Dorset is considered to be a very picturesque county and you can easily take in its sights through walking trails.

If you fancy going on these walks you might prefer for the route to not be too difficult to follow and to end up exactly back where you started.

Luckily there are plenty of circular walks you can take in the county, most of which are a couple of miles long and take between one and three hours.

Here are some to try based on recommendations from the National Trust and Dorset Travel Guide.

7 circular walks to try around Dorset

South Purbeck Cliffs walk

Bournemouth Echo: Part of the South Purbeck CliffsPart of the South Purbeck Cliffs (Image: Will Wilkinson)

Starting and ending at Spyway car park, the walk allows people to enjoy sea views, former quarries and grassland rich in wildlife.

It is six miles long, should take around two and a half hours to complete, and it has uneven and steep terrain with stiles and gates.

Dogs are welcome on the route but under close control around livestock grazing in grassland areas.

Full route details and a map can be found on the National Trust website here.

Old Harry Rocks walk

Bournemouth Echo: Old Harry RocksOld Harry Rocks (Image: Sharin Trevelyan)

If you want a gentle, but also a somewhat long walk to go on then the Old Harry Rocks route might work for you.

It is 3.5 miles long and should take between one hour and two hours to complete.

The circular route begins and ends at South beach car park in Studland, with walkers being able to take in breathtaking views of the Jurassic Coast.

Dogs are welcome on the route under close control, and there is a warning to be careful of sheer cliff edges when approaching Old Harry Rocks.

The full route map can be found on the National Trust website here.

Lyme Regis and Charmouth Walk

Bournemouth Echo: Part of the walk takes in Lyme Regis beachPart of the walk takes in Lyme Regis beach (Image: Graham Hunt)

This 4.9-mile long walk around Lyme Regis and Charmouth has proved to be a popular one in Dorset.

It should take around two and a half hours to complete and there are some quite steep ascents and descents to take into consideration.

Part of the walk is just going along the beach from Lyme Regis to Charmouth but you can include the South West Coast Path on the way back as well as some woodland paths to make a circular route out of it.

Further details and a map can be found on the Dorset Travel Guide website here.

Cogden Circular Walk

This walk takes in "flower-filled farmland" and some of the South West Coast Path alongside Cogden beach.

It is a fairly short one at just 2.2 miles long and should take around an hour to complete.

There are moderate slopes and some kissing gates to take into consideration but overall it is considered to be an undemanding walk.

Dogs are welcome on the route but under close control around livestock grazing in grassland areas.

The full route map can be found on the National Trust website here.

St Albans Head walk

Described as "one of the best walks on the Dorset coast" by the Dorset Travel Guide, the St Albans Head route offers some great views.

This particular walk traverses most of the headland, passing Winspit Quarry as you make your way down from Worth Matravers to the coast. 

From there you'll keep following the coast around to St Alban’s Head, then curve back along the headland to climb Emmetts Hill.

A route description can be found on the Walking Britain website here.

Langdon Hill Walk

This circular woodland walk offers the year-round potential to see wildlife as well as views over the Dorset countryside and out to the Golden Cap.

It should only take around 30 minutes, with it being 1.4 miles long, and dogs are welcome on the route as long as they are kept on a lead near grazing livestock.

The full route map can be found on the National Trust website here.

Stonebarrow walk on the Golden Cap Estate

Bournemouth Echo: Golden CapGolden Cap (Image: Newsquest)

This walk on the Golden Cap estate is considered to be a fairly easy one, with a full route map being available on the National Trust website here.

It includes a section of the South West Coast Path along the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

For distance, it is 1.7 miles long and should take between 40 minutes and an hour to complete.

There are some steep steps and slopes to be wary of as well as some cliff edges.

Dogs are welcome on the route but under close control around livestock grazing in fields.