The 6 Most Amazing Peaks around East Stoke

Beautiful landscape, perfect for lovely, nature-based hikes.

This will give you a really good leg workout, and get your lungs pumping. regardless of what side you are attacking it from. But the views are definitely worth it.

Trig pillar ‘Woolsbarrow Camp’

Swyre Head is the highest point of the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, on the south coast of England. The hill Swyre Head lies about 2 kilometres southwest of the village Kingston, about 5 kilometres south of Corfe Castle and 8 kilometres west of Swanage. Although not very high, its relative height is such that it just misses qualification as a Marilyn. The hill consists of Jurassic Formations and is not part of the extensive Southern England Chalk Formation. Swyre Head by Kingston should not be confused with another Dorset hill called Swyre Head, at an elevation of 322 ft, on the coast, located to the west of Durdle Door. The two Swyre Heads are about four hours walk apart from each other; that is 11 miles. The hill commands extensive views, including west past the Isle of Portland to Dartmoor, and east to the Isle of Wight, as well as north across the Purbeck Hills to Poole Harbour and the other Purbeck Marilyn, Nine Barrow Down. To the west, the folly of Clavell Tower can also be seen. Set back about half a mile from the coast, the hill is not on the South West Coast Path, but can be reached easily from the villages of Kingston or Kimmeridge. The hill has a trig point marked as 203 metres on Ordnance Survey maps, but a tumulus, now fully grassed over, forms the highest point, 208 metres (682 ft) above sea level.

This spectacular and unspoilt coastal scene on the South West Coast Path is a favourite! The view looks southeast and is taken on the descent from the towering Rings Hill (165 m, 541 ft). The vista shows the pretty Warbarrow Bay, Warbarrow Tout (the limestone hill that protrudes into the sea on the southern edge of Warbarrow Bay), the peaceful green Tyneham Valley that meets the sea at Warbarrow Bay, and Gold Down (the grass ridge to the south of Tyneham Valley). This area is seldom busy and yet rivals the nearby Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door for quality of scenery. Be careful on the descent from Rings Hill as the path is steeper than it looks! If you are climbing Rings Hill from Warbarrow Bay the effort is definitely worth it.

Knowle Hill at 145 m is the high point of the ridge which runs south-west from Corfe Castle. It's a wonderful ridgeline to run, with grassy trails underfoot and awesome views across Purbeck. If you are heading towards Corfe, the view of the castle from this ridge is the best way to see it.

Povington Hill, at 198 metres (650 ft) high, is one of the highest points on the chain of the Purbeck Hills in south Dorset on the southern coast of England. Its prominence of 107 metres (351 ft) means it is listed as one of the Tumps, although map sources suggest this honour should go to Ridgeway Hill further east. Povington Hill lies within the danger area of the Lulworth Ranges and is out of bounds during the week, but becomes a popular viewing point and picnic site at weekends and public holidays. From the top there are good views of Worbarrow Bay, the abandoned village of Tyneham, St. Aldhelm's Head, Swyre Head and the English Channel beyond Gad Cliff to the south. In good visibility Portland Bill may be seen. To the north the view extends over the firing ranges on the Dorset Heaths. The hill is largely treeless, being covered in rough pasture and scrubland.

Woolsbarrow Hillfort is located in a clearing in the forests of Bloxworth Heath. The nearest town is Bere Regis, about 3+1⁄4 miles (5.2 km) to the west-northwest of the hillfort. The heath is a popular walking area and the site can be reached by public footpath. Woolsbarrow is a slight univallate hillfort on a flat-topped knoll on the plateau of Bloxworth Heath, which separates the rivers Sherford to the east and Piddle to the west. The hillfort is marked by a single rampart about 20 feet (6.1 m) below the top of the gravel knoll and covers an area of around 2+1⁄4 acres (0.91 ha). The eastern part of the hillfort has been damaged by sand and gravel extraction, but much of it survives well and has the potential for further archaeological evidence to be uncovered. It is one of only about 150 slight univallate hillforts nationally and is of national importance.