Wareham - Two Rivers Meet walk
The Two Rivers Meet walk is perfect for a Sunday afternoon stroll. It’s completely flat, easy to navigate and includes fabulous views of the river and water meadows. Having said that, I do advise to walk this route in the autumn or winter, when the reeds and weeds are less overgrown and you have a better view of the river.
The walk begins at Wareham church, in a town steeped in ancient history stretching back to the Iron Age. As a walled Saxon settlement, on the northern edge of the Isle of Purbeck, Wareham is positioned between the rivers Piddle and Frome. The picturesque quay was once a busy port, however, trade literally ‘dried up’ as the rivers became more silted and business largely transferred to Poole.
Wareham is an interesting town, with links to T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia), whose home at Clouds Hill is nearby, as is his grave, at St Nicholas’s church at Moreton. The church is of interest in itself, with beautiful engraved windows, which replaced the stained glass that had been obliterated during bombings in World War Two.
I’ve walked this route three or four times and for some reason it’s always a wet, cloudy day. Perhaps it’s because I am always drawn to the coast on sunny days, but, more optimistically, I think I’m drawn to the mood of this landscape when the sky and fields complement each other’s colours. The photo above captures the spirit perfectly, with the forbidding cloud and the sun-tinted grasses, in perfect harmony for a brief while. I seem to recall that after the walk we went on to The Pig on the Beach for an outdoor flatbread pizza that day, watching it tip it down with rain back over in Wareham!
This walk is extremely easy to navigate as once you are on the tow path, simply follow along the side of the river. It’s a very narrow path, so not great if you want to walk and talk, but perfect for a purposeful, solitary stroll. The boats chug up and down and occasionally you pick up voices over the reeds as day trippers on the water head for Wareham quay or out to sea.
Eventually you’ll reach a wooden sign that directs you either to the left and back to Wareham or to the right, following this Poole Harbour trail. Poole Harbour is apparently the second largest natural harbour in the world, and is rich in wildlife. following the trail back through the meadows to Wareham is also the perfect opportunity for bird watching.
Once back in Wareham, walk along the old walls back to the church. The walls were originally built to protect the Saxons from Viking attack, but now provide a great vantage point for walkers and visitors to admire the views over the town and to the rivers beyond. Barny loves this walk as he gets to run and muck about in the water (and mud!!). We hope you enjoy it too!
3.7 miles
1 hours 31 mins
56 ft
Fields and Paths
Yes - woof!
OS Grid Ref: SY 925 872
Latitude: 50° 41' 5" N
Longitude: 2° 6' 23" W
Elevation: 14ft
Join the Durlston Country Park Parkrun - the hilliest yet most scenic route in the country. Start your weekend with an exhilarating 5km run (or walk) with other friendly participants and volunteers.