The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Sturminster Newton

What an absolute cracking pit stop. Extremely good prices on all the food. Only stopped for few coffees and toasted teacakes. Friendly staff and very clean.

The North Dorset Trailway is a 14-mile multi-use path for walkers, cyclists, and equestrians. It follows the course of the disused Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway line between Sturminster Newton and Spetisbury. The flat, surfaced route is traffic-free and offers beautiful views of the River Stour and the Blackmore Vale countryside.

Fiddleford Mill is an 18th-century structure near the River Stour, mentioned in the Domesday Book. Although the mill building is disused and not open to the public, it is adjacent to the much older Fiddleford Manor, a magnificent 14th-century English Heritage property known for its spectacular timber roofs.

It is the Church of England Parish Church and is a notable building, designated as a Grade I Listed structure. History: The present church dates from a rebuild in 1486 by the Abbots of Glastonbury and retains a significant carved wagon roof. A popular walking route goes along Penny Lane and Church Lane to reach the churchyard, which is why it's closely associated with Penny Street.

The railway bridge ruins are the abutments (supports) of the former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway bridge over the River Stour. The line, which linked Bath and Bournemouth, closed in 1966 as part of the Beeching Cuts. The main span was demolished, leaving the brick and stone piers visible from the nearby Colber Footbridge. The old railway route is now part of the North Dorset Trailway.

Colber Bridge is an elegant Grade II Listed footbridge crossing the River Stour upstream of Sturminster Newton Mill. Built of cast iron and coursed rubble in 1841 by J. Conway, it stands near the ruins of the old railway bridge. It is particularly known as a popular and picturesque spot for wild swimming and is a featured landmark on many local walking trails, offering beautiful views of the Dorset countryside.

Sturminster Newton 'Castle' is the ruinous remains of a 14th-century medieval manor house constructed within the earthworks of an Iron Age hillfort. Originally belonging to Glastonbury Abbey, it was later granted to Katherine Parr by Henry VIII. The remains, which are on private land, are a Grade II* listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The bridge you are referring to is officially known as Town Bridge (or Sturminster Newton Bridge), though it is often referred to as a "County Bridge" due to its historical significance and maintenance. Here are the key details about this historic structure in Sturminster Newton, Dorset: Historical Significance and Features Age: It is a remarkably old bridge, dating from the late 15th or early 16th century (circa 1500). It replaced a historic fording point on the River Stour. Structure: It is a multi-span stone arch bridge with six two-centred arches spanning the River Stour. Listing Status: It is a Grade I Listed Building (List Entry Number: 1110531) by Historic England, which means it is of exceptional interest. Widening: The bridge was widened from 12ft to 18ft in the 17th century. Later, in 1820, one of the central cutwaters (the pointed projections on the piers) was repaired. Pedestrian Refuges: The bridge features larger, central cutwaters that are corbelled out to form pedestrian refuges (small alcoves) to either side of the roadway. The "Transportation for Life" Plaque One of the most famous and curious features of the bridge is an iron plaque affixed within one of the downstream pedestrian refuges. The inscription on this plaque reads: "ANY PERSON WILFULLY INJURING ANY PART OF THIS COUNTY BRIDGE WILL BE GUILTY OF FELONY AND UPON CONVICTION LIABLE TO BE TRANSPORTED FOR LIFE." This plaque is a reminder of the harsh laws of the 19th century, though it is reported that no one was ever transported for damaging this specific bridge. Literary Connection The bridge holds a connection to English literature. It is the one featured in the poem "On Sturminster Bridge" by Thomas Hardy, who lived in the town from 1876 to 1878 while writing his novel The Return of the Native.