How to get to the Trailway

Bus Travel:

You could plan a one-way walk by walking the Trailway and getting the bus back – for example the bus from Spetisbury or Sturminster Marshall to Blandford Forum, or the bus between Blandford and Yeovil which stops at Sturminster Newton and Shillingstone. The bus from Blandford to Shaftesbury stops at the White Hart, Stourpaine. Click here to find bus routes and times in Dorset.

Car Parks:

See Equestrian page for parking with horse boxes.

• Stour Meadow, Blandford DT11 9LS – FREE CAR PARK behind Hall & Woodhouse Brewery and TESCO. To reach the Trailway, follow signs and tarmac paths across the meadow to the black bridge over the River Stour.
• Milldown, Milldown Road, Blandford DT11 7SN – FREE CAR PARK. To reach the Trailway, there is a ramp down into the cutting, then turn under the bridge to go north towards Stourpaine, or away from the bridge for a traffic free route into Blandford.
• Click for a Parking Map for Sturminster Newton – 82 spaces in Station Road Car Park, DT10 1BB – PAY AND DISPLAY.
• Fiddleford Manor English Heritage site (DT10 2BX off A357) has 30 FREE spaces close to the Trailway and the Manor is an amazing mediaeval building. To access the Trailway from the car park, at the car park entrance turn left away from the A357, then turn right at the T junction and then turn left along the Bridleway.
• Stourpaine: Village Hall Car Park in Recreation Ground, Havelins.
• Shillingstone: There are free parking spaces at the junction of A357 with Bere Marsh signed for Child Okeford. HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS.
• Spetisbury: The school car park, West End, DT11 9DF next to the Trailway – please do not use spaces during school drop-off / pick-up times.

By Train/Bike:

Yes, the railway has been closed since 1966 – but, if you want to plan a bike tour you can take your bike to Poole Station and then use the National Cycle Network Route 25 to Blandford, or you can get the train to Gillingham and use the National Cycle Network Route 253 to Sturminster Newton.