Nunney Castle and Brook (circular, easy)

Nunney Castle, Hugh Llewelyn, WIkimedia Commons

The walk: under three miles and mainly along well-maintained footpaths, this walk takes you past the round-towered ruins and moat of 14th century Nunney Castle along the brook. About half-way along there is the site of a Roman villa. Park either in the car park on the edge of the village or, if you’re starting or ending with a pint and lunch, the pub.

The pitstop: Head to the 17th century George Inn in Nunney for exposed beams, wood floors, a walled garden and a warm, dog-friendly welcome. The family-friendly menu includes pub classics as well as seasonal specials such as mussels and clams with a bacon and cider cream sauce and a baguette.

Tarr Steps, Exmoor (circular, easy)

The walk: The seven-span ancient clapper bridge over the River Barle is one of Exmoor’s most iconic landmarks, and this walk starts and ends with it. The beautiful two-mile walk takes you through dappled woodland and flowering meadows along the Barle. The shallow river is popular with children and dogs for paddling and getting wet: best to pack a towel and spare set of clothes before you repair for lunch.

The pitstop: The Tarr Farm Inn sits a stone’s throw above Tarr Steps and offers superior gastropub fare with a focus on locally-sourced ingredients and a fine wine list and beers. Eat in the large garden with views over the steps. Cornish seafood and Devon red ruby beef are staples but there’s something for everyone. A delicious red chard, mushroom and halloumi strudel with sweet and sour peppers sounds fabulous.

Batcombe – Spargrove (two-way, easy)

The walk: A gentle stroll through the meadows along the back of the river Alham, this route has no steep hills and is great for dogs. The route takes about half an hour each way, returning you to Batcombe, a sleepy, attractive village, with its Grade 1 listed church and gem of a pub, and not just any pub. For hardier types, the walk from Bruton to Batcombe is a fine one with one steep hill climb. Best to have a driver drop you in Bruton and meet you in the pub.

The pitstop: Chef Margot Henderson (famed co-patron of the Rochelle Canteen in Shoreditch) heads up the kitchen at The Three Horseshoes, so don’t expect chicken in a basket. Here you can enjoy signature bar snacks (mince on toast or a Cheddar toastie with a side of chips) or beautifully cooked classics such as her famed rabbit pie or pork chop with a roast onion and apple sauce in an achingly understated interior that’s straight out of a Farrow & Ball catalogue. The menu changes with the seasons and the walled garden offers yet another precisely designed backdrop for the stunning food.

Farnham and the Tarrant Valley (circular, easy-to-moderate)

The walk: Starting in the pretty village of Farnham, near Blandford Forum, this seven-mile walk takes you through the countryside in the heart of the Cranborne Chase. Park along the street near the Museum Inn and head off towards Chettle. Take the footpath along the edges of fields until you eventually pick up the Jubilee Trail that leads to Chettle and Chettle House past the church. A byway leads through the mature parkland of the estate before you emerge into more open farmland to the once very grand Vanburgh-designed Eastbury House. Now only a small wing remains. The path leads on to the village of Tarrant Gunville, with the Tarrant flowing freely under multiple footbridges. A grassy track from Marlborough Lane is steep in places leading round to a straight lane back to Farnham.

The pitstop: The Museum Inn (so-named after the 19th century early archaeologist General Pitt-Rivers, who housed a collection here in Farnham) is a 17th century pub that is equally welcoming to locals dropping in after work with their dogs, as it is to walkers, and visitors staying in one of its eight bedrooms. The imaginative menu ranges from classic Sunday roasts to smoked haddock fishcakes with mango curry sauce and poached egg. Dishes are beautifully presented in a friendly, stylish interior and the service is attentive but unfussy. There’s a good wine list and Butcombe beers on-tap.

Porlock Weir and Culborne (circular, moderate)

Culbone Church, Maurice D Budden, Wikimedia Commons

The walk: Fishermen have been using Porlock Weir harbour since the 15th century, and a walk from the car park up through Yearnor Woods to Coleridge Farms combines spectacular views with stunning countryside. The moderate-to-strenuous climb is along well-signposted paths and in all covers six miles (about 2.5 hours for the fit). Early on you pass through tunnels that once formed part of Ashley Combe House, designed to allow unsightly tradesmen access without being seen. Ada Lovelace (the brilliant mathematician who was also Byron’s daughter) lived here. Other sights along the walk include the tiny, 12th century Culborne Church and the parsonage where Coleridge is thought to have written Kubla Khan, before the ‘visitor from Porlock’ disturbed his vision and curtailed the poem to its 54 lines. From the hillside top you have views of Porlock, the Bristol Channel and Wales beyond. The circular trail brings you back through old oak woods to the village and pub.

The pitstop: The Porlock Weir Hotel sits right on the water’s edge. Sit on the terrace and nosh on wood-fired pizzas (which you can also buy to take away), seafood, Porlock oysters, catch of the day, homemade burgers, fish and chips – or maybe an afternoon tea with a glass of fizz.

Worth Maltravers to St Aldhelm’s Head (moderate)

The walk: This four-miler follows a good track down to the old stone quarry at Winspit before joining the Coast Path along exposed clifftops to St Andhelm’s Head. The village car park makes an excellent starting point, and you’ll pass the Square and Compass shortly after you leave. Although craggy and high, there are only gentle climbs along this route and the path is clearly signposted and easy to follow. At St Aldhelm’s Head is a square, stone chapel built to commemorate the 8th century Bishop of Sherborne, later canonised as St Aldhelm, and views from the promontory it commands are suitably transcendent.

The pitstop: Traditional, hearty pies and pasties with award-winning ciders: what could be more Dorset? Children will enjoy the Fossil Museum stuffed with treasures chipped out of the local Kimmeridge clay and Purbeck stone. Grab a stone table at The Square & Compass outside for a summery lunch, or check out the pub’s Facebook page for details of their live music gigs on long evenings.

Symondsbury Circular (circular, moderate-to-challenging)

The walk: Starting in Symondsbury, here’s a walk that offers a long 11-mile trail for the fitter Muddy and shorter three-mile option that circles Colmers Hill (but we recommend the longer route if you want to explore more of the coast). From the village car park, follow the trail to Colmers Hill with its views across the countryside and coastline. Keep dogs on a lead during this part of the walk as there are almost always sheep. From Colmers Hill follow the track across Eype Down and the coastal path to West Bay. Stop at the ice-cream kiosk before following Monarch’s Way north along the River Asker to Bridport past Walditch to St Andrew’s Well and Watton Hill before returning you to Symondsbury.

The pitstop: Take a seat on the sunny terrace of the Symondsbury Kitchen on the Symondsbury Estate for breakfasts, small plates (like courgette fritti, salmon pate), large plates (tempura battered fish, salads and mezze boards), homemade burgers and sourdough toasties. Did we mention their cakes?

Golden Cap (circular, challenging)

The walk: The route up to the highest point on the south coast from the National Trust carpark in Seatown is steep and challenging, but the views right across the Jurassic coast are unrivalled. Pick a clear, but cool, day and you will be rewarded with one of the highlights of the South West Coastal Path. The route to the summit takes you through woodland and the largely abandoned hamlet of Stanton St Gabriel. There are some steep stone steps, stiles and challenging inclines along the way but the rewards are great, particularly if you end with lunch or supper at the Anchor Inn, right on the beach at Seatown.

The pitstop: Festooned with multiple awards, The Anchor Inn is all scrubbed pine tables, wood floors, real ales and a sophisticated menu that goes well beyond traditional pub food. The views from the garden across the bay are sensational. Seasonal sea food (lobster, crab caught daily) is as good as any in the South West but the menu is stuffed with options for every foodie taste.

Here comes the sun: 8 wonderful walks in Dorset & Somerset – with pitstops

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