With retired Dorset rights if way officer CHRIS SLADE

Find somewhere free to park at the housing estate in Leigh Park.
Then join the main road, the B.3073, and head westward through the town.
There are lots of interesting small shops and you might wish you’d brought a shopping bag with you.

Eventually, after nearly a mile, you’ll find the Minster on the right.
Go and visit it as it’s massive and magnificent inside, rather like a Cathedral.
There are lots of historical items.
The one I liked most was an astronomical clock dating from about 1320 which has no hands but places the sun next to the hour.

When you leave the Minster, head back the way you came for a short distance, crossing a bridge over the River Allen, and then turn right, south eastwards, down Poole Road, which forms part of the Stour Valley Way.
Then turn left, east, along New Borough Road which curves round to head south. Then join a cul de sac that continues south down to the River Stour.
On my visit, following the deluge in November, the Stour was high and wide.
I followed it downstream for nearly half a mile but then, as I was approaching the A31, the path was flooded and as I wasn’t wearing wellies I wasn’t able to continue along my intended route.

Instead, I turned back and made my way up through Leigh Park, passing the sports ground and finding my car.
If you do this walk when it’s dry you should be able to continue along the path, passing under the A31 and then, after a while, turning left and following footpaths that, after a few turns, take you back to the town where you turn left along the B3073 back to Leigh Park and your car.