Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB
Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB
Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB is a national landscape covering 379 square miles across Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. This area features diverse terrain, including rolling chalk downland, ancient woodlands, and river valleys, providing varied settings for outdoor activities. The landscape is characterized by extensive chalk downland with smooth rounded downs and steeply cut combes, alongside wooded ridges and valleys. These natural features support several sports like hiking, jogging, touring cycling, mountain biking, and more.
180
Routes
4.7
(516)
Average rating
6111
People visited

4.6
(16)
75
hikers
12.2km
03:19
170m
170m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(16)
117
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(14)
100
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.9
(8)
63
hikers
Moderate hike. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

5.0
(1)
96
runners
9.46km
01:06
140m
140m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
28
runners
19.7km
02:15
380m
380m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

16
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
7
runners
12.9km
01:24
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

3.0
(1)
7
riders
36.6km
02:45
360m
360m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

12
riders
35.0km
03:05
530m
530m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.3
(26)
168
riders
18.3km
01:37
270m
270m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(4)
45
riders
39.6km
03:16
500m
500m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.0
(1)
5
riders
18.8km
01:25
150m
150m
Hard bike ride. Great for any fitness level. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

3.0
(1)
1
riders
27.3km
02:02
210m
210m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(4)
98
riders
24.9km
02:11
430m
430m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
27
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

5.0
(4)
86
riders
65.6km
03:10
500m
500m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

74
riders
88.5km
04:13
760m
760m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

62
riders
44.8km
02:11
490m
490m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
57
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

5.0
(4)
60
riders
62.3km
04:23
740m
730m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
riders
104km
06:57
1,040m
1,040m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
41.0km
03:10
540m
540m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
riders
16.9km
01:14
230m
230m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB is a national landscape covering 379 square miles across Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. It features diverse terrain, including chalk downland, ancient woodlands, and river valleys, providing varied settings for outdoor activities.
The area offers a range of outdoor activities including Hiking, Jogging, Touring cycling, Mountain biking, Road cycling, and Gravel biking. There are more than 1,600 routes available for exploration.
The national landscape offers an extensive network of hiking trails, from easy strolls to challenging long-distance paths. Popular routes include the Fonthill Lake loop, Donhead St Andrew & Wardour Castle loop, and trails around Win Green. More options are available in the Hiking in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB guide.
Yes, the area provides quiet country lanes and scenic routes with rolling hills suitable for touring and road cycling. The cycling network spans over 2,200 km, offering options for various preferences. Discover more in the Cycling in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB guide.
Mountain bikers can explore diverse terrains across chalk landscapes, ancient woodlands, and river valleys. Routes range from secure trails to challenging terrains with significant elevation gains, such as the Sixpenny Handley & Pentridge Hill loop. Consult the MTB Trails in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB guide for more information.
Yes, the area features numerous family-friendly hikes suitable for all ages. These routes often pass through scenic areas and offer easier terrain. Find suitable options in the Family-friendly hikes in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB guide.
Many trails within Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB are dog-friendly, allowing companions to join outdoor adventures. It is advisable to keep dogs under control, especially near livestock. Refer to the Dog-friendly hikes in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB guide for specific routes.
Yes, the national landscape offers a selection of easy hikes suitable for beginners or those seeking less strenuous walks. These routes typically feature gentle gradients and well-maintained paths. Explore options in the Easy hikes in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB guide.
The landscape is rich in history, featuring prehistoric earthworks, ancient field systems, and ritual sites. Notable examples include Ackling Dyke, Knowlton Circles, and hillforts like Badbury Rings. Many routes pass close to these ancient monuments.
Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 62,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The routes in the area have an average rating of 4.63 out of 5 stars from over 6,700 ratings.
Yes, some routes in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB are accessible via public transport, particularly bus services. Village-based walking is well-suited to the area, with places like Cranborne and Tisbury offering direct access to footpath networks. Consult the Hikes from bus stations in Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB guide.
Komoot offers several guides for the area, including guides for Hiking, Family-friendly hikes, Running Trails, Cycling, and MTB Trails.
Hikers and cyclists can enjoy unspoilt and panoramic views from chalk ridgeways and high points. Win Green offers expansive vistas of Wiltshire and Dorset. The diverse terrain provides numerous viewpoints across the landscape.
The official website for the Cranborne Chase National Landscape is cranbornechase.org.uk. This resource provides further information about the area and its conservation efforts.
The office for the Cranborne Chase National Landscape can be contacted by phone at 01725 517417. This number can be used for general inquiries regarding the area.

