This National Trust walk encompasses breathtaking views and also takes in the Agglestone

Godlingston Heath walk, Studland

  • Trail: Walking
  • Grade: Easy
  • Distance: 3 miles (5km)
  • Time: 1 hour 30 minutes OS MAP Explorer OL15 (Purbeck) Contact 01929 450259 studlandbeach@nationaltrust.org.uk
  • Start: Middle Beach car park, Studland village, grid reference: SZ035828
  • End: Beach car park, Studland village, grid reference: SZ035828
  • Terrain: Gently undulating with a few slopes but no steep uphill walking. Some areas can be muddy after wet weather. Dogs are welcome under close control. Due to ground-nesting birds, please keep dogs on leads between March and September.

1. From the car park walk up Beach Road. At the top turn left between the toilet block and the village pond. Take the narrow ‘snowdrop path’ at the top of the green. It will take you past an ancient pear tree and the remains of an old stone cottage, before bringing you out in front of Studland Stores.

2. Cross the main road and continue along Heath Green Road. Note the orchards on your left, the apples from which go towards making our delicious Old Volunteer Cider (available from the Knoll Beach café). Turn right down Agglestone Road and follow the track up behind the houses. As you reach the end of the track, keep your eyes peeled for Dartford warblers and stonechats.

3. The kissing gate at the end of the track brings you onto Godlingston Heath. Follow the path uphill onto Black Down Mound, where you will be rewarded with wonderful views to your right across the heath to the coastline, with the impressive Agglestone in the middle distance.

4. Continue along the ridge and, when you meet the gravel track, turn right. At the crossroads, turn right and follow the path down to the Agglestone. From here you can see Little Sea in the distance: an acidic freshwater lake that was cut off from the sea around 100 years ago.

5. Take the path that leads down the slope on the other side of the Agglestone and follow the path through the mire. This wet heath is an important habitat for sundews, bog orchids and bog asphodels.

Look out for dragonflies and damselflies. Where the path forks, turn right heading towards the trees.

6. Turn right at the next junction, heading into the woodland. Then turn right again over the bridge and continue through the bridle gate. Just after Wadmore Farm House, you will see an old brick kiln on your right.

7. After passing the kiln, take the footpath on your right. It is immediately after, and runs adjacent to, the bridleway. At the next junction, follow the footpath round to the left. As the track widens, keep to the right and continue along the footpath in front of you until you reach Heath Green Road. Turn left and follow the road back towards Studland Stores.

nationaltrust.org.uk/walks

Things to see

Dartford warbler

You can spot Dartford warblers all year round, feeding on insects among bushy gorse. During the harsh winter of 1962-3 their numbers in the UK fell to just 10 pairs. Their current population of more than 3,000 pairs is due to milder winters and improvements in the conservation of their heathland habitat.

Views of the Agglestone and Studland Heath

Folk tales tell how the Devil, sitting on the Needles Rock by the Isle of Wight, caught sight of Corfe Castle in the distance. In his anger he threw his cap across the sea, intent on demolishing the grand structure. But his missile fell short and stands to this day on Studland Heath.  In reality the Agglestone is a 400-ton ironstone remnant of the Bagshot beds, which covered the present heathland thousands of years ago.

Sand lizard

You may be lucky enough to see a sand lizard: a very rare and protected species in Britain. During the mating season the males turn bright green. The females lay eggs in the warm sand to incubate and the young emerge in late summer.

Have you walked Godlingston Heath walk before? let us know in the comments!