Gillingham Walks
Gillingham, Dorset, is an excellent location for walking enthusiasts due to its picturesque landscapes, rich history, and accessible countryside. Here’s why it’s particularly good for walking for pleasure:
1. Beautiful Countryside
- Gillingham is surrounded by the stunning Dorset countryside, which is part of the Blackmore Vale. The undulating terrain offers a mix of gentle walks and more challenging routes.
- You’ll find a mix of farmland, woods, rivers, and hedgerows, making each walk visually engaging.
- Gillingham has deep historical roots, including its mention in the Domesday Book. Walking trails can lead to , historical landmarks and old churches.
2. Accessible Trails
- Well-Marked Paths: The area boasts numerous public footpaths and bridleways, making it easy to explore without getting lost.
- Circular Walks: Many walking routes around Gillingham are designed as circular paths, so you can start and finish in the same location.
- The White Hart Link is a 50 mile / 80 km walking route which has been devised as a circular link taking in the five historic market towns of North Dorset and the villages between. Using existing public rights of way and quiet lanes, it passes through some of the iconic countryside of the Blackmore Vale.
- The Stour Valley Way: This long-distance footpath passes near Gillingham, following the River Stour and offering both scenic and historical points of interest.
3. Wildlife and Nature
- Rich Biodiversity: The area is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including birds, otters, deer, and wildflowers, providing plenty of opportunities for nature observation.
- Rivers and Streams: The River Stour and its tributaries enhance the charm of walks with serene waterside views.
4. Community and Amenities
- Welcoming Villages: Nearby villages and towns like Shaftesbury add to the appeal, with pubs and tea rooms offering refreshments after a walk.
- Walking Groups: Gillingham has a vibrant walking community and organized walking events, so you can enjoy the experience with others.
Whether you’re after a leisurely stroll, a challenging hike, or a walk steeped in history and natural beauty, Gillingham offers something for everyone.
Walkers are Welcome Group
Gillingham, Dorset gained accreditation to the national Walkers are Welcome Towns network in 2015.
They run the annual Gillingham Walking Festival, lead weekly and monthly walks, have a monthly footpath working party, produce guides to local walking routes and they work in conjunction with the Countryside Rangers on projects to maintain and improve the rights of way network.
Eight varied walks, all except one starting from the Town Meadow at the bottom of Gillingham High Street. Click the walk links below to download walk description and points of interest together with a map.
Walk 1: GILLINGHAM’S CROOKED MILE – 4.5 MILES
Walk 2: JUDGE WYNDHAM’S OAK – 6.5 MILES (This walk is signed from the High Street bus shelter with BLUE waymarkers)
Walk 3: KINGSCOURT – 3 MILES
Walk 4: LODBOURNE AND BAY – 1.25 MILES (This walk is signed from the High Street bus shelter with GREEN waymarkers)
Walk 5: SHREEN WATER AND BOWRIDGE – 2.5 MILES
Walk 6: CHANTRY FIELDS AND WYKE – 2.5 MILES
Walk 7: LANES OF LANGHAM – 4 MILES
Walk 8: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CONSTABLE – 3 MILES (This walk is signed from the High Street bus shelter with RED waymarkers)
Gillingham Orienteering
A free to use public orienteering course has been created for Gillingham, linking urban and rural green spaces and parks.
Gillingham Town Council has worked in partnership with Public Health Dorset and the Clinical Commissioning Group to develop an Urban Orienteering Trail.
Families are invited to use the course and have a go at orienteering, find as many markers as they can and learn some basic navigation skills. People can walk or run the course at their own pace or make it competitive to see who can find all the points and finish first between family and friends. The orienteering course is an opportunity to create some healthy competition or have a relaxed stroll while finding the markers, like a treasure hunt.
There are three courses:
Accessible Course (3.0k All controls by paths)
Long (3.6k with some controls off paths)
Score Course (Find all 25 controls in ANY order)
Gillingham Orienteering Map 2024 click here to download
The course is permanent, so people can complete the routes as many times as they like and hopefully improve their finish times each visit.
Parking at Gillingham Town Library & Museum or Waitrose. Chantry Fields,Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4UA . The Start/Finish markers and information board are near the library.
Alternatively, map printing is available from the library during opening hours, at a small cost, or on the MapRun app
