With spring finally here and daylight saving in full effect, now is the perfect time to get outside and discover some of the UK’s hidden gems.

A scenic walk in Dorset has been flagged up by AA Publishing as one of the best. In these latest walking guides, which includes the AA's 50 Walks in Dorset, a team of trusted experts has highlighted some of the best destinations across the UK to explore by foot.

Thanks to the AA we're sharing a scenic Cerne Valley walk that you can do right here in Dorset if you fancy some fresh air and exercise over the Easter holidays. 

Click into the photo gallery above and download the route to a phone or print it out to follow this beautiful 5.5 mile (2hr 30 min) walk.

Cerne Abbas Giant, Dorset  
Not even our experts know the origin of this giant chalk man carved in the Dorset hillside. Make your own mind up with this 5.5 mile (2hr 30 min) walk across country paths and tracks in the Cerne Valley.  

According to the AA’s 50 Walks in Dorset walking guide: 

“The chalk outline of the Cerne Abbas Giant is so familiar that the reality, seen from the hillside opposite rather than above from the air, is a surprise. His proportions change at this shallower angle, and this of course is how he was designed to be seen – all 180ft (55m) of him.

"Quite when he was made, and by whom, is a mystery. Was he drawn by the Romans, a portrait of the demi-god Hercules? Could he be a post-medieval caricature of Oliver Cromwell?” 

AA Publishing’s new ‘50 Walks in…’ series includes a map and step-by-step guide to each of the walks selected, as well as useful information on parking, dog friendly routes and nearby amenities including public toilets and places to eat, plus local history and points of interest. 

Compiled by some of the AA’s most trusted experts, drawing on over a hundred years’ of experience and heritage, the new 50 Walks walking guides are available to purchase on 30th March, with pre-orders available now at Amazon and all leading bookstores.