WALX Activity: By the Way Field to Cannon Hill and the river Stour

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Pace: Moderate

  • 4

Intensity: Medium

  • 3

Gradient: Medium

  • 3
Explorer WALX

Price: £7.00

  • Smilage Points: 12
  • Distance: 6 Miles
  • Date: Wed 29th October
  • Time: 10:15 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location Name: Bytheway Field
  • Address: Bytheway Field Leigh Road, Wimborne Minster, United Kingdom
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Main Instructor:

Click to View: WALX Dorset Instructor Page

Hosted By:

Chris Pole

Walk Description:

 

Starting from By The Way field, a local SANG. A popular dog walking area. In 2011the site became protected and was Dorset's first SANG. It is managed by Dorset County Council Countryside team. It is a 21 hectare field with a pretty wooded nature reserve, Leigh Common.

By The Way was once a holding area for cattle on their way to Wimborne market. Grazing declined about 40years ago.

Marsh orchids can be seen along with Dragon flys and Damsel flys.

Leaving the far corner of this area we cross along an overgrown path before heading up hill.

There are horses on this part of the walk.

A bridle way leads steeply uphill to Park Homer drive and we walk through Colehill which will take just over five minutes before entering Cannon Hill Woods.

This is a conifer plantation with broad leaf woodland and very pretty. It has a bronze age barrow.

Going downhill we emerge near The Old Thatch pub, to stop for coffee/toilets.

Then, its down the Castleman trailway before crossing the main road near Canford Bottom roundabout.

A short pavement walk, another road crossing and we head for the fields with Canford school in the distance.

While the dry weather holds we can get close to the river and follow the Stour to a particularly beautiful spot to admire the surroundings.

Then its back over a bridge to cross the main road and onto a relocated footpath in the middle of the building site. This is a bit overgrown.

Then crossing Leigh Rd we are soon back at the cars.

A 6.25 mile route. Paws needed for the road sections. No toilets in this carpark. Nearest Wimborne Garden centre or the Old Thatch pub.

Timings for the walk 3 hours but allow extra time for the coffee pitstop.

One uphill and down hill section with a lot of flat walking. Some of the fields can be rutted in places.

A walk for discovering this area on the edge of Wimborne. Later in the season the river section will get wet and muddy as it is on a flood plain. 

Location Notes:

Please note there is a height restriction for cars in the car park

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