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Name & Explore the River, on blue ring, replacing kingfisher logoStour Valley Way (Dorset)

Bournemouth, Dorset, Poole, Wiltshire

98 km / 61 miles
This route follows the course of the River Stour as it winds through the Dorset countryside. Both the listed guides are long since out of print but the route is retained here as it is shown on OS mapping so can be followed with an OS map, or using the GPX files below. The older Green Fields publication describes one route from Christchurch to the source of the river in Wiltshire. The newer Green Fields publication described the revised route by Edward Griffiths when he renamed it the Stour Valley Path. The original route was waymarked with the kingfisher marker. Between these editions, Dorset Council established their own route marked with the newer waymark. The routes differ in detail.

There are two short way-marked loops available to walkers, both are marked on OS Maps. One is at Wimborne (Eye Mead Weir GR ST99712 00099 - Dawsons Hole GR 01695 99016) to avoid the flood-prone Eye-Mead. There is a minor amendment to this route shown by OS Maps as a recent housing development has resulted in a change to the path on the west side of the town near to Julian's Bridge (GR SZ 00418 99913). The other loop is from West Parley (GR SZ 08336 97335) - Throop (GR SZ 11236 95742). This route on the south bank of the River Stour is waymarked throughout and promoted as a cycle route as the north-bank route follows footpaths.

The waymarked Wareham Forest Way, which is included on OS mapping, connects at Sturminster Marshall and provides a 12-mile route to Wareham. The waymarked Ferndown, Stour and Forest Trail (10 miles circular and also included on OS mapping) links with the Way near to West Parley. The waymarked Castleman Trailway (16 miles and on OS mapping) goes between Ringwood and Upton Park and crosses the Way at Wimborne Minster.


Details:

Waymark: Name & Explore the River, on blue ring, replacing kingfisher logo
Path Type: Paths Marked on OS mapping
Waymark: Name & Explore the River, on blue ring, replacing kingfisher logo
Attributes: Easy
River
Start: SZ183912 - Hengistbury Head, Christchurch, Dorset View on StreetMap
Finish: ST778341 - Stourhead, Wiltshire View on StreetMap
Web Sites: Walking the Stour Valley Way

Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook New Stour Valley Path : the complete route from Christchurch to Stourhead  (Green Fields Books  - 1997 )
Guidebook Original Stour Valley Path : with complete guide to the Stour Valley Way  (Green Fields Books  - 2003 )
General Interest Book Stour Valley Way in Pictures  (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform  - 2017 )

Maps:

You can use the interactive controls to zoom in and out and to move around the map, or click on a path or a marker for more info.(interactive map help)

Show Connected Path Outlines
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Paths Marked on OS mapping
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Walkers are Welcome

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2016.
© OpenStreetMap contributors under Open Database Licence.
Rights of way data from selected Local Authorities.
Large scale digital mapping is provided by John Thorn.
At high zoom levels the route is indicative only.
Purchase Ordnance Survey Maps (path is named on OS maps):
OS Landranger 183, 194, 195
OS Landranger Active 183, 194, 195
OS Explorer 22, 117, 118, 129, 142
OS Explorer Active 22, 117, 118, 129, 142

Walking Support Providers:

Support Providers
Guided Walking Holidays (Footpath Holidays)
Support Providers
Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Let's Go Walking! Ltd)

Accommodation within 5 km of this Path:

 
 
From
Path
Along
Path
Walkers are Welcome
1 km
86 km

Additional Images:


Connected Paths:


Downloads:

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GPX Route File
Stour Valley Way (Dorset) GPX Exchange Format Route File
Last Updated 14/07/2022 19:07:26 - Minor changes to route mainly at Hammoon, Bryanston, Pamphill, Ilford Lane
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(Members Only)
MemoryMap Route File
Stour Valley Way (Dorset) Memory Map Route File
Last Updated 14/07/2022 19:07:26 - Minor changes to route mainly at Hammoon, Bryanston, Pamphill, Ilford Lane
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(Members Only)
Tracklogs Route File
Stour Valley Way (Dorset) Tracklogs Route File
Last Updated 14/07/2022 19:07:26 - Minor changes to route mainly at Hammoon, Bryanston, Pamphill, Ilford Lane
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(Members Only)

Route Profile:

98.4 km (61.1 miles)
1,250 m (4,101 ft) ascent
216 m (709 ft)  maximum height

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