Walk at Eye Bridge and Pamphill, Kingston Lacy
Enjoy a serene wander upstream along this beautiful stretch of the Stour river, with ancient woodland and plentiful interesting birdlife to look out for through the unspoilt areas of Pamphill and Cowgrove.
Near to
Kingston LacyStart point
Eye Bridge car park off the Wimborne/Cowgrove road, grid ref: ST996001Trail information
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Eye Bridge car park off the Wimborne/Cowgrove road, grid ref: ST996001
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 4
Bear left to a 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 attractive pavilion until you link in with the track down towards Cowgrove.
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 7
Ignore the waymark to the right and turn left back to Cowgrove Common and the pond at Poplar Farm.
Stage 8
Opposite Poplar Farm, adjacent to the thatched cottage, the walk continues along an ancient footpath known as Weir Lane. Ignore the mid-point squeeze stile and permissive path on your left. 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.
End point
Eye Bridge car park off the Wimborne/Cowgrove road, grid ref: ST996001
Trail map
Walk at Eye Bridge and Pamphill map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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