A fascinating 2 1/2 hour walk to appreciate the contribution made by Studland’s past industries to the local economy, including fishing, salt panning, hunting, livestock and minerals.

Includes a hot beverage at the start and finishes with a 2 course lunch at Knoll Beach Cafe.

Booking Essential on  01929 450259.

Studland: Wed 28 Jan 10.30am • £13

Enjoy a guided walk around Durlston with bird expert Hamish Murray on Sunday 17th January.

Meet at the Visitor Centre. Adults £3, Children £2

Durlston: Sun 17 Jan 10.00am

Join a Beach Ranger on a 2 hour winter walk on the harbour side and heath on Wednesday 14th January.

The price of £13 includes a hot beverage at the start and a 2 course lunch afterwards.

Booking Essential on 01929 450259. Meet at the Visitor Centre, Knoll Beach at 10.30am.

Studland: Wed 14 Jan, 10.30am • £13 incl. lunch

Enjoy a day’s walk looking at wintering birds around the spectacular Arne area on Sunday 11th January .

The walk starts in the morning at Arne, where Spoonbills often winter and Dartford Warblers appear on the heath.

After lunch at a nearby pub the walk will commence from Middlebere to look over tidal inlets of Poole Harbour. Avocets are usually feeding here and sometimes Hen Harriers fly over the reeds.

Book in advance by contacting Project Fred on 01425 673321 or by emailing project.fred@virgin.net.

Project Fred: Sun 11 Jan • £15

Gain an insight in to how Studland Beach is managed with a guided walk by its Visitor Services & Enterprise Manager.

Meet at Visitor Centre, Knoll Beach at 2pm - price includes a cream tea after the walk.

National Trust: £4.50 • Tel: 01929 450259

Clear away the Christmas cobwebs and enjoy a healthy hike around Durlston Country Park on Sunday 4th January.

Join a ranger to explore Durlston’s history, landscape and geology.

Durlston: 2nd January 10.30am: £3

Join a Ranger for a guided clifftop walk around Durlston and hear the fascinating tales of pirates and the many ships wrecked along the Dorset Coast on Sunday 21st December.

Meet at the Visitor Centre for a 2pm start. £3 adults, £2 children is made

Durlston: Sun 21 Dec • 2pm

Experience an invigorating and educational 2 hour bird walk on Studland beach and nature reserve on Wednesday 17th December.

Titled ‘Turkeys are not the only birds’ and led by a nature expert, the walk is followed by a 2 course lunch at Knoll Beach Cafe.

For tickets (£12 per person) contact Emma Wright at the National Trust on 01929 450259 or email emma.wright@nationaltrust.org.uk

Join bird expert Hamish Murray on a stroll around Durlston to see its winter bird-life on Sunday 7th December.

Meet at the Visitor Centre. Adults £3, Children £2

Durlston: Sun 7 Dec • 10.30am

Find out how the National Trust are reducing their impact on the environment through the recycling of waste, use of recycled materials, and eco-friendly building design.

The 2 hour walk will include a fair-trade beverage and a 2 course locally sourced organic lunch.

Booking Essential on  01929 450259. Meet at the Visitor Centre, Knoll, Studland.

Studland: Wed 5 Nov 10.30am-12.30pm, £13

Join a Ranger on a gentle stroll to discover Durlston’s wildlife, geology, history and more.

Meet at the Visitor Centre. Adults £3, Children £2

Durlston: Sun 14 September 2.30pm

Corfe Castle is the setting for a series of murder mystery walks at the end of July.

It is 1216, just after the death of King John, his niece, Princess Isabella is imprisoned in the castle……… come and investigate and try and solve a murder!

Booking Essential on 01929 480921. Prepare for the unexpected from 7.30pm.

Corfe Castle: £6 adults, children £5

Wessex Walking Weekend takes place on 28-29 June with a number of events in Purbeck.

Over on Brownsea Island there is the ‘Great Walking Weekend’ with walks all around the island.

The Three Quarries Walk on 28 June at 10.30am takes in some fascinating and mysterious quarries. Hear tales of hardship and danger when men and boys worked underground from dawn to dusk.  The walk is approximately 2 miles and booking is essential on 01929 480609. Meet in Car park at Acton, Langton Matravers (GR SY988787)

A Smuggler’s Tale walk at Corfe Castle promises a fascinating insight into the secret lives of smugglers. Quarrymen by day, as soon as night fell they lurked in coves and caves. Goods were loaded into waiting wagons and carried to Corfe Castle under cover of darkness.  Booking Essential on 01929 480609. Meet at Corfe Castle Ticket Office.

Enjoy a 2 hour evening walk on Studland Nature Reserve to hear and hopefully see one of the heathlands special summer visitors - the Nightjar.

Meet at Greenlands Farm, off Ferry Road, Studland and bring Bring a torch.

Booking Essential: Contact Angela Peters, 01929 450259, angela.peters@nationaltrust.org

Studland: June 17 8pm-10pm

The Thomas Hardy Society are organising a series of events to celebrate the famous author’s birthday on Saturday 7 to Sunday 8 June.

Saturday, 10.30am
Return of the Native walk
A 3-4 mile walk, led by Tony Fincham, on Egdon Heath in the footsteps of Eustacia Vye, visiting Rainbarrow, Mistover Knap & Blooms-end. The walk is free, but the Society would like to know numbers in advance.
Meet at Thorncombe Wood Car Park (map ref: NGR SY 725921)

3.30pm
Council Chamber, County Hall, Dorchester.
The Birthday lecture will given by Dr.Simon Gatrell, Professor of English at the University of Georgia, USA. (Title of Lecture to be confirmed)
Tickets: £6 (members £5), Students free (more…)