WALKS IN DORSET at STURMINSTER NEWTON & FIDDLEFORD (the RIVER STOUR) [4K]

This is another video in my series “Walks in Dorset” accompanied by my Whippet (Logan). In this episode, I visit the town of Sturminster Newton (8 miles North West of Blandford Forum) and surrounding area.
My 4 mile circular walk starts at the Sturminster Newton Mill (where I park my car in the free car park) which is located to the South of the town just off the A357. I head North following the banks of the River Stour, passing by a cottage that Thomas Hardy lived in for a couple of years in the 1870's.
I find “Colber Bridge” where I recite one of Hardy's poems “On Sturminster Footbridge” before continuing along the river bank to the old railway bridge. I then head in to the town and pay a visit to the church before heading out East (again following the River Stour) to Fiddleford Mill.
Alas Fiddleford Manor (owned by English Heritage) was closed so I could only view it from a distance before turning South, over the A357, and in to Piddles Wood where I got to enjoy the most wonderful display of bluebells in the golden Spring sunshine.
After passing through the settlement of Broad Oak, I walk along the side of a meadow, back over a stream and finally back to Sturminster Newton - viewing the ruins of a 14th century fortified manor house located on top of an iron age hill fort just towards the end.
A super walk with two mills, an enchanting river, a pretty town, an exquisite bluebell wood , an iron age hill fort and some stunning landscape views.
PS I am sorry if the audio appears a little "distorted" at times during the video. I was having issues with my microphone!
Map courtesy of Google Maps.
For further videos in the series, please go to: / @daveford or my website at daveford5966.w...
My Facebook page is: / davescountrysidewalks
I use a GOPRO HERO 7 Black Action Camera (sometimes with a Gimbal) & a Rode microphone (either a “Shotgun” or a Rode Wireless Go) together with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS.

[@arriesone1]

Lovely reading of the poem, done with great feeling.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. It was such a lovely setting!

[@catherineshipley5799]

Beautiful Bluebells

[@simoncattanach1777]

Just wonderful!!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Simon.

[@dafadowndilly8919]

I have. just found your channel , so will be binge watching. Thank you for sharing your lovely walks.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you & indeed welcome to the channel. I hope that you enjoy the future videos in the series.

[@virgilcurtin2664]

Lovely day out, well done.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you 👍

[@dianespears6057]

A nice area. I have actually walked in the area. Always enjoy your walks. From the USA.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Diane. Glad you are enjoying the series. Thanks for watching.

[@johntrafford6731]

Really enjoyed that. Thank you.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you John

[@paulrunell7821]

you have a great style to your programs

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Paul.

[@SlipdeGarcondeJour]

Broad Oak resident here - welcome to my manor :)

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. What a lovely area to live in!

[@tubemonks]

We lived in Broad Oak for 11 years (Apple Tree Cottage) and loved the area. So nice to see it again.

[@DaveFord]

A lovely part of the world to live in for sure. Thanks for watching.

[@SlipdeGarcondeJour]

I live down the end of the lane from there 🙂

[@seanarthurjoyce7366]

In the fine tradition of Jack Hargreaves' Old Country series, though you see how much life ways have changed in Dorset since then. Could you do a Walks in Dorset episode on White Mill near Sturminster Marshall? Several generations of my Joyce ancestors lived at White Mill as millers and tenant farmers. Visited there in 2009. Absolutely lovely.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks for the "heads up" about White Mill. Will add that to my list of future walks (might be next year now as the 2023 schedule has already been planned / prepared etc).

[@justwalk-travelasmrchannel1876]

Just awesome!! New fan here ✌️

[@DaveFord]

Thank you!

[@caerleon9176]

My Daughter and Grand Daughter live in the village, lovely place to grow up. From Poole myself.

[@joesherwood-taylor6170]

Town, please!

[@caerleon9176]

@@joesherwood-taylor6170 Poole is indeed a Town, but Sturminster I would say is a village.

[@kathleensturman2261]

Stur is a thriving town. I’ve been here for over 20 years. There are many shops, a Library, 3 pubs, leisure centre, football club, 4 hairdressers, 2 barbers, post office, 2 supermarkets with an Aldi soon, 2 industrial estates, funeral directors, large events theatre, butchers, bakers, fish and chip shop, Indian restaurant, 3 car mechanics, boxing club, 5 cafes, 2 dentists, pharmacy and 3 estate agents.

[@kimfielding8010]

My bull dogs favourite dip🐶

[@DaveFord]

It is always great to have a "pit stop" for a "dog dip" on a walk for sure! Thanks for watching Kim.

[@karl9152]

That well you mentioned is in our garden , my partner wrote a article about the castle in Dorset life ,still looking for the gold.

[@DaveFord]

Wow.... let me know if you need any help looking! Thanks for watching.

[@CliveBishop]

Great! Many years ago my grandson & I walked from Shillingstone Station to Sturminster Newton along the old railway track and then to the Fiddleford Arms where I can remember their Frogs Legs until eternity! Those were the days...

[@DaveFord]

I hope to do a video walk along that track some time next year - it looks so interesting. :)

[@rachelt-s]

Beautiful walk and Amazing Bluebell's. May is my favourite time of the year. Thank you for sharing Dave. 😀

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Rachel. It really was a super Spring day for that walk.

[@craigmarsh3221]

Good evening dave fantastic video its really interesting about the Somerset & Dorset railway it looks like another walk to do very soon keep the videos coming.craig.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Craig. There is a fair bit of interesting history within the town - a fascinating place to visit.

[@tonycarbisnewmusic8741]

Sturminster is a beautiful area. I particularly like your Dorset walks as it is my neck of the woods. Do you think you might do a Portland walk one day? Anyway, thanks for a great channel. My wife and I are gradually working our way through the videos. Pass on our regards to Logan!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Tony. Yes, I have done a Portland walk - it should be coming out sometime soon in June.

[@wiseowl6354]

Lovely Dave & Logan. Always look forward to them. ❤️

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. It is a lovely part of Dorset.

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

I’m sure Fiddleford mill will be open now. We will certainly make a point of visiting that area soon. I’ve never been to Sturminster Newton, indeed, I only know the name through the Somerset & Dorset railway. Both those mills looked interesting and worth a look. That old stone bridge and all the little wooden bridges were equally beautiful. You obviously went at the right time for the bluebells, which we will miss by a considerable few months. Thanks again to yourself and Logan for a great video.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Lionel. Yes .... Spring is certainly the best time to go there, that is for sure.

[@rob4fan]

Hello Dave and Logan, I was just wondering if you have made a Countryside Walks video of Badbury Rings and the surrounding area. Cheers mate, love your work 👍

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Ken. I haven't done a walk at Badbury Rings yet. I have got a couple planned for the 2023 season not too far away from there at Spetisbury & Wimborne Minster but I certainly intend to film one at Badbury Rings at some stage. Thanks for watching.

[@rob4fan]

I'll look forward to it Dave👍

[@cathydyer3774]

Thank you Dave. What a beautiful walk, especially with the blue skies and River Stour and the bluebells. Thanks for the Thomas Hardy facts. The marriage with Emma was not all happy.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Cathy and indeed thank you for watching.

[@jenniepym6562]

Loved watching this walk, thank you.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Jennie and indeed thank you for watching.

[@joesherwood-taylor6170]

As a long time resident of Stur and now Broad Oak I've done these walks many times, but very much enjoyed the video and will share with some friends.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Joe & indeed thank you for watching.

[@doreenfawcett9717]

Awww blue bells I love them very interesting walk . Loved the Thomas Hardy aria 😊 lovely . Down we go digging for the treasure hahaha

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Dee. It certainly was a great display of bluebells there!

[@dianeknott3655]

We visited Hardy's cottage one spring, Dave, when the bluebells were blooming on a little path behind it. There were two women artists sitting outside of the cottage with their watercolors painting it. It was so nice to chat with fellow artists in such an evocative location. I snapped a photo and did my own rendition of the cottage in watercolor when we got home from our trip. Delightful to see the bluebells in your video! It's also wonderful to see Hardy country still unspoiled for the most part.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Diane. It is a lovely art of the world around there.

[@Originalspruce]

Must have missed this one. Such a picturesque walk Dave. Stunning scenery. Dorset is beautiful!

[@DaveFord]

It certainly is Mark .... although the Stour can flood "big time" around that area!

[@dawnyWestScotland]

What a lovely walk just beautiful, and a sweet kiss on Logan’s head.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. Logan is a good lad!

[@bobbyspix]

Thanks for another great video Dave and Logan.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Robert

[@Jinny_s_Planet]

Hi Dave, I came across your channel as I am doing an area research for my own video. I must say, you take some lovely pictures and footage. Thank you so much for producing some lovely videos. I'm heading on to watch other videos of yours now. P.S. Logan is very cute.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you for your kind comments. I hope that you enjoy the future videos in the series. Thanks for watching.

[@SkylarkFields]

Another great video which I thoroughly enjoyed. It wouldn't be the same without Logan trotting along beside you though! As I have a dog myself, it is good to be able to see how much of any walk can be off lead.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. I recall a couple of fields with livestock that meant Logan having to be on lead but, from memory, there were plenty of opportunities for "off lead" walking including some woodland.

[@SkylarkFields]

@@DaveFord Yes you did mention putting Logan on lead because of cattle in one of the fields. I thought that was very helpful information, so thank you. Great to know there is plenty of space for off lead too. I really feel I must drag my hubby up there for a nice walk along the river before winter sets in. Although I bet it is beautiful in the frost or light snow, as well as in the springtime with the bluebells and new leaves!

[@jacquelinebarratt4647]

Have you visited Shillingstone railway?

[@DaveFord]

Yes indeed, Logan & I finished up at Shillingstone Railway station at the end of our walk at Hambledon Hill. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mniyoZmHobR4b8k