28th September, 2026
A new Clay Trail through 20 acres of woodland around the Purbeck Mining Museum has received a warm welcome from visitors following its official opening.
The trail is the result of several years of planning and hard work by volunteers, alongside local carpenters, tree surgeons, civil engineers and construction firms.
“The response has been fantastic,” says Museum Lead Peter Sills, following the official opening of the new trail. “It really has made all of the hard work worthwhile and we’re delighted the new interpretation boards and viewpoints overlooking Blackwater, Corfe River and Corfe Castle have proved to be so popular.”
The new Clay Trail opens up a previously inaccessible area shaped entirely by Purbeck’s industrial heritage and now rich with wildlife.
The project has been supported in part through heathland mitigation funding provided by Dorset Council. The trail was officially opened by Cllr Beryl Ezzard, Dorset Councillor for Wareham Ward, alongside Jade North, Dorset Council’s Heathland Mitigation Officer, who joined volunteers and local residents for the inaugural walk.
Ideal for day visitors and dog walkers, the new trail is the latest initiative from the Purbeck Mining Museum to preserve and share the story of Purbeck’s industrial clay mining heritage.
Open to the public all year round, the route follows many of the trackbeds of the former narrow-gauge railway that once criss-crossed the area around the museum. Along the way, visitors can discover more about the landscape’s industrial past while enjoying views across the surrounding countryside.
During the summer months, visitors can also combine the walk with a visit to the Purbeck Mining Museum. Housed in the area’s last surviving mine building, the museum provides a fascinating insight into the history of Purbeck’s clay mining industry.
Full details of the museum and its opening times can be found at www.purbeckminingmuseum.org.