The 8 Most Amazing Peaks around Wareham St. Martin

Looking down from Grange Hill, Kimmeridge Bay looks like a stunning, prehistoric masterpiece. From up there, the fossil-rich waters look less like a geological marvel and more like a massive, glittering puddle left behind by a very confused, very ancient dinosaur.

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’

Another view that will take your breath away on a clear day, can see for miles.

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.

One of the largest remaining areas of heathland in Dorset. The 344 hectares of Canford Heath are a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. Careful management of the heath is needed to stop other plant life blocking out the heather on which the local wildlife relies. Canford Heath has a real wilderness feel and you can easily spend two hours walking or cycling around its paths. News and events are available on the Poole's heathlands Facebook page. Entrances There are entrances to Canford Heath at Gravel Hill lay-by and on Culliford Crescent and Francis Avenue. The nearest postcode is BH21 3BW. Parking There is limited parking on roads near this reserve. Dogs Dogs must be on a short lead when livestock is near and during the bird breeding season from 1 March to 31 July. At other times dogs must be under close control. Habitats Broad-leaf woodland, dry and wet heath and valley mire and bog. Look out for Dragonflies, damselflies, Dartford warblers, nightjars and all six species of British reptile.

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.