The Walks of Wareham in Dorset, Wareham, England (B)

Situated between the Rivers Frome and Piddle in idyllic Dorset countryside Wareham is well-placed for walks to suit all ages and standards. The Two Rivers Walks are short, circular trails following footpaths and quiet roads alongside the rivers Frome and Piddle that flow through the town. The Walls Walk and the Town Walk are around the town. Maps of these walks are available in the Tourist Information Office which is inside the library. That was the first place I visited. The library is close to the Quay on the River Frome and i strolled down to the waterfront before going for a walk.

The quay is a popular meeting place and patrons of the Old Granary Restaurant were overflowing onto the bank of the river. As the name suggests this restaurant occupies a building that was originally a grain store. At one time Wareham was a more important port than Poole as boats would come through Poole harbour on their way to Wareham. Grain was one of several items imported through its harbour. The river has silted up a lot since then and it is hard to imagine it was once a busy commercial port. I walked across South Bridge to get a good view of the river and was just in time to see the Brownsea Island Ferry that originates from Poole coming into Wareham. I also discovered the Community Performance Platform. This area is available for ‘local musicians, actors, dancers, poets, storytellers and puppeteers to give concerts, recitals and other types of performance suitable for this public area.’ The platform was established in memory of the son of the benefactor, Mark Northover, a well-known resident of Wareham who loved his home town. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).