East Dorset: By the banks of the River Stour

Car park at Leigh Park Community Centre.

Many buses to Wimborne.  Wilts & Dorset no 88 from Queen Elizabeth School to Leigh Park via the Wimborne Square and no 315 Blandford to Ringwood both from Leigh Road.

[1] From the Car Park, walk to the LH corner of the Community Centre Building and enter a narrow path with the playground on L. At playing field turn L and follow boundary to red dog bin behind goal posts. Turn L through a gap in the hedge and Immediately R onto a gravel road, alongside the playing field, 'which bears L to reach Barnes Crescent.

[2] Turn R at Barnes Crescent and continue ahead crossing the end of Churchill Road. Follow the road as it bends L and go ahead through metal posts by a small brick building to reach Brook Road.

[3] Turn right here and pass the entrance to a recycling centre on R.  As Brook Road bears L continue ahead to enter woods by a track leading to the River.

[4] Turn right to follow the river, passing a notice board on your L near the river. Near the far end of the Industrial Estate, there is a bench on your R by an information board about the River Stour wildlife and a boat landing stage. A little further on, the path goes inland.

(You may like to continue a few metres by the river to view Canford Bridge.)

[5] At red dog bin turn R up the tree-lined path to the second building on your R -  the Scout Hall.

[6] Turn R immediately alongside the Scout Hall. After a short distance, it is enclosed by a high hedge on either side till you emerge into Hardy Crescent.

[7] Turn L and continue up Hardy Crescent (passing the end of Churchill Road) as it bends R to a cross road (Gordon Road) where you turn R to return to the Leigh Park Community Centre.

A. Leigh Park Community Centre has a community room for hire, a kitchen and an outdoor play area for under 8's. There are many activities, including residents' coffee mornings, toddler group, art classes, bingo, Girl Guides, yoga, Tai Chi, Young Actors workshop and a food bank. Residents become members who attend Annual General Meetings.

B. The River Stour, having risen on the Stourhead Estate in Wiltshire, flows 60 miles through Sturminster Newton, Blandford and then Wimborne to join the River Avon at Christchurch and flow into the sea at Mudeford Bay. Due to the clay soil, water level can vary from floods in winter to low in summer.  It provides a habitat for a wide range of plants, insects and birds.

C. Canford Bridge was built about 1813 and is a Grade 11 listed building.  It was built to take horses and carts. In 2008, it was restored and strengthened and a modern new foot-bridge was constructed on the upstream side, such that the arches of the old bridge are still clearly visible.  There are good views of the river in both directions.