Durlston Country Park is one of the best places to see dolphins in the country and Purbeck's heathlands support more sand lizards and smooth snakes than anywhere else in the country. Find out more from the Purbeck Countryside Guide. 

Find out where to walk your dog and all kinds of information about dog ownership from the Dorset Dogs website (opens in a new window) .

The sites below are either owned or managed by Dorset Countryside or Purbeck District Council. The Dorset Countryside service also manages Eight Acre Wood in Bovington and Winfrith Newburgh picnic site.

For sites managed by different organisations such as Dorset Wildlife Trust or the Forestry Commission, visit the Purbeck Countryside Guide .

If you would like to volunteer some time to help manage and look after our countryside sites, find more information on our Dorset Countryside pages.

• Durlston Country Park

  Durlston Country Park is a fabulous 115 hectare (280 acre) countryside paradise, consisting of sea-cliffs, coastal limestone downland, hay meadows, hedgerows and woodland. Whether it is the stupendous views, the walks, the Great Globe, the superb geology, the Lookout Café and Visitor Centre or the fascinating array of wildlife, there is always something different to see at Durlston Country Park.

• Elder Road Open Space

  Elder Road Open Space in Bere Regis runs alongside the Bere Stream. Follow the meandering paths across the wetland and stream out into the fields beyond.

• Pine Clump

  This site was once an area of pine plantation but this has recently been cleared to restore the important heathland that once grew here. Since the removal of the pine wildlife has returned to the site and if you are lucky you may seen the rare Nightjar which is indicative of heathland areas.

• Sandford Heath

  This hidden Purbeck heath is found on the edge of The Woodlands housing estate in Sandford near Wareham.

• Turners Puddle Heath

  Turners Puddle Heath incorporates an area of 14 hectares of predominantly dry lowland heathland with valley mire and wet heath.

• Upton Wood

  Upton Wood is found on the edge of Purbeck near to Upton Country Park. Inside the wood you will find a winding Woodland Trail, trickling streams and open glades with bluebells in the spring.

• Wareham Walls

  Wareham Walls date back to Saxon times and surround the old town of Wareham on three sides. Once on top of the walls, there are good views of the rivers Frome and Piddle and the surrounding areas.