Stephens Castle, Vewood.

Stephens castle this morning. An easy walk (in fact pushchair and possibly wheelchair accessible, I say possibly as although the paths are good around the main heath area and their is a large metal kissing gate, the first slope is quite steep). This morning I walked up to the ponds )left and first right off the main track). The ponds are a super spot for pond dipping with children (a great half term activity, but remember to put the creatures back where you found them). There are four wooden observation platforms on the largest pond and identification boards around the pond. After the second pond I turned left and then right onto the sandy track that goes down to St Stephens Road. Just before you reach the road you can re enter the heathland, so turn right here and back up over the heath till you reach a left turn. This will take you back to the little path between Hillside school and the band hut.

Stephens Castle, Verwood.

An afternoon walk around Stephens castle with my dog. Lovely views up there towards Cranborne chase, Isle of Wight, Bournemouth and the Purbecks. So many trees you would never know that Verwood was hidden under them all. This walk is only a few minutes from the village centre, just behind the rec. Takes around 20 minutes. Circular.

Potterne Wood, Verwood.

Lovely circular walk at Potterne wood this morning. Complete with hide and seek, pooh sticks on the bridge over the Crane and throwing the ball in the river in Potterne park for our dog. What more could you ask for. We even found a fairy door in a tree, how lovely it must be to be three again!

Dewlands common, Verwood.

A pretty walk over both parts of Dewlands common. Takes around 40 minutes to 1 Hour. Easy. Start at Emmanuel middle school, Howe Lane. Walk down the unmade part of Margards lane to reach Horton Lane. Continue on until you reach the common and take the path leading south to your left. This path reaches a boardwalk and then after passing through a gated area continue down across this open area to reach the woods. (children love to make camps here with sticks or play hide and seek). Turn right and take the path through the little wood, then left onto the bridleway. As the path bears right continue up the side of the common on this bridleway. If wet you may rather rejoin the common path as the bridleway can be muddy. Continue north up the lane, passed a horse field to reach the second part of the common. Go through the gate and to your left is a small pond. This is a great spot for children to enjoy pond dipping (good half term activity but don't forget to put any little newts or insects back in the pond after you have looked at them, try taking a book with you top identify the creatures that they find, guaranteed to be a winner and free too). Now continue on the path to reach the gate and turn right. You can either go through the housing estate to reach Margards Lane or continue on to return to the lane once again where you turn left to return.

Potterne Wood, Verwood.

A short walk of about 20 minutes. Very Easy. (Can be muddy in the meadow in wet weather but dry at the moment). Starting at Potterne Wood close, cross the bridge and turn left. Walk through the lovely Potterne wood with all its birdsong. When you reach the bridge over the Crane, turn right and cross the meadow to return to the woodland. This is a great walk for dogs and families. Children will love the woodland where they can make camps and play hide and seek. It's also possible to cross the second bridge, turn right and return via Potterne park, where children can enjoy the play equipment and dogs enjoy the field.

King Down from Badbury Rings, Dorset.

King Down from Badbury Rings on the Kingston Lacy Estate today. B3082 from Wimborne Minster. Park in the main car park and then head north from the car park passing through two gates, then left and right to reach a small wooded area. Turn left walk to the next right turn in the tracks which passes a farm. Keep going on this long wide track until you reach a small footpath leading across a wheat field on a right turn. You will see two tumuli in the field, the second of which you can climb and makes a wonderful picnic spot to view the beautiful scenery. Now turn right onto the wide track and right again at the corner. This track passes a lovely bluebell wood on your left (there are little paths in the wood and it's very pretty at the moment). At the next junction you can chose to go left to the Eastern side of Badbury Rings(this is a wonderful route as you can walk across the whole hillfort and enjoy the views, bluebells and hillfort paths), or continue to the corner of the wood and return on the path that you started on. Allow at least 2 hours for this walk as you will want to walk around the hillfort itself and it's wonderful there. Easy walking.