A Place to be Real Together

Walking Week: Five of the Best

Led group walks (Tony's favourites) in the stunning spring countryside

 

Friday 2nd - Thursday 8th May 2025

 

Space is available on this event!

View of footpath and shining sea beyond

To mark his 30th year of leading walking weeks, Tony Jaques chooses five of his absolute favourite routes. Each morning we take packed lunches and head out to explore the treasury of Dorset footpaths, some coastal, some inland. There'll be local history, flora and fauna - bluebell woods for sure - and even the odd teashop to enliven our routes.

Tony will be co-leading this week with Nat Taplin. Nat is an experienced walk leader and founder/director of Good Journey which champions car-free leisure travel. His late mother, Kim Taplin, was a poet and author of The English Path, a classic delving into the history of paths in literature and art, republished February 2025 by Little Toller Books. Readings from this and from Kim's poems will add an extra dimension to our walking experience.

The paths we follow are seriously rustic and in Dorset there are always likely to be some hills. But if you are up for that mixture, come along and try this unmissable week. 

The aim for each day's outing is to encounter beauty, to build community among the group, and to deepen our spiritual connection to the natural world.

The price quoted includes accommodation and all meals - except one day when group members can buy a good pub lunch. If numbers are sufficient we plan to use Dorset Community Transport minibuses at the start and finish of each day's walk. This will add an extra cost of approximately £55 per person for the entire week, payable at the time. (Otherwise we share cars and you are asked to contribute to the individual drivers' costs.)

You can always take a rest day if you wish - for your own explorations or just to allow time to chill. 

Tony says: "I don't like to specify the mileage of our walks, as it can be misleading. Think of it like this. We are likely to be mainly on our feet from about 11.00 each day to some time around 4.00. But this includes stops for views, curiosities, nature observation, anecdotes, reflections and to access our water bottles! And a longer lunch break. A group always moves more slowly than a lone walker."

Fee Types

You are genuinely welcome to choose whichever rate suits you (Learn more about our Pricing Policy & Bursaries)

Special deal: a second person sharing your bedroom can come for half price

Standard £540  aims to cover our real costs
Basic £441  if all pay Basic, Othona has to cut staff & activities
Benefactor £639  helps us afford Basic Rate and Bursaries
Deposit £  30

 

Arrival + Departure Times

(Learn about Arrival+Departure)

Arrive between 4.00 - 6.30 pm
Depart after 10.30 am

 

When
02 May 2025 18:00 to 08 May 2025 10:30
Othona Community, West Dorset
Coast Road
Burton Bradstock
Dorset
DT6 4RN
Contact
Landline: 01308 897130