North Dorset Railway is based at Shillingstone Station; it is a standard-gauge heritage railway. The railway theme can be distinguished from the other highlights: North Dorset Trailway is a car-free path, while Bere Marsh Farm offers guided wildlife walks, workshops and a wildlife corridor. Shillingstone Gardens, in turn, combines a walled kitchen garden with a haven for native wildlife. When planning, different visiting arrangements matter as well as the themes.

Railway heritage at Shillingstone Station

Shillingstone Station is the only surviving station with a DCR design. This historic distinction therefore concerns the station itself. The station also has a small children’s play area and a miniature railway. The DCR design marks the station’s history as a distinct theme, while the play area and miniature railway add two specific facilities to a visit to the station.

North Dorset Trailway: path and views

North Dorset Trailway is more than nine miles long, car-free and laid out on the former trackbed of the Somerset and Dorset Railway. It is used for walking and cycling. Its railway connection is evident here in the former trackbed and the way the path is used, not as a heritage railway ride. The Trailway offers landscapes along the River Stour, as well as views across the railway tracks towards Hambledon and Hod Hills, two ancient hill forts. This path brings together its former railway route, its present-day use on foot or by bike, and views of the river landscape and hill forts.

There is free parking for the Trailway at the A357 crossing at Bere Marsh; height restrictions apply. As parking regulations can change, check the current situation before travelling.

Bere Marsh Farm: nature and planning your visit

At Bere Marsh Farm, nature experiences vary according to the type of visit and the time of year. The 700-metre-long wildlife corridor on the former railway land can be visited by prior arrangement; make sure you have a confirmed appointment. Guided wildlife walks and creative workshops take place regularly from spring through autumn. Two different conditions determine how to plan for these activities: arranging an appointment in advance for the corridor, and visiting during the appropriate season for the walks and workshops. The farm is also home to a nature reserve named in honour of local farmer and conservationist Angela Hughes.

Shillingstone Gardens: garden and wildlife

Shillingstone Gardens includes an old-fashioned walled kitchen garden with vegetables, fruit and flowers. At the same time, the garden aims to be a sustainable haven for native fauna and wildlife. Its character thus combines a cultivated kitchen garden with a focus on wildlife; this gives it a different nature emphasis from the wildlife walks and corridor at Bere Marsh Farm. For visitors looking to combine an interest in garden culture and nature, this combination is what sets it apart from a walk or guided wildlife walk.

Highlights for your stay

When choosing, consider which theme you would like to focus on: station heritage and the heritage railway, getting active on a car-free path, seasonal activities at Bere Marsh Farm, or the combination of garden and wildlife at Shillingstone Gardens. The visiting arrangements also help distinguish these options in practical terms: the corridor requires an appointment arranged in advance, while walks and workshops take place from spring through autumn.

Discover more destinations: Sturminster Newton, Hamworthy, Burstock, Saint Leonards, Langton Matravers, Boscombe, Winterbourne Abbas, Ferndown Town

For the broader travel overview: Dorset.