WALKS IN DORSET at WEST STOUR, STOUR PROVOST & FIFEHEAD MAGDALEN (4K)

In this episode of my series “ Walks in Dorset”, I take a 3 mile circular walk between the villages of West Stour, Stour Provost & Fifehead Magdalen in the Blackmore Vale area of North Dorset. Once again I am accompanied by my Whippet, Logan.
I park my car at The Ship Inn at West Stour and begin my walk with a wander through the village, up to the Church of St Mary.
Retracing my steps, I cross the A30 and head South across fields towards the River Stour. After crossing the bridge over the river, I continue along footpaths over fields towards the village of Stour Provost.
This village is full of pretty houses and thatched cottages - and there is the Church of St Michaels & All Angels to visit.
I then head West, passing by a delightful old mill by the river, and make my way uphill - again on footpaths over fields.
My next destination is the village of Fifehead Magdalen where I get to see my third church of the walk - the Church of St Mary Magdalene.
The final leg of my route takes me North back to West Stour to my final destination - The Ship Inn.
XXXXX Please note that the route includes walking along the busy A30 for about 100 yards where there is NO PAVEMENT (see video for full details) and so great care is needed along that section. It may be safer to turn back at Fifehead Magdalen & retrace your steps back to West Stour - effectively making it a 5 mile “out & back” walk.
For a copy of the route map, please go to the Facebook page "Dave's Countryside Walks" and input the name of the walk in the "search bar". That should bring up the post for this walk which will include a number of photos - one of which will be the route map (which you can then print off).
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, 8 or 10 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.

[@charlesfulcrum3170]

Thanks Dave, yet another enchanting and educational walk in beautiful Dorset.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Charles.

[@jeanblemings5352]

Looked like a very peaceful walk (apart from last little bit on A30). The only thing under par were the blackberries!! I loved the way the clock seemed to have just been slapped onto the tower of the second church and the second font at the third church looked like a bit of a cut and shut job! There is always so much on interest in your videos. Thank you!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Jean. Yes, i don't think that Logan was very impressed with the quality of the blackberries!

[@catherinef7340]

Thank you Dave and Logan for another fantastic video. Your walks are pure escapism and so interesting and informative. Beautiful scenery and the skies are stunning! Looking forward to the next one 😀

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Catherine. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Hello Dave. Another glorious walk in Dorset. When you mentioned that old lock-up, used to hold prisoners prior to sending them onward to Andover, it made me think. I've been around the town since the 1970s and I've never heard of the town having even a basic prison. Google confirms the presence of a jail in the early 19th century and even pin points it on the map. Alas, no trace survives to this day. That aside, Dorset is a beautiful county and you and Logan enjoyed some glorious sunshine alongside the river Stour.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Lionel and indeed thanks for watching.

[@martincannon1078]

Another relaxing and enchanting walk in lovely Dorset with our dear friend Dave and his wonderful Logan. Thank God it"s Friday! Heavy rain here in Lyon, France...At last! Months of no rain, just too much sunshine, you get fed up in the end. But then I'm still English.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Martin. It is raining heavily over in Dorset at the moment as well!

[@geoffw8565]

Great walk Dave and isn't Dorset such a wonderful county and the beauty of the River Stour. Regarding the A30, up to the age of 10 I lived in London and after that near Twickenham and yes we took the A30 for our family holidays to Devon and Cornwall. I remember Shaftsbury and going past a pub called ' The Rising Sun ' and used to sing the Animals song ( leaving out New Orleans bit ) ' There is a house in Shaftsbury and it called the Rising Sun ' Also my father used to get exasperated at the traffic jams on the A30 through Honiton.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Geoff. Ah .... the roads in Dorset!

[@eldred1809]

Dave, a lovely walk in the north Dorset countryside. Quite an unusual position for the clock on the Stour Provost church tower, it looked unbalanced somehow. Are/were you a church architect/surveyor by trade, you seem very knowledgeable in your building descriptions? Or is it just hours of research? I do think you should put your pub "research" to good use and start a sister channel, "Dave's Good Pub Guide"!

[@DaveFord]

Yes, the positioning of the clock was a little unusual - I presume the arch opening was in the way? Looks like it wasn't working either as I certainly wasn't filming either at 7.05am or 7.05pm!. Not a surveyor or architect - just a small bit of research. Fortunately there are usually quite a few good sources for each church (ie church website, village website, historic England, Arthur Mee's "Kings England" books etc). Good idea about the sister channel!

[@highlandexplorer990]

👍 Beautiful countryside walk! 🚶‍♂ Enjoyed the historical insights 🏰 and the serene river views 🌊. Those gates at Fivehead House are fascinating! 🌿 Cheers from afar! 🍻

[@DaveFord]

Thank you.

[@cathpeterson1944]

beautiful countryside West Stour, luv the old churches and Ship Inn fascinating history too

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Cath. :)

[@timrosenburgh8597]

Another enjoyable video Dave We have been watching your video walks with Logan for quite a while and thought it was about time we subscribed to your channel. We go to Dorset quite a lot and it's nice to try some of your walks. Look forward to the next one.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Tim and indeed welcome to the channel as a subscriber! I hope that you enjoy the future videos in the series. Thanks for watching.

[@melissaphillips3088]

Morning Dave ☀️ Looks lovely . Looking forward to another walk with you and Logan.

[@DaveFord]

Hi Melissa. The River Stour is one of my favourite rivers!

[@keithjoseph5671]

Stunning walk in the countryside with lots of beautiful views

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Keith.

[@mattphillips9107]

Thank you Dave and Logan for another delightful walk 👏

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Matt. :)

[@hm4079]

Yet another one of Dave's walks completed today. So thank you Dave! N.B. If anyone is attempting this route currently (Oct 23) please note the water table has risen after this rainy period. It is quite muddy, but just about passable. So wellies are advisable!! Thanks Henry and Beth.

[@DaveFord]

Glad that you have a good walk. Alas, the one "negative" about walking along or close to the River Stour is that it has a tendency to regularly flood! One of my favourite rivers though.

[@hm4079]

@@DaveFord Thanks Dave. Yes, it maybe a negative but the beauty of the area completely outweighs a bit of mud. We really enjoyed meeting lots of turkeys at the old mill. Not sure what our little dachshunds made of them though! Keep up the great work!