. Meet in main street of Tarrant Gunville, NE of Blandford Forum. Park considerately, please. 7½ miles. Lunch stop Museum Inn, Farnham (01725 516261).

Sunday 12 October. Brockenhurst/Bank/New Forest. Meet in Forestry Commission car park near Balmer Lawn Hotel at Brockenhurst for a walk through old woodlands. 8 miles. Lunch stop The Oak, Bank (023 8028 2350). Tea afterwards.

Sunday 9 November. Langton Matravers/Priests Way/Swanage. Meet outside Langton Matravers church in High Street. Park as available in High Street and side roads. 7½ miles. Lunch stop Swanage, where there are numerous pubs and cafes.

Sunday 7 December. East Chaldon/Lulworth Cove/West Lulworth. Meet in walkers' car park on the minor road from Winfrith Church to East Chaldon. 7½ miles. Lunch stop either Lulworth Cove Hotel (01929 400333) or cafe in car park. Tea afterwards.

Saturday 13 December. Christmas Dinner. Details from co-ordimator.


For further information see the GOC Outdoors magazine.