Dorchester walk of the month: Charlton Down

With the winter weather coming in, we have decided to change the walk of the week to walk of the month.

Each first Friday of the month we will be sharing a circular walk in and around our local area for our newsletter subscribers to enjoy. We use the OS Map app, which is very useful if you are out walking.

This month's walk is a 2.8-mile route around Charlton Down, taking around one hour. This is of easy level walking with on steep incline.

Start on Chestnut Road by the play area and walk down it to join the path on the right when you come to a dead end. Continue straight and it will become a small path. Follow it round to the left and when it meets another path, turn right.

Just after the house on your right, there is a footpath signposted 'Forston', go down there. Keep following this path and when you come to a dirt field, go straight over it. Where a hedge comes into the field, continue straight, aiming for just above the trees ahead. There will be a gap between the trees, follow the path down there.

Follow the path and go through the gate, walking along the top of the field.

Go through the wooden gate and walk towards farm buildings before turning right to go up hill on a track. Keep going straight, pass a farm building on your left and walk along the right-hand side of the field.

Keep following the edge of the field and when you get to the end, follow the path through the trees. Where the path forks, stick to the right-hand path, going up a steep bank and coming out by houses.

Turn right and walk along the pavement. Follow the path over the road by Willow View and continue straight before going across Oak Road and continuing straight. You will then be back at the play area and the start of the walk.

This walk is just a suggestion, you can of course take any different routes you wish to make it more direct or make it longer. Always take extra care where the ground is uneven or wet.

Please leave gates as you find them - if you opened it, close it.

Please keep dogs on leads around livestock.