Our favourite Dorset walks for Autumn

Autumn is a brilliant time to get out and explore Dorset on foot. The summer crowds have eased, after such a hot summer the countryside has already started to change colour and cooler days are perfect for a good walk.

We love Dorset and we enjoy exploring on foot, so let us take you to some of our favourite walks. From peaceful countryside and pretty villages to dramatic clifftop scenery, these five walks take in some of the best of Dorset. And, naturally, we've included a few suggestions for somewhere good to eat or enjoy a well-earned drink afterwards.

This isn't intended to be a detailed walking guide, but a taste of some of the places we love exploring. We've included a little about each walk to help you decide where you'd like to head, and links to more information where we have it.

Langton Herring

A classic Dorset countryside walk

Not far from Weymouth, the pretty village of Langton Herring makes a lovely starting point for a walk through the West Dorset countryside and out towards the beautiful Fleet Nature Reserve.

Expect quiet lanes, rolling farmland and plenty of those lovely Dorset views, with the landscape looking particularly good as autumn arrives. You can start your walk by parking at the Elm Tree Inn, a fantastic pub which reopened in summer 2025 after the villagers raised the funds to buy the pub. The pub welcomes walkers to park in their car park so long as you pay them a visit at the end of your walk, and why wouldn't you, real ale, delicious food and on cooler days a roaring fire, what more could you want?

Fish finger sandwich enjoyed at the Elm Tree Inn.

We've already put together a full guide to this walk, so rather than repeat it here, you can find everything you need to know about the route in our dedicated guide.

Read the full Langton Herring walk 

Old Harry Rocks & Studland

Big views and fresh sea air!

It might be one of Dorset's best-known walks, but Old Harry Rocks never really gets old. The walk around Studland and Ballard Down takes in some spectacular coastal scenery, with the famous chalk stacks providing the highlight.

The route takes you from Studland towards Old Harry Rocks and across Ballard Down, with wonderful views along the coast and back towards Poole Harbour. Autumn is a great time to explore this part of the Jurassic Coast, when the area is generally quieter and the changing season adds a different feel to the landscape.

There are sections of uneven ground and some steeper stretches, so sensible footwear is a good idea and it's worth checking the conditions before setting off.

Making the walk accessible

Studland also has a number of facilities to help more people enjoy this beautiful stretch of coast. The National Trust has beach wheelchairs available and you can also hire a Tramper, an all-terrain mobility scooter designed to help visitors explore areas that might otherwise be difficult to access.

There is disabled parking at Knoll Beach and a Changing Places facility, while beach matting makes Studland a great choice for families and those who need a little extra help accessing the beach.

And once you've finished your walk, there are several places nearby where you can stop for something to eat or drink, including Joe's Café, Bankes Arms Country Inn, Knoll Beach Café and the National Trust café at Knoll Beach, which is always popular.

Last time we visited for a stroll, we came across The Salt Pig above Middle Beach. If you're local to Dorset, you may already know this local business, which is expanding across the county at various locations. Expect local produce and delicious bites to eat – and importantly the coffee is exceptional!

Find out more about Studland 

Portland Bill

A walk at the edge of the island – and one of our favourite places!

Head to the southern tip of Portland for a circular walk around one of Dorset's most distinctive landscapes.

The route takes in the rugged coastline around Portland Bill, with plenty of sea views and the unmistakable Portland Bill Lighthouse along the way. In fact, there are three lighthouses to spot along the route: the Portland Bill Lighthouse, the Old Lower Lighthouse, now a bird observatory and holiday accommodation, and the Old Higher Lighthouse, which is now holiday accommodation and a private home.

There's something particularly atmospheric about Portland Bill out of season. It's a great place to watch the waves crash against the rocks.

Don't miss the lighthouse

Standing at the very tip of Portland, Portland Bill Lighthouse has been guiding ships around this notoriously hazardous stretch of coast for more than 100 years.

As well as admire its beauty, you can also take a tour inside the lighthouse and climb the steps to the top for incredible views.

Read our guide to the Portland Bill Lighthouse Tour 

And when you've finished exploring, there's no need to head straight home. Stop at The Lobster Pot for something to eat – we recommend their crab sandwiches, local Portland crab - delicious! Or call into The Pulpit Inn for food and a drink. The Pulpit Inn reopened earlier this summer and is proving a hit with locals and visitors alike.

Crab sandwich at the Lobster Pot Cafe

Find out more about Portland Bill 

Evershot & Melbury Park

Autumn colour and countryside

For a change from the coast, head inland to the pretty village of Evershot and the surrounding Melbury Park Estate.

We park near the Evershot Stones, a bench made from three huge stones – a good place to sit and put on your walking boots before setting off.

This is a lovely walk for autumn, taking in a mixture of countryside, woodland, lanes and open views as you explore this quieter corner of Dorset. As the walk takes you through the Melbury Park estate, do stick to the route and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. It is a deer park, so you are often rewarded with sightings of stags and roe deer. Be sure to keep your distance, these are wild animals and like to be left to roam.

Evershot itself is worth a look before or after your walk, with its historic buildings and village setting making it a lovely place to linger for a while.

And there is one particularly good reason to leave a little time at the end of the walk...

Finish with a pint at the award-winning Acorn Inn

Right in the heart of Evershot, the historic Acorn Inn is a natural stopping point after a countryside walk. Settle down for lunch, dinner or simply a well-earned pint. We love this pub; it has everything you would expect and more from a historic Dorset pub.

The inn also has strong Thomas Hardy connections. Featured in Tess of the d’Urbervilles, the Acorn Inn has embraced its literary history, making it a great place to soak up a little Dorset history while you're there. 

Bowleaze Cove to Osmington

Osmington Mills

Approx. 3.6 miles each way

Coastal views with plenty of places to stop for food

Starting at Bowleaze Cove, this is primarily a coastal walk, following the South West Coast Path towards Osmington Mills and taking in some lovely views along the way.

It's a great choice if you like your walks with a destination in mind, because the usual end point is The Smuggler's Inn at Osmington Mills – a rather good place to finish with lunch or a pint.

The Smuggler's Inn

The walk from Bowleaze Cove to Osmington Mills is around 3.6 miles, so if you walk to the pub and back again, you're looking at around 7.2 miles in total. Of course, you can turn around whenever you fancy and make the walk as long or short as suits you.

If you fancy exploring a little further inland, you can make a detour into Osmington village. The Sunray pub reopened in May 2026, after being closed for a number of years. Its return has been very welcome and it's well supported by locals as well as visitors. The food menu is a bit more than you might expect from a pub, so you will be well rewarded for your extra steps!

Not forgetting Craig's Farm Dairy Farm Shop & Tea Rooms, also close by. This local dairy farm serves up a five-star cream tea, and their ice cream is delicious, even out of season.

The latter two are well worth knowing about if you're happy to add a little extra to your walk. Just remember that the return journey from Osmington Mills is the same route you took to arrive.

Our lunch at the Sunray Inn - tasty!

Before you set off

These are walks rather than carefully graded trails, and what's an easy stroll for one person might feel like a proper workout for someone else. Autumn weather can also make a big difference to the conditions underfoot.

Check the forecast before you leave, wear suitable footwear and take a look at the route so you know what to expect. 

If you're unfamiliar with the area, it's always worth checking a map before setting off and making sure you have enough daylight to complete your chosen route.

And don't forget to leave enough time for the most important part of any Dorset walk: deciding where you're going to stop for lunch!

For more autumn ideas in Dorset, check out our Things to Do in Autumn in Dorset feature.