Ridge

Claimed to be one of the oldest settlements in Dorset, the River Frome has shaped Stoborough’s growth as an ancient causeway provided access over the water. After surviving many Viking attacks, the Civil War led to its downfall when the village sacrificed itself to save the town of Wareham. It never returned to its earlier status, quietly minding its own business as Wareham grew. The old routes still carve their way through the landscape, later cut by the tramways of the clay industry. Wander through the wild heathland and Nature Reserves, following the ancient paths past burial mounds and quarries while weaving through the gnarly trees. Return using the dismantled tramway straight back to Ridge, sitting on the banks of the river as it makes its way into Poole Harbour.

For the Blue Pool and the longest rope bridge in the country see bottom of page.

Distance:  4.3miles/7km

Time:  2 hours

Ability: Easy.

Max height: 142ft

Min height: 15ft

Total climb: 137ft

Terrain: Tracks, paths, fields and roads.

Start Point: Stoborough Heath Car Park – payment required. (Postcode: BH20 5BQ, Grid Reference: SY937863, What Three Words: written.startles.tubes).

Map: OS Explorer OL 15 Purbeck and South Dorset

How to get there: From Wareham, cross over the River Frome using the town bridge and continue on the B3075 into Stoborough. Take the first, sharp and narrow, turn onto Nutcracker Lane to then merge onto Arne Road. Continue past Ridge on the left to then find car parking, just after Sunnyside, on the right.

Dogs: On leads where livestock is present, on nature reserves and in accordance with any notices on the walk and The Countryside Code.

Refreshments: None on route but nearby are The Kings Arms in Stoborough and The Halfway Inn on the A351.

Neighbouring Walks: Wareham, Arne, Wytch, Furzebrook and Stoborough.

The Blue Pool and The Longest Rope Bridge in the Country

Furzebrook House was bought by the Captain Tom Bernard and his family in 1934, having just returned to England from South Africa. The house was in a sad state at the time of the sale and required a great deal of work; however it was the landscape the Captain fell in love with.  As a keen botanist, the abandoned quarry that had filled with water, known as the Blue Pool, was the real attraction.

The pool is an old clay pit filled with rainwater, set amongst woodland and heathland and marked with deep, steep and dark sandy banks. The ball clay particles within the water reflect the sunlight giving it a deep turquoise colour. The colour changes to a wide spectrum of blues and greens depending on the weather. Surrounding the pool is a nature reserve providing a habitat for a number of rare species, including all 6 of Britain’s native reptiles.

Captain Bernard in 1935, having noticed the pull it had for visitors and artists alike, opened it to the public and erected a tea house (very fashionable at the time). He then passed the responsibility of management to his teenage daughter, Jennifer Barnard, who continued to manage until she passed away in 2020, aged 91. The public access was put into jeopardy after her death, but is now once more running successfully. 

In May 2024 a new rope bridge was added on the eastern tip of the pool, crossing a sandy gully as it dips down to the water. The bridge sits at a total of 10 metres high and, at 50 metres long, is the longest rope bridge in the country. It beats the previous title holder, which is in private ownership, by 8 metres. However, both were constructed by the same team – Treehouse Life Ltd. From the wobbly bridge are panoramic views looking over the blue waters and deeper into the sandy woodland.