Gillingham offers several specific ways to enjoy a stay: medieval hunting history, a bridge linked to Constable, and green spaces and routes through the surrounding area. The main differences are between historic sites, nature-rich green spaces and longer routes that pass through Gillingham.
Green Spaces, Wildlife and the Royal Forest
Gillingham’s public green spaces form a network of wildlife-friendly habitats connected to the wider countryside. More than 200 wildflower species have been recorded in these green spaces. Wildlife sightings are also worth distinguishing carefully: water voles are regularly spotted, while otters have been reported.
The landscape associated with Gillingham’s Royal Forest includes ancient hedgerows, veteran trees, open fields and waterways. Hardings Park combines views of the surrounding countryside with a large lawn for picnics and a range of leisure opportunities. This gives you ways to explore nature both through the landscape and through specific green spaces.
History in the Town
In the Middle Ages, Gillingham rose to prominence as King John’s preferred royal hunting ground. The town’s landscape at the time included a deer park and a royal hunting lodge. The parish church of St Mary the Virgin dates from the 14th century; a datestone on Gillingham Town Bridge over Shreen Water, inscribed “County Bridge 1800,” recalls a later chapter in the town’s history.
The old town bridge over the River Shreen was painted by John Constable. A plaque on Gillingham Town Bridge notes that it is the subject of a painting made in 1823. At the town museum, visitors can learn more about Constable’s paintings and the places that inspired them. The bridge and the museum therefore offer two distinct ways to explore Gillingham’s artistic connections: a subject in the townscape and information about paintings and their locations.
The railway station is also part of the town’s transport history: it was built for the Salisbury and Yeovil Railway. This historic connection adds another layer to Gillingham’s history, without conflating its medieval past with buildings from later centuries.
Routes with Different Distances and Features
Several routes pass through Gillingham, but they differ in mode of travel, length and route. The North Dorset cycleway is 73 miles long and follows quiet country roads through the town. The White Hart Link, by contrast, is a 50-mile circular walking route that also passes through Gillingham.
The Stour Valley Way runs south from Stourhead in Wiltshire, through Gillingham, to Christchurch on the coast. Its named endpoints and direction provide a different point of reference from the distances of the cycleway and the White Hart Link. For a walk in the town, the Gillingham Walking Trail starts in the Waitrose car park next to Gillingham Museum. The options are clearly distinct: a long cycle route, a circular walking route, a trail connecting named places, and a local walking trail with a specified starting point.
When planning your trip, you can first decide whether you would like to discover Gillingham mainly through its architectural and artistic history, its green spaces or a particular type of route. The town’s history can be explored at the church, bridge and museum; the green spaces, Hardings Park and the routes described above are among the highlights for experiencing the countryside.
Discover more destinations: Ferndown Town, Saint Ives, Thorncombe, Poole, Worth Matravers, Christchurch, Portland, Canford Magna.
For the overview of the wider area: Dorset.
