Dorset WALX Festival SEPTEMBER 2026

🗓️ Thursday 17^th – Sunday 20^th September 2026

Get out in nature this September as the Dorset WALX Festival returns.

The annual festival of walking is a packed programme of walking routes and events across Purbeck and beyond.

The festival runs over four days, with a main day of workshops, social BBQ and live music being held on Saturday 19^th September.

WALX is a national walking club that uses poles in the spirit of Nordic walking, and “focuses on fitness, wellness and fun”.

There are walks for all levels, of varying lengths and terrain, and include some of the Jurassic Coast’s most iconic landmarks, including Old Harry Rocks, Dancing Ledge and Golden Cap.

Programme

Here’s a look at the walking routes for this year’s Dorset WALX Festival:

Thursday 17^th September

• 9.30am – 11.30am: Thomas Hardy literary walk, Kingston Maurward – 4 miles
• 2pm – 3.30pm: Explore RSPB Arne – 3 miles
• 5pm – 7pm: Wareham Walls & River: History walk & social – 4 miles

Friday 18^th September

• 9.15am – 10.10am: Total Body Walking for Fitness at Durlston – 2 miles
• 9.45am – 2.45pm: Iconic Purbeck Coast and Cliffs walk, plus half way Joe’s Café stop, from Knoll Beach, Studland – 8 miles
• 10am – 1.30pm: Grange Arch Walk – 6 miles
• 10am – 12pm: Where Eagles Dare Walk, RSPB Arne – 3 miles
• 10am – 12.30pm: Fossils & Dinosaur Footprints Walk, Acton – 3 miles
• 10am – 2pm: The Secret Garden & Woolsbarrow Fort walk – 8 miles
• 10.30am – 11.30am: Silent Strides Disco Walk, Swanage Downs – 2 miles
• 1.30pm – 3.30pm: Old Harry Rocks plus beach drink, from The Bankes Arms car park – 4 miles
• 1.30pm – 3.30pm: Dancing Ledge with cream tea at Salt Pig Putlake – 5 miles
• 2pm – 3.30pm: Mindful walk in nature with optional tea at The Blue Pool – 2 miles
• 3pm – 5pm: Worth Matravers Smugglers Loop – 4 miles
• 5pm – 7pm: Heavens Gate evening walk from Sheep Pens car park – 2 miles
• 5pm – 7pm: Houns Tout Circular evening walk – 3 miles

Saturday 19^th September

• 8am – 9am: Studland Beach morning walk & swim at Knoll Beach – 3 miles
• 9am – 11am: Wareham Walls, river & market walk – 4 miles
• 9am – 5pm: Purbeck Challenger, from West Street Corfe Castle – 15 miles
• 9.30am – 2.30pm: Taste of Purbeck 10-Miler, from West Street Corfe Castle – 10 miles
• 10am – 1.30pm: Grange Arch Walk – 6 miles
• 10am – 1pm: Hardy’s Dorset: Tess of the D’Ubervilles Walk, from Bere Regis Primary School – 6 miles
• 10am – 12pm: Gentle Corfe Castle explorer with Arty Bazaar – 3 miles
• 10.30am – 2.30pm: Corfe Castle to Creech Barrow – 7 miles
• 10.30am – 1pm: Jurassic Coast From Above & Below walk, from Broad Road car park – 3 miles
• 11.30am – 2.30pm: Blue Pool to Corfe Castle Circular – 5 miles
• 11.30am – 1.15pm: Harmans Cross to Corfe Castle: Walk with steam train ride back – 4 miles
• 12pm – 2.30pm: Enid Blyton Spectacular, from The Bankes Arms car park, Studland – 5 miles
• 3pm – 5pm: Dorset cream tea walk at The Blue Pool – 3 miles

Sunday 20^th September

• 9.30am – 12pm: Dorset Cider Farm Experience – 4 miles
• 10am – 12pm: The Lost Village of Tyneham & Worborrow Bay Walk – 4 miles
• 10.30am – 1.30pm: Tyneham & Kimmeridge Clifftop Spectacular – 6 miles
• 10.30am – 2.30pm: Corfe Castle to Creech Barrow – 7 miles
• 10.30am – 2pm: Brownsea Island Experience, from Poole Quary – 3 miles
• 10.30am – 11.30am: Silent Strides Disco Walk, Wareham Rec – 2 miles
• 11am – 1pm: The Lost Village of Tyneham & Worborrow Bay – 4 miles
• 11am – 1pm: Victorian Swanage: Pier to castle promenade – 3 miles

Find full details, book onto individual walks or grab a Festival Pass online: https://walx.co.uk/dorset-festival-2026/