The best MTB trails around Tarrant Gunville

Why It’s Actually Cool (Literally) The Font: There’s a 12th-century font inside that’s older than the actual building. It’s basically the antique heirloom that the new house was built around. The Peace and Quiet: It’s located in a "Winterborne" village. For the uninitiated, a winterborne is a stream that only flows in winter. So, half the year the village is "Kingston by the Stream" and the other half it's just "Kingston by the Dry Ditch." The church remains consistently stoic regardless of the water table. The Tower: It’s got a modest, sturdy tower that says, "I’m not trying to touch the heavens, I’m just trying to make sure the bell-ringers have a roof." Is it worth a visit? Absolutely. It’s the kind of place where you can sit in a pew, enjoy the silence, and wonder if the vicar in 1872 also thought the new carvings were "a bit much." It’s peaceful, it’s historic, and it hasn’t been turned into a luxury apartment complex yet—which is a win in 2026!

If you’re looking for a church that perfectly captures the "I’ve been standing in this field since the 14th century and my back kind of hurts" vibe, St Nicholas in Winterborne Kingston is your spot. It’s a charming, flint-and-stone hug of a building nestled in the Dorset countryside. Here’s the lowdown on why this place is more than just a backdrop for a period drama. The "Wait, How Old Is It?" Factor The church mostly dates back to the 14th century, though like any good Dorset homeowner, the locals couldn't resist a massive renovation. In the 1870s, a fellow named George Edmund Street (who also designed the Royal Courts of Justice in London) decided to give it a "glow-up." The Result: A mix of genuine medieval grit and Victorian "we have a very specific vision for how pious this should look" energy. The Vibe: It’s cozy. If "hygge" was a religious architectural style, this would be it. The Flinty Exterior The church is built with knapped flint and bands of stone. It basically looks like a very sophisticated, holy chessboard. Pro Tip: Don't try to count the flints. You will lose, and the sheep in the nearby field will judge you.

The North Dorset Trailway Connection Today, Spetisbury Station is a popular access point for the North Dorset Trailway. Trailhead: The section of the Trailway running from Spetisbury north to Sturminster Newton, largely following the old railway bed, is a well-maintained, traffic-free path for walking, cycling, and riding. Visitor Stop: The former station site makes a perfect place to stop, rest, and picnic while exploring the Trailway, offering fine views over the Stour Valley. It's a wonderful example of local history being preserved and repurposed for community and recreation!

The Spetisbury Station Project Unlike the bridge at Blandford, which remains a preserved structure, the Spetisbury station site is being actively restored by volunteers. The Project: The Spetisbury Station Project Group was formed in 2012 by dedicated volunteers to clear and preserve the abandoned site. What You Can See: While the original station buildings were demolished shortly after the 1956 closure, the project has cleared the site to reveal the foundations of the station buildings, the booking office, and the signal box. Ambience: The site is now a peaceful, landscaped green space featuring picnic areas, benches, and information boards. Volunteers have added replica signage and restored the platforms to recreate the atmosphere of the former country station. Wildlife Haven: The site is also managed to be a haven for local wildlife, with features like a wildlife pond, bat boxes, and specific flower borders.

The Railway and Closure Original Line: Spetisbury Station was located on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR), which connected Bath to Bournemouth. Opening: It originally opened on November 1, 1860, as part of the Dorset Central Railway's line from Wimborne to Blandford. It initially had a single platform. Double Track: Around 1901, the line was doubled through the station, and a second platform and a signal box were added to handle the increased traffic. Downgrade: Like many rural stations seeking to cut costs, it was downgraded to an unstaffed "halt" in 1934. Passenger Closure: The station closed completely to passengers on September 17, 1956, one of the early closures on the S&D line. Line Closure: Although the station itself was closed, the main S&DJR line through the site continued to operate passenger services until the whole route closed in March 1966. Goods traffic ceased in 1969, and the track was lifted in 1970.

Historic Significance: It is a Grade I Listed Building (the highest level of protection), noted for its special architectural and historic interest. Age: The first record of the bridge dates back to 1334, suggesting its medieval origins, with parts of the current structure likely dating to the 15th century. Construction: It is built of coursed rubble and ashlar stone and features nine semi-circular arches. Widening: The bridge was widened in 1819. The upstream side is the original, medieval part and features triangular cut-waters which extend up to form pedestrian refuges. The downstream side is the later, plainer widening. Inscriptions: There is a reset stone on the east side of the bridge inscribed with the year 1719. Name Origin: The bridge is named Crawford Bridge because it carries the road from Spetisbury to Tarrant Crawford. The nearby area of Spetisbury was historically one of three manors, including Great Crawford.

The church has its origins in the early 14th century, the Decorated style of that period being well shown by the western tower, its bell-openings are typical of the style. Despite later work the style is also repeated in the southern doorway to the nave and also in the chancel so there is no doubt that originally the church was a single campaign build of the first half of the 14th century. Sporadic work in centuries between that build & the inevitable Victorian changes can be seen, a few windows show Tudor styling of the 16th century, notably 2 windows of a 4-light construction on the southern face. The Victorian work dates from 1873 when not only was the church thoroughly restored but the northern aisle and vestry were added to the fabric, the eastern window of the chancel was also a product of this campaign.

Durweston Mill is a Grade II listed building, that has been converted into a holiday accommodation with two apartments, Coopers and Riverside, overlooking the River Stour. It also features a separate 5-acre private island with glamping and camping facilities, which are open for bookings and offer activities like fishing, wild swimming, and dog walking.