East Dorset: Potterne Park and Moors Valley Park

The following Wilts & Dorset buses travel past Potterne Park between Three Legged Cross and Verwood;

X6  Poole - Ringwood

324 Cranborne - Bournemouth

Car park at Potterne Park

[1] Start from the parking area in Potterne Park and follow the tarmac path along the right hand side of the playing field, with the field on your left and the sports amenities on your right.

[2] At the end of the playing field, ignore the turning on the left and go straight ahead. The sign-board will tell you that you are now entering Moors Valley Country Park. Walk straight along this wide tarmac pathway and keep going till you reach a gate ahead.

[3] Here, follow the path as it turns left and then right to arrive at a small bridge over the River Crane.

[4] In a field on the left, there are some picnic tables, so this could be a good place to enjoy the river and the park before you re-trace your steps back into Potterne Park and return to the start.

A. Potterne Park

Lifestyle in Verwood is the name of the newly merged Leisure Centre, Hub and Potterne Park, which all together offer an extensive range of sport, leisure and entertainment to the local community. 

Potterne Park offers a wide range of outdoor pitches for football, cricket and rugby. New artificial pitches are currently under construction and there is a popular skateboard park as well as the fitness trail.

B. Moors Valley Country Park

This walk only touches the edge of this extensive area of recreation woodland which is run jointly by the East Dorset Council and the Forestry Commission. The Visitor Centre offers all the information on the range of facilities available. These include guided walks, cycle routes, fitness trails. Moors Valley is the place to go to experience 'Go Ape' the tree top zip wire adventure route for children and adults. There is a year round programme of events available with lots of activities for children to get involved with.

C. River Crane

The River Crane is unique amongst Dorset's little rivers because it changes its name in mid-course. Below the Moors Valley Country Park it becomes the Moors River which flows southwards for another 10 miles before emptying into the Stour at Blackwater under the shadow of St. Catherine's Hill, before it flows into Christchurch Harbour.

The Crane takes its name from the first settlement on its course, Cranborne. Thus it was a stream frequented by cranes and herons. derived originally from cran and burna.