The Stour Valley Way is a scenic 64-mile footpath in Dorset that begins at Stourhead National Trust in Stourton, Wiltshire, and follows the river Stour all the way to Hengistbury Head on the Dorset coast. To avoid confusion with other rivers of the same name in the UK, it’s often called the Dorset Stour.
Along its route, the river Stour winds through Gillingham, the Blackmore Vale, Sturminster Newton, Blandford, Wimborne, and Christchurch, eventually reaching the English Channel.
While some sections of the Stour Valley Way run alongside roads, the trail also offers plenty of quieter riverside paths. There are numerous shorter off-road walks along the river Stour that are perfect for discovering hidden corners of Dorset’s countryside and charming towns.
The river Stour is also a popular river in Dorset for paddle boarding and cycling.
Stour Valley Nature Reserve
43 Granby Road, Bournemouth BH9 3NZ
A good place to start exploring the Stour Valley Way if you live near Bournemouth is to start at the Stour Valley Nature Reserve. There is a small car park onsite with free parking, but it does get quite busy, so you may need to find alternative roadside parking nearby.
The nature reserve runs along the river Stour across two miles around the reserve. Onsite you can discover the Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre, where you can enjoy light refreshments in the Kingfisher Cafe, and discover the onsite activities that run throughout the year.
Walking past the visitor centre, you will arrive at the river Stour. From here you can choose to walk to the left or right. To the right you will discover the arboretum, a collection of trees from around the world. You could spot a Monkey Puzzle tree, Eucalyptus, Silver Maple tree and many more.
Stour Valley Nature Reserve is home to over 120 different species of birds including the kingfisher, Great Spotted woodpecker and plenty more. If you’re very quiet and luck is on your side you might even spot some otters in the river.
A popular activity for visitors aside from walking at the reserve is fishing, and if you’re enjoying a walk be prepared to spot plenty of keen anglers on the river banks. Dogs are welcome on and off lead through the paths, but keep them under control around the wildlife.
Stour Valley Walks
With 64 miles to cover, you can expect to find plenty of different walks to discover and explore. There are circular walks along the Stour Valley Way if you are looking to start and finish in one place, or alternatively why not explore smaller sections of the trails.
Stour Valley Nature Reserve To Throop Walk
This popular Throop Mill walk is around two miles in distance. Starting at the visitor centre at the nature reserve to Throop Mill, the circular walk is four miles in total.
When you reach the river at the nature reserve, follow the path right along the river Stour. If you enjoy river walks in Dorset, you can wander along plenty of the river during this walk. You can either follow the path away from the river, or the grass area next to the river is also accessible, just a little soggy in the Winter months.
The path is well signposted, with plenty of way markers along the way, so there isn’t much hope of getting lost.
This walk will take you past fields of cows and sheep, as well as plenty of open green space, and if you’re quiet there are lots of nature calls to be heard.
There is a small section of road walking but traffic is generally quite quiet. When you reach Throop village, continue walking until you reach the abandoned Throop Mill. From here you can follow the Stour Valley Way trail behind the mill and across a bridge over the water.
At this point you will have walked around two miles and if you want a shorter walk back to the nature reserve then it’s time to turn around and retrace your steps.
Stour Valley Nature Reserve Circular Walk
If you wish to walk around seven miles, then this Stour Valley circular walk begins at the nature reserve until you reach Throop Mill as described above. From here, follow the path behind the mill and walk along the paths keeping the river Stour on your left hand side.
You will pass Merritown Farm on your left hand side until you reach another sign post showing you the way over a stile to the footpath. This section of the walk takes you through fields, however follow the waymarkers and you will be walking along the right paths until you reach Church Road and Bramble Farm a little further along. Your walk will bring you back to the car park at the nature reserve.
Eye Bridge Circular Walk
This walk is just over three miles, mainly off road but there are stiles to navigate.
Starting from Eye Bridge car park (553 Cowgrove Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 4EL), go over the stile on your left as you look towards the river. Here you will see the path splits, so take the left path towards the road.
If you’re looking to break up your walk, or perhaps a treat at the end, try the Vine Inn, one of the many dog friendly pubs in Dorset.
After you have crossed the road, walk to your right before reaching a stile on your left. From here you can follow the hedge until you spot the Stour Valley Way sign post.
Related post – Dog walks in Wimborne
This walk will take you across the stream and through woodland until you arrive at Pamphill Moor. Walking up the hill the path levels out over Pamphill Common and you will spot the electricity pylon.
There is some road to walk along past the school and cricket pitch before joining the track to Cowgrove again. Once you walk past Manor Cottage you will spot a path on your left which takes you to another stile.
Once you pass the farm tracks, you can turn left towards Cowgrove Common near Poplar Farm. Opposite the farm you will see a thatched cottage. Follow the river Stour back to the car park.
White Mill And Shapwick Circular Walk
This 4 mile circular walk begins in the car park opposite White Mill in Wimborne (BH21 4BX). Turning right, walk towards Shapwick along the Stour Valley Way. Follow the paths for just over 2 miles, passing through squeeze stiles before you arrive at St Bartholomew’s Church near Shapwick.
The footpath signs will direct you through the village and past the Anchor Inn. Walk up the high street until you reach a junction. Turn right towards Crab Farm and right again down the bridlepath. At the bottom of the path, turn left and return back along the roads to White Mill car park.
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No dogs permitted on the White Mill stretch. Livestock in the fields. Important information that needs to be provided.
I’m very grateful for the amount of work you’ve put into this but unfortunately it’s very hard to identify start and end locations from the information provided and using Google map.
Hi, there are so many short walks along the Stour Valley Way that I deliberately haven’t covered a start and end point. As we discover more of the trail and walks, we’ll be updating the post and adding more in.