North Dorset Trailway - Part 2: Shillingstone

We continue our walk along the North Dorset Trailway and, after about three miles of easy and very pleasant walking, we come to Shillingstone where it is wonderful to see that the station still survives and, indeed, thrives!

Yes, it is slowly being brought back to life and they have done an amazing job here in restoring the original buildings and relaying track through the station and beyond.

Looking through Shillingstone station towards Blandford.

They even have their own locomotive - 'Little Eva'.

From the other end of the station - looking towards Sturminster ...

... and, turning around, looking towards Blandford again.

The ambition is to, eventually, relay track towards Sturminster and connect the two locations by rail once more.

Now, wouldn't that be fantastic!

The path from Shillingstone to the next station, Stourpaine & Durweston Halt, is, approximately, another three miles and, again, the pathway takes you through some stunning scenery.

It also includes the third crossing of the River Stour, seen below, and please note that this photograph is not a contemporary of the other ones here, having been taken in March.