A timeless landscape on the Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Somerset borders.
The Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs National Landscape spans four counties and offers one of England’s most historic and scenic settings for walking holidays and outdoor adventures. With sweeping chalk downs, ancient woodlands, and prehistoric monuments, it combines natural beauty with a deep sense of heritage.
This vast protected area includes part of the famous Salisbury Plain, the hillfort at Old Sarum, and the vast beech avenues of the Chase. Walkers can explore hidden valleys, Iron Age earthworks, and Roman roads, while trails connect quiet villages, bustling market towns, and some of Britain’s most iconic historic sites — including Stonehenge on the western edge.
Counties: Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Somerset
Cranborne Chase Circular Walks
A network of shorter loops across the downs and woodlands, ideal for exploring the landscape at a slower pace.
Ox Drove Trail
A long-distance ridge route across the chalk downs, following an ancient drovers’ road with panoramic views.
Avon Valley Path (nearby)
A 34-mile trail from Salisbury to Christchurch, skirting the eastern edge of Cranborne Chase.
Monarch’s Way (sections)
A historic long-distance trail tracing the escape route of King Charles II, passing through the Chase.
It spans parts of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Somerset, with Salisbury and Shaftesbury nearby.
The Ox Drove Trail is a classic ridge walk, while circular routes around Old Sarum and Martin Down are very popular.
Yes — shorter trails around Martin Down National Nature Reserve and woodlands near Tollard Royal are ideal for families.
Spring and summer bring wildflowers to the downs; autumn colours light up the beech avenues; winter walks reveal long open views.
It combines outstanding natural beauty with rich historic heritage, from prehistoric monuments to medieval woodlands.