Walk at Eye Bridge and Pamphill, Kingston Lacy
Walk upstream along this beautiful stretch of the Stour river with much interesting bird life and through the unspoilt areas of Pamphill and Cowgrove. There are waymarks for Walk 7 on the route.
Map
Start:
Eye Bridge car park off the Wimborne/ Cowgrove road, grid ref: ST996001
1
From the car park at Eye Bridge take the squeeze stile to the left when facing the river. The footpath splits into two, take the left path crossing the pasture diagonally towards the Wimborne/ Cowgrove road. Cross the road here with care. Walk a short distance to the right and then pass through a stile on your left into the pasture of Hart’s Glen. Following the hedgeline, after approximately 220yd (200m) there is a stile and a Stour Valley Way sign.
Eye Bridge
Eye Bridge has a weir and is a crossing point of the Stour river. There used to be an island or ‘Eye’ in the Stour hence the name. The area is very popular in the summer for families and young people.
2
Proceed over the stile following the path as it switches to the opposite side of the stream and continue on the other bank through this ancient woodland.
3
There is a prominent path intersection below Pamphill Moor, turn left here up the hill continuing to follow the Stour Valley Way. This levels out on Pamphill Common below the electricity pylon.
4
Bear left to tarmac road and then right until Pamphill School is reached. Cross the road and follow the edge of the green and cricket pitch, past the picturesque pavilion until you link in with the track down towards Cowgrove.
Pamphill School
Pamphill School was originally built by the will of Roger Gillingham of the Middle Temple in 1698 as a school and almshouses. Roger Gillingham made his money in business in the City of London and was born in Pamphill. Described by some historians as a successful merchant, he owned considerable shares in a chemical works producing chemicals for textile processing and saltpetre, which is an essential ingredient in the production of gunpowder.
5
You will shortly pass Manor Cottage on your left. Just past this property on the left there is the option to use the permissive path for a short 270yd (250m) diversion to view the site of the medieval Moot Court. Dropping down over a field, go over a stile on the far side.
6
Turn right and the land slopes down to a stile. Cross the farm track and over the stile opposite and the cross-field path then finishes at a grassed bridleway.
7
Ignore the waymark to the right and turn left back to Cowgrove Common and the pond at Poplar Farm.
Poplar Farm
Lombardy poplars form a focal point in front of Poplar Farm. This is an 18th-century brick and tile farm-house with a two-storey thatched annex at the rear. The pond in front of Poplar Farm used to form a focal point to the settlement.
8
Opposite Poplar Farm, adjacent to the thatched cottage, the walk continues along a footpath known as Weir Lane, this is an ancient path heading towards and then following the River Stour. Ignore the mid-point squeeze stile and permissive path on your left. Further along this ancient track you will pass an impressive veteran tree; known locally as the Waterman’s Oak. This permissive path offers benches to sit on as you follow the Stour bank to the car park and start point adjacent to Eye Bridge.
Weir Lane
Weir Lane is an ancient path heading towards and then following the River Stour. On this ancient track you will pass an impressive veteran tree; known locally as the Waterman’s Oak and along the banks of The Stour look out for egrets, herons and kingfishers and willow and alder trees.
End:
Eye Bridge car park off the Wimborne/ Cowgrove road, grid ref: ST996001
