Twenty acres of previously-inaccessible Purbeck woodland have been opened to the public with a new walking trail exploring the area’s industrial past.
The new Clay Trail around Purbeck Mining Museum at Norden has taken several years to create, with volunteers working alongside local carpenters, tree surgeons, civil engineers and construction firms.
The route follows sections of the narrow-gauge railway trackbeds that once criss-crossed the area serving Purbeck’s clay industry. Today, the former industrial landscape is rich in wildlife, with new interpretation boards along the route and viewpoints across Blackwater, the Corfe River and towards Corfe Castle.
‘The response has been fantastic,’ said museum lead Peter Sills. ‘It really has made all of the hard work worthwhile.’
The trail is open throughout the year and is suitable for day visitors and dog walkers. During the summer, walkers can also visit Purbeck Mining Museum itself, housed in the area’s last surviving mine building. Find out more at purbeckminingmuseum.org
The Dorset Life Community News section is sponsored by Wessex Internet
