Lady Wimborne Bridge

From a large country estate turned school, follow the old driveway to discover a forgotten, elaborate, stone bridge. Built by the Lord of the Manor’s mother to impress arriving guests and hide the newly developed yet invasive railway line, it is now left abandoned in the woodland. With the tracks now gone, trace the route to the river banks of the River Stour. Curve with its meandering course to return to Canford Manor, passing under modern day graffiti decorating the road bridges and the Victorian suspension bridge, wobbling over the gushing water, requiring many a dog to be carried!

Distance:  2 miles/3.5km (2.5 miles/4km to include the view of the Manor).

Duration: 1 hour

Ability: Easy.

Max Height: 80ft.

Min Height: 45ft.

Total climb: 50ft.

Terrain: Track, path and old railway. Depending on your tolerance of bumpy ground, both paths are possible to use for wheelchairs/mobility scooters but the railway is accessed only by steps.

Map: OS Explorer 118 Shaftesbury and Cranborne Chase.

Start Point (Postcode: BH21 3AD, Grid Reference: SZ031987, What Three Words: revealing.colleague.legs).

How to Get There: From the Bear Cross roundabout on the Ringwood road, north of Bournemouth, follow the A341 North West out of the town. After about 2 miles, turn right onto the Canford Magna Road. Follow it slowly through the village and past the school buildings, adhering to the traffic controls. When the road bends to the left, take the right hand road down the hill. Parking is on the left hand side, opposite the church.

Refreshments: None on route but there a number of options are nearby in Wimborne.