Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Running trails & routes

Smitten Corner Trail Junction – Maiden Castle hillfort loop from Dorchester West

Routes

Running trails & routes

Smitten Corner Trail Junction – Maiden Castle hillfort loop from Dorchester West

Hard

runners

Smitten Corner Trail Junction – Maiden Castle hillfort loop from Dorchester West

02:36

22.9km

390m

Running

Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 10, 2026

Tips

Temporary access restrictions

Includes segments with temporary access restrictions.

After 81 m for 191 m

Customers only

After 22.7 km for 191 m

Customers only

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

7.57 km

Tumulus

Archaeological Site

10.5 km

Smitten Corner Trail Junction

Highlight • Viewpoint

Smitten Corner has a rather lovely name for what is essentially just a small car park. There's much more than meets the eye though, as so many footpaths, bridleways and other ways seem to converge here, you're quite spoilt for choice for adventures.

Hardy's Monument lies mere moments up the road, as do far-reaching views, pockets of woodland, a sculpture area and Neolithic burial chambers.

Tip by

10.9 km

Hardy Monument

Highlight • Monument

This striking tower stands to the north of the Isle of Portland and offers fantastic 360 degree views of Dorset and the English Channel. Although the novelist Thomas Hardy lived in the county and used many local settings in his books, this is actually a monument to a very different Thomas Hardy; the vice-admiral and flag captain to Admiral Lord Nelson.

The monument is managed by the National Trust and, for a small fee, you can walk the stairs inside to reach the viewing tower at the top. There's a car park here, some benches and often an ice cream van.

Tip by

15.9 km

Tumulus

Ruins

18.7 km

Descent Past Maiden Castle

Highlight • Viewpoint

Smooth rolling downhill section with views across the castle ramparts

Tip by

19.3 km

Maiden Castle hillfort

Highlight • Viewpoint

Maiden Castle is a stunning hillfort with huge ramparts. It affords breathtaking views over the Dorset. Built during the 1st century BC, it is one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe. Roughly the size of 50 football pitches, the fort would have protected hundreds of residents in its heyday. The site is in the care of English Heritage and is free to enter during reasonable daylight hours.

Tip by

22.9 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

15.9 km

4.53 km

1.85 km

405 m

193 m

Surfaces

12.9 km

3.33 km

3.01 km

2.47 km

598 m

525 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (230 m)

Lowest point (70 m)

Weather

Thursday 16 July

28°C

15°C

16 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

Want to know more?

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Hard

4.3

442

South West Coast Path: Isle of Portland Circuit

02:27h

20.5km

280m

Hard

5.0

198

Old Harry Rocks loop from Corfe Castle — Dorset

02:48h

23.5km

450m

Hard

4.4

Durdle Door & the Man o' War cove loop

01:56h

16.0km

360m

Hard

4.3

Chaldon Down, Ringstead Bay & Durdle Door loop

01:55h

16.1km

340m

Moderate

4.0

Corfe Castle & Knowle Hill loop — Isle of Purbeck

01:05h

8.75km

160m

Moderate

4.5

Golden Cap & the South West Coast Path loop from Langdon Hill

01:22h

10.3km

270m

Moderate

The Lawrence of Arabia Trail — loop from Bovington

01:12h

11.1km

90m

Moderate

Stour Valley Way and Blandford Forum Loop

01:17h

11.9km

140m

Moderate

5.0

Eweleaze Beach and White Horse Hill loop from Preston — Dorset

00:51h

7.23km

110m

Moderate

3.5

Lucerne Lake & Melbury Osmond loop from Evershot — Dorset

00:55h

8.55km

130m

Moderate

Seatown to Golden Cap and Langdon Hill Walk

01:00h

7.15km

270m

Moderate

West Bay loop from Burton Bradstock — Dorset

00:47h

7.03km

60m

Smitten Corner Trail Junction – Maiden Castle hillfort loop from Dorchester West

Smitten Corner Trail Junction

Hardy Monument

Descent Past Maiden Castle

Maiden Castle hillfort

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️