Walking
If it is a fully guided, organised walking holiday that you’re after, The Esplanade’s sister company runs just the thing for you. Contact us for information on Trexx including schedules, tariffs and detailed information for upcoming organised walking holidays.
Dorset is frequently described as 'The Best of Both Worlds', for behind the varied coastline lies a county rich in archaeology, unspoilt rural villages and countryside, and a history to be proud of. From before Roman times, Dorset has been a jewel in England's crown, and the evidence of forefathers is plentiful.
The South West Coast Path is the main attraction of the walking world when based in Weymouth. With unrivalled and stunning scenery along hundreds of miles of coastline, the changes in geology with the accompanying breathtaking views are the envy of the World over. After a day’s hiking on The World Heritage’s Jurassic Coast, where better than to soak your blisters away than with a cold beer overlooking the sea having soaked away your aches in a hot bath. Yes, whether you are stopping off mid route or basing a walking tour from Weymouth, The Esplanade is the place for you. With extremely comfortable rooms, unrivalled breakfasts, a balcony lounge bar overlooking the sea and excellent location, with prior agreement The Esplanade is able to provide a cooked evening meal (groups of six or more) and/or packed lunches to suit all tastes and budgets.
There are amazing day hikes from Weymouth including walking the Ridgeway, around the Isle of Portland as well as the coastal path. If you are planning day hikes on the coast path, the following tool at www.southwestcoastpath.com/main/walks/index.cfm will be extremely useful. It offers suggested itineries as well containing a mileage and timing reckoner to help plan your hike. The site at www.swcp.org is also very useful.
Not meaning to labour the point but the south west coastal path is one of the country’s hidden gems. It has recently been included alongside such world famous walking as The Inca Trail in Peru and The Routeburn Track in New Zealand as an ‘Unforgettable Walk to Take Before You Die’, a book recently published by the BBC. Another recent publication compiled by the staff and authors of The Lonely Planet, also ranks the South West Coastal Path as one of the best walks in the World. For help in planning your walk, whether it is a day hike or all 630 miles, then www.southwestcoastpath.com is full of amazing information, facts and places of interest.
Aside from the coast, Dorset has acres and acres of rolling countryside. From the Golden Cap estate on the coast, highest point on the South Coast by the way, the Ridgeway runs straight across the county affording all the spectacular Dorset countryside in between. It passes beautiful villages and ancient and modern day monuments with (Admiral) Hardy’s monument near Portesham and Maiden Castle outside of Dorchester to name but a couple. There is the novelists’ Dorset too, with both Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen born in the county. Hardy’s Wessex provides endless walks to discover; walks in the countryside immortalised in novels such as The Mayor of Casterbridge and Far From the Madding Crowd. The website www.thedorsetpage.com/Dorset_Home provides an excellent overview of the topography of the local land along with a host of other areas of interest.