The best traffic-free bike rides around Stony Down Plantation

A church where services are celebrated in different forms. Architecturally and historically very interesting and also valuable.

If you’re looking for a town that feels like a giant, historical treasure chest, Wimborne MinsterClick to open side panel for more information is the place to be. It’s a quirky mix of ancient legends, beautiful architecture, and a slightly obsession with things being very, very small. The Heart of the Town The town is dominated by the Wimborne Minster Parish OfficeClick to open side panel for more information and the stunning church itself, which has been standing for over 1,300 years. It’s famous for its unique "twinned" towers and some seriously cool interior features. The Chained Library: It’s home to one of the few surviving chained libraries in the world, where the books are literally locked to the shelves to stop medieval students from "borrowing" them forever. The Quarter Jack: Keep an eye on the exterior clock; a colorful figure known as the Quarter Jack strikes the bells every fifteen minutes. He’s been on duty since 1612! The Man in the Wall: Look for the tomb of Anthony Ettrick, who was convinced he’d die in a specific year and had his coffin built into the wall of the church so he wouldn't be buried "in" or "outside" the consecrated ground.

nice ride

Great pub walk on the stour valley way

A beautiful ancient bridge lovely views in all seasons x

White Mill is an 18th-century water powered corn mill near Sturminster Marshall in Dorset on the River Stour which is in the care of the National Trust. The first record of a mill on the site is from Domesday Book; the current watermill was rebuilt in 1776 and extensively repaired in 1994. It still retains its original elm and applewood machinery though this can no longer be used. The mill and house are both built of brick with tiled roofs. The mill house has two stories whist the mill has three with an attic. The house has a single story lean-to extension and a timber porch. The machinery and mill stones remain but the two water wheels are no longer present. The present mill is thought to be on the site of an earlier one, probably one of those mentioned in Domesday Book. The current mill was rebuilt in 1776 on older foundations. The tenancy of the mill was the held by successive members of the Joyce family. The mill worked under water power until 1866 when a severe winter flood caused damage that was deemed beyond economic repair. The miller at the time was also a baker and he converted half of the mill to run from a portable steam engine to supply his bakery with flour. The last miller retired at the end of the 19th-century and the mill was not used again

There are documentary references to the building of "A Bridge on the River Stour adjacent to the White Mill" in the year 1175. Although the bridge you'll see today is probably a sixteenth century structure (somewhat hacked around by the Victorians). It is known, from an investigation of the foundations a few years ago, that the bridge stands on timber pilings which have themselves been carbon dated to the twelfth century. This is alleged to be the oldest bridge site in Dorset. Note the bridge warning plate "Any person wilfully damaging any part of this County Bridge will be guilty of Felony and upon conviction liable to be Transported For Life by the court"

Shapwick is a village and civil parish in east Dorset, England, situated on the River Stour five miles south-east of Blandford Forum and eight miles north of Poole. The village has a population of around 200 people, 9 dogs, 12 cats and 3 sheep, and an angry squirrel named Dennis. In Roman times there was a Roman Fort at Crab Farm, between Shapwick and Badbury Rings. Just to the west of the fort was a small Romano-British town, believed to be that listed in the Antonine Itinerary as Vindocladia.