This survey set out to investigate visitor behaviour through systematic sampling in a way which would:
- allow conclusions to be drawn on the types of visitor and patterns of visitor use on the Dorset heaths generally within statistical confidence limits;
- determine the catchment areas from which visitors travel to particular types of access point;
- enable accurate estimates to be made of the distances and routes travelled by people from different user groups;
- permit predictions to be made on patterns of access through the preparation of a model which includes these data.