Ashley Forest, near Verwood, Dorset. "The Dump Walk".

We always call this the "dump walk". What a name for a beautiful walk. The walk goes through the undulating pine trails of Ashley forest, up sandy trails, past ancient burrows, up to the lookout and along the tree tops trail before returning to Ringwood road. 

We park just past the dump and walk down the track tacking the second right track this takes you up a sandy track where at the top of the hill you turn left.

Shortly you will see a little path to your left, this path passes a number of burrows in the forest and takes you to the lookout. A great place for a picnic with good benches.

Now keep going down the track until you come to a wide track. Here cross straight over and this will take you to another track where you turn left and then left again to the tree tops trail.

After that turn left again and keep on this track back to the car. A great walk to do with dogs or children.

Plumley Wood, Ringwood Forest

Walking from the Chase this morning, keeping to the cross over track and turning left after the hill (not the Somerley path) up to Plumley wood. Turning left again at the third path with a wire fence next to it. This takes you past the barrows and down to the main track by taking a left again at the bottom of the little hill. Takes about 1h to 1.30h.

Caussiniojouls, A walk in the Languedoc.

Caussiniojouls. Easy. 6km/2h. blue markers. A pretty walk up from the lovely little village with 10th century castle and lovely church with a square tower. 

Park beside the Mairie and you will see the walk sign for L' Estelier. Follow blue signs up the hill past the little picnic area and through the lovely holme oak woods. Lovely views here to the south and towards the sea and the Pyrennes.

Keep to the small path, which crosses the larger cycle track and then runs parallel with it. Keep left until you reach a lovely col. le Ploch . Here there are beautiful views to the north of the Caroux, Monts de Orb, and also to the east. 

After the col, the track goes down to a  large area of tracks that converge. Take the wide track to your left with comes down to the col des Fontestes where you will find an old stone capitelle. Keep on this wide track down to the village.

Once in the village turn left and then you will see the castle. Follow the blue signs down though the village back to the car park.

Caussiniojouls, a pretty walk with lovely views, a castle and an historic village. Languedoc.

The little village of Caussiniojouls snuggles beneath the hills between Faugeres and Cabrerolles, with it's 10th century castle and a pretty church with a square bell tower.

You can walk through the village and enjoy all the history of the village explained on the many boards provided.

Lots of lovely views even from the village, but if you take a walk on the trail you will enjoy many more. There is a little picnic area in the woods at the start of the trail too.

Caussiniojouls. Easy. 6km/2h. blue markers. A pretty walk up from the lovely little village with 10th century castle and lovely church with a square tower.

Park beside the Mairie and you will see the walk sign for L' Estelier. Follow blue signs up the hill past the little picnic area and through the lovely holme oak woods. Lovely views here to the south and towards the sea and the Pyrennes.

 Keep to the small path, which crosses the larger cycle track and then runs parallel with it. Keep left until you reach a lovely col. le Ploch . Here there are beautiful views to the north of the Caroux, Monts de Orb, and also to the east. 

After the col, the track goes down to a  large area of tracks that converge. Take the wide track to your left with comes down to the col des Fontestes where you will find an old stone capitelle.

Keep on this wide track down to the village. Once in the village turn left and then you will see the castle. Follow the blue signs down though the village back to the car park.

Artenac. St Pons, A walk in the Languedoc.

Artenac. St Pons. 4.5km 1h.30m Easy. Yellow way marking. A short but interesting walk with lovely views of the Black mountains, the Jaur valley, St Pons and the Espinouse. 

Start by parking at the swimming pool and walking along the old railway track (Piste vert). You will pass through two tunnels and shortly after the second one you will come to a sign post, turn left and go up to a bridge turning left again onto a track going uphill. 

The track comes near to a road, just before the road you will see the right turn. Then the will be another right turn quickly after which goes up hill onto a small track with more views down to the valley bellow (south).

Then track curves left and down alongside a dry stone wall into chestnut woods. You descend through the woods with views down to St Pons (north now). 

The little path now joins a bigger track where you take a right turn and very quickly a left onto a grassy track. Keeping left again you go down a wider track which join one coming from the right. Take this track down pass a couple of houses to the car park.