This article is based largely on a letter from Dorset County Council dated 6 May 2004.

Over the last few years, Dorset County Council (DCC) and North Dorset District Council (NDDC) have been working in partnership to improve the surface and increase the amount of the old Somerset & Dorset Railway line that is open to the public. Unfortunately, missing bridges over the River Stour (e.g. south of Sturminster Newton and north of Stourpaine & Durweston Halt) mean that diversions are unavoidable. However, in the last two years, six kilometres have been re-surfaced with a 2½ metre wide compacted limestone surface forming a 'trailway', which is suitable for use by walkers, cyclists, horse riders and the less able.

Negotiations with private landowners have proved successful in extending the amount of the railway that is open to the public, and these are continuing in an attempt to make more available in the future. Currently, the sections in north Dorset that are open to the public are as follows, from north to south:

• Stalbridge: grid reference ST744176, 0.6km.
• Sturminster Newton: ST787142, 1.25km.
• Fiddleford: ST803138, 0.5km.
• Shillingstone: ST822120, 2km. This section, which includes the intact Shillingstone station, was re-surfaced in 2004. A permissive access agreement is being negotiated with the adjoining landowner to extend the route southwards to the byway at Gain's Cross Farm.
• Blandford: ST887068, 1km. This section was re-surfaced in 2003.
• Charlton Marshall to Spetisbury: ST897041, 3km. This section was also re-surfaced in 2003 and will be linked to Blandford within 18 months.

This year, 'Dorset Countryside' (DCC's countryside and access service) is producing a 'trailway' leaflet giving information about all the sections that are open to the public and plans for the future. Copies will be available in the autumn through Tourist Information Centres and libraries, or directly from the North Dorset ranger's office (whose address, unfortunately, was not supplied).

Report by Jeff Vinter