It was perfect walking weather on Sunday 9th September , when Brian and Teressa Mitchard led 18 Westbury Walkers on a nine-mile walk, starting from the old station car park in Sturminster Newton.
Setting out from the car park they made their way up to Row Walk which would take them to the footpath and the River Stour. Following the footpath they went under the viaduct of the old Somerset and Dorset railway (the centre arch having been destroyed) and on to the lovely meadows along the edge of the River Stour to Cutt Mill, where they stopped for a coffee break. Cutt Mill had at some time had a fire and is now in a state of ruin.
After the break, they continued across fields to Stalbridge Lane and field paths to Colber Bridge. Turning right after the bridge they went towards the recreation ground where the Rotary Club’s Cheese Festival was taking place. After lunch they continued on to Newton Mill which is a working mill and is open to the public.
Crossing the main road they took the footpath up to the village of Broad Oak and on into to Piddles Wood nature reserve. The group followed the path through the woods to the road which they crossed to reach the disused Fiddleford Mill and the amazing stepped weir. From the mill and after taking time to look at the weir, they carried on through the next field which led them on to the Somerset and Dorset railway path and back to the car park.
Report by Teressa Mitchard
