The beaches in Dorset can fill up quickly but there are plenty of other places, away from the crowds, to escape the high temperatures. It may even be possible to find your own little spot! However, not all are easy to get to, some require a little more of an adventure than others. Landowners may also impose certain rules so please take notice of any warnings.
For coastal swimming see the Jurassic Coast page
For River walks see Dorset Rivers
Of course, care is needed. These hidden little watering holes are not made for our own leisure! They are natural, they do not adhere to health and safety regulations. If parking is full or difficult, find another place to visit, there are plenty of options (not all spots have vehicular access). Please be safe, respect the environment and stick to the footpaths.
The legalites of accessing water inland is seen as a grey area, however the following is claimed by the Outdoor Swimming Society:
- There is a right to enter the water where a footpath or highway enters or crosses water.
- Where a footpath or highway runs alongside the water there may be strong arguments that you can enter the water from it, because of the historical purpose of those paths.
- The landowner owns the banks and the river bed, but not the water. As the water is not owned, swimmers and paddlers might interpret this as meaning there is a right to swim or paddle, though others might take a different view.
- Access to enter water over private land is allowed on a public footpath or highway. Elsewhere it is sometimes tolerated and a well established custom. However, it is technically trespass, which is a civil ‘wrong’.
- Sometimes swimmers are challenged even when they shouldn’t be, because rights are unclear. It is best to always stay calm, politely explain your understanding of your position, and respect other water users.
The River Stour is Dorset’s main river, almost splitting the county into two. Starting at Stourhead in Wiltshire, it travels though villages and hamlets of Thomas Hardy’s literary landscape of The Vale of the little Dairies, known in reality as the Blackmore Vale. Passing the small towns of Sturminster Newton and Blandford Forum and then larger conurbations of Wimborne, Poole and Bournemouth, it eventually reaches the sea at Christchurch Harbour, and escaping out into the world past Hengistbury Head.
Scattered along it’s banks are many fishing spots and there are a few locations where access is possible and the river is shallow. It makes these little havens perfect for a refreshing escape.
Access is limited to footpaths and small, narrow country roads. However, the increasingly popular North Dorset Trailway follows the majority of the meandering route of the Stour and is a handy bike route.
Dorset’s second largest river is the Frome flowing from Evershot, through Dorchester to Poole Harbour. The River Piddle runs parallel to it, both of which curve through their own low lying flood plains, skimming past Dorchester and through Thomas Hardy’s Vale of the Great Dairies.
Here is a small list of walks/rides with wild swimming, paddling and splashing spots:
On the River Stour
On the River Frome
Other rivers perfect for paddling!
Tarrant Monkton (River Tarrant)
For members, a few extra splashing spots, perfect for a refresh and a picnic!…
Sshhh… Don’t tell anyone!
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If visiting White Mill, be sure to look out for the missing Knowlton bells! Many years ago Knowlton was known for it’s beautifully sounding bells. But the church fell into disrepair (now in the ownerships of English Heritage and free to visit today). Many years ago the villagers of Sturminster Marshall just so happened to require some bells for their own church and decided, in the middle of the night, to steal Knowlton’s.
Traipsing across the southern part of Cranborne Chase they were able to stealthy dismantle them. The Knowlton villagers were woken by the disturbance, but not until the thieves were escaping. They followed in hot pursuit back across the Chase. On reaching White Mill Bridge the thieves threw the bells over the edge to hide them in the flowing water below. When the Knowlton residents arrived, knowledge of any stolen bells was strongly denied, they had no option but to return empty handed.
After a while, and once believed to be safe, the thieves returned to the bridge to collect the bells. However, the silty bottom had sucked them down and every heave was useless, the bells only sunk deeper.
Today, they are still there. Whereabouts exactly, we don’t know. But who knows what other treasures might lie at the bottom of the River Stour!
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