Dog-friendly walks in Dorchester

A 2.6-mile hour-and-a-quarter circuit of the largest iron age hillfort in Europe, following the full run of its triple ramparts with 110 metres of climb on close-cropped chalk turf. The going is easy but the rampart tops are narrow with steep ditches either side, and the whole thing is greasy after rain. Start at the free English Heritage car park at the end of Maiden Castle Road, which holds about twenty cars and fills at weekends; Dorchester South station is a two-mile walk away. Sheep graze the fort all year, which is why English Heritage asks for dogs on leads throughout, and there is no water and no shade anywhere on the hill.

A flat 2.8-mile town walk of an hour and a half from Hangman’s Cottage along the Frome water meadows to Grey’s Bridge, back under the chestnut avenues of the old walks that replaced the Roman defences. Gravel and mown grass by the river, pavement on the return, and the meadows flood after heavy rain, which is the point of them. Start on the free on-street parking in North Square or the pay and display at Top o’ Town; Dorchester West and South stations are both under ten minutes away. Dogs are welcome off lead on the meadow paths and there is easy shallow river access for a drink and a paddle, but leads on the walks and the road sections, and the mill leats run fast and deep in winter.

An easy 2.4-mile hour and a quarter through oak and hazel woodland to the cob and thatch cottage where Thomas Hardy was born, out onto Black Heath and back past Rushy Pond, with 90 metres of climb on woodland paths and boardwalk. Sheltered, shaded and good in bad weather, though the lower paths hold mud into May. Start at the free Thorncombe Wood car park off the lane from Higher Bockhampton, about forty spaces with a small visitor hut and toilets, and it does fill on Sunday afternoons. Dogs are welcome off lead in the wood under close control, on leads in the cottage garden, and the heath section has ground-nesting birds in spring; Rushy Pond is the only water and is shallow and boggy at the edge.