The best running trails around Stourpaine

All aboard for a massive hit of nostalgia! Shillingstone Station is like a beautifully preserved 1950s time capsule tucked away in the Dorset countryside. Once a vital stop on the legendary Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (the "Slow and Dirty"), it’s now being lovingly restored by a team of dedicated volunteers. You can wander the original platforms, explore vintage signal boxes, and even have tea in a converted railway carriage. It’s the perfect spot to pretend you're an extra in Brief Encounter while the North Dorset Trailway hikers buzz past. No trains to Bath today, but the atmosphere is pure gold!

The structure you see today stands in isolation in the flood meadows and acts as a major landmark for the area. North Dorset Trailway: The former railway line's route, including the embankment leading up to the remaining arches, has been repurposed as the North Dorset Trailway. This popular multi-use path is enjoyed by walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, and stretches for miles along the former trackbed. Stour Meadows Park: The park itself is a beautiful area for recreation and nature walks, situated next to the River Stour, and the preserved arches are a key historic feature on the route. Essentially, the remaining spans of the railway bridge are a powerful, tangible reminder of a celebrated piece of British railway history that once played a vital role in the commercial and social life of Blandford Forum.

The former railway bridge in Stour Meadows (part of the wider flood meadows near the River Stour) is significant for several reasons: The Line: It carried the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway line, which ran a crucial cross-country route connecting Bath to Bournemouth. The Town's Station: The bridge was essential for the railway to reach the final location of Blandford Forum Station, which opened north of the River Stour in 1863. This required the extension of the line from its original temporary terminus south of the river at Blandford St Mary. Closure: The entire S&DJR line, often referred to simply as the "S&D," was closed as a result of the infamous Beeching Cuts. The Blandford station closed to passengers in March 1966, with the track eventually lifted around 1969. Demolition & Preservation: Following the line's closure, the original railway bridge that crossed the River Stour was largely demolished. However, two of its arches/spans were saved and are still visible in the meadows today. This is thanks to the efforts of local groups, like the Blandford Railway Arches Trust, who recognized their historical importance.

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.

Using the power of moving water to drive a mill wheel is an ancient invention of the human spirit of discovery, the origins of which can be traced back to times long past. Thanks to such a construction, a watercourse - natural or artificial - could simply replace human or animal muscle power with the power of the natural elements, for example to grind grain into corn or to press oil from fruit. There are essentially two different ways of driving watermills: * Either the flowing water simply hits the blades of the water wheel from below to set it in motion; or * the water is guided - usually through a so-called "mill channel" - above the wheel and falls onto the blades; this type of construction is more efficient due to natural gravity.

Try the food at the station lovely pasties

I imagine it to be a nice little cafe selling cakes, teas and coffees. unfortunately it only opens from 10am on a saturday

A very welcome stop to let your legs recover for a bit.