From an ancient stone bridge, with tales of life and death, follow the River Frome upstream through Thomas Hardy’s ‘Vale of the Great Dairies’. Walk between the river and Dorset’s busiest railway to the hamlet of East Stoke. Skim the site of its lost chapel and pass its converted church up to the old turnpike road, lined with varied memorials dedicated to battle. Enter the landscape of quarries, where prehistoric earthworks still rise but extractions reveal elements of our recent history. Weave through the thick gorse bushes, amongst the sandy terrain of Worgret Heath, with views over the Frome valley to the Purbeck Hills. Return under the railway tracks and along the river banks back to the little hamlet of Holmebridge.
Distance: 4miles/7 Km
Time: 1-2 hours
Ability: Easy.
Max height: 150ft
Min height: 23ft
Total climb: 163ft
Terrain: Tracks, paths, fields and roads. Can flood after heavy rainfall.
Start Point: Holme Bridge. (Postcode: BH20 6AF, Grid Reference: SY890866, What Three Words: celebrate.accent.tasters).
Map: OS Explorer OL15 Purbeck and South Dorset
How to get there: From Wareham, travel west on the A352 for approximately 1.5 miles and turn left onto the B3070. Cross over the railway and turn right off the road at the bend to find space on the old route over the bridge.
Dogs: On leads where livestock is present and in accordance with any notices on the walk and The Countryside Code.
Refreshments: None on route but nearby is Holme for Gardens in West Holme, The Silent Woman in Wareham Forest and The Ship Inn in Wool.
Neighbouring Walks: Woodbury, St Edward’s Way, Coldharbour, Wareham, Stoborough, East Holme, and Wool
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Thanks for adding this great walk. Lots of interest with the bridge itself being a great start and finish point. Definitely a walk to do when the land is dry. (PS The bridleway off Binnegar Road is to the RIGHT as you walk up…) David