Blandford Forum Market Place – Remains of the Old Railway Bridge loop from Blandford Forum

Hiking trails & Routes

Blandford Forum Market Place – Remains of the Old Railway Bridge loop from Blandford Forum

Moderate

hikers

Blandford Forum Market Place – Remains of the Old Railway Bridge loop from Blandford Forum

02:00

7.61km

70m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: September 24, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs National Landscape

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

3.35 km

Offcamber Cycles

Highlight • Other

Great family owned bike shop.

Tip by

3.49 km

St Peter and St Paul's Church, Blandford Forum

Highlight • Religious Site

The main landmark of the centre of Blandford Forum. A quite impressive church which was unfortunately covered in scaffolding but still showed signs of its beauty.

Tip by

3.62 km

Blandford Forum Market Place

Highlight • Rest Area

Blandford destroyed by fire then rebuilt by the Bastard Brothers resulting in one of the most beautiful town centres in England

Tip by

4.00 km

Black Cactus Café

Highlight • Cafe

Black Cactus is a very friendly cafe with delicious food. you can charge up, recharge and refresh. Nice space to park your bikes right infront too. dogs also welcome.

Tip by

4.14 km

View of the River Stour and Stone Arch Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

From this beautiful multi-arched stone bridge, you can enjoy views of the River Stour as it flows through Blandford Forum. The only downside is that it has a sidewalk on only one side.

Tip by

4.44 km

Founded in 1777, this brewery produces Badger Beer. Still family-owned, this brewery is a popular stop for locals and visitors; you can take tours, visit the shop or simply pause and have a drink at the bar.

The brewery's history is a fascinating one; during the Napoleonic wars, the founder Charles Hall, won the contract to supply local soldiers with the government beer allowance of five pints a day (!).

Fursty Ferret and Tanglefoot are two other names produced here that have earned a reputation nationwide.

Tip by

5.40 km

Preetz Bridge and Old Railway Arches

Highlight • Structure

Opened in 1997, Preetz Bridge was the first pedestrian bridge built to cross the River Stour. To the west, you can see two arches that are the last remains of the old railway line of this town.

Tip by

5.48 km

Remains of the Old Railway Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

The former railway bridge in Stour Meadows (part of the wider flood meadows near the River Stour) is significant for several reasons:

The Line: It carried the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway line, which ran a crucial cross-country route connecting Bath to Bournemouth.

The Town's Station: The bridge was essential for the railway to reach the final location of Blandford Forum Station, which opened north of the River Stour in 1863. This required the extension of the line from its original temporary terminus south of the river at Blandford St Mary.

Closure: The entire S&DJR line, often referred to simply as the "S&D," was closed as a result of the infamous Beeching Cuts. The Blandford station closed to passengers in March 1966, with the track eventually lifted around 1969.

Demolition & Preservation: Following the line's closure, the original railway bridge that crossed the River Stour was largely demolished. However, two of its arches/spans were saved and are still visible in the meadows today. This is thanks to the efforts of local groups, like the Blandford Railway Arches Trust, who recognized their historical importance.

Tip by