Route: Stour Valley Way (United Kingdom)

Submitted by Zoe Dunne on Sun, 09/13/2020 - 05:22am
Location
United Kingdom
Distance
60 mi
Vertical Gain
4,039 ft
Description

The Stour Valley Way is a long-distance footpath in southern England. From the source of the river at Stourhead, Wiltshire, the path travels southeast through Wiltshire & Dorset to Hengistbury Head near Christchurch. The path uses public rights of way and permitted paths to follow the course of the River Stour, as well as taking in a few extra Glorious Dorset beauty spots along the way: Hambledon Hill and Hod Hill.    Majority of the route is rural and scenic, plenty of public houses en-route and a couple of shops but limited opening hours. 

Most of the websites describe the route from South to North, and twice there is a choice of two routes options:  Wimborne & West Parley both options present similar distances and return back to the route at the same point.     Personally I chose to go with the flow of the river from Source to Sea and follow the Northern route options on the multi-choice sections. 

https://www.stourvalleyway.co.uk/

https://www.walkingenglishman.com/ldp/stourvalleyway.html

 

GPS Track

Comments

Great effort. I ran most of it over the weekend before last (missing out Hambledon Hill and staying in a pub though so a bit easier ?). Lovely to trace the river down to the sea. Walking down from Hengistbury Head was a challenge though!

Well done.