Beaminster ST484013 (2*) Suitable for All Sent in by Nicholas Woollett (09/06/2003)
'The ramps are quite steep and would be a problem if you were towing anything. The water was also running swiftly'
Binghams Melcombe ST774017 (3*) Suitable for All Sent in by Nicholas Woollett and Mike Mears (05/09/2004)
'Quite an angled concrete base, U-shaped rather then flat. Bridge to the south. Approx. 1' deep in spring. Should be taken at a low speed in a road car because of the angle of the base.'
Broadwey SY666834 (3*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by David Wilson (14/05/2008)
'Connecting two minor roads just off the main A354, and parallel to the main road. About 100m long along the bed of the river Wey and 30cm deep, but the approaches are poorly maintained and there's a drop of perhaps 50cm off the concrete apron at the end. Not generally used as so easy to slip out on to the main road and back.'
Broom Hill (x2!) SU038030 (1*) Irish Bridge SU041033 (1*) Irish Bridge Sent in by Graham Hardy (26/08/2008)
'Two Irish bridges within a few hundreds yards of each other; both with Ford/TYB signs and depth gauges but very little else, although the 2nd does have a footbridge (just visible behind the depth gauge) and is called Bowering's Water according to the 1:25000 OS map.'
Charminster SY678934 (4*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Ben Mottram & Martin Vaughan (31/08/2007)
'It is fun - I stalled a 6 Wheel Ford Transit in it many years ago and
had to haul out on the starter motor - the water was about 18" deep at
the time. I have also (in the summer) tackled it in a Triumph Spitfire,
which was fun, if damp.'
Chetnole ST604075 (4*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Andrew Ilott (01/05/2007)
'Follows the Wriggle River for about 45-50 yds, approx 8" deep and 12-14" in places. Gravel riverbed. The western approach is tarmac right up to the water with a step down of 4". There are a few overhanging branches. The eastern approach is a lot rougher, with large concrete slabs set into the trackway so high ground clearance is necessary.
"Deep ford" and "Unsuitable for motors" signs.'
Dewlish Mill SY779993 (1*) Irish Bridge Sent in by Martin Vaughan (29/06/2006)
East Holme (x2!) SY895859 (2*) Suitable for All SY894857 (2*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Nicholas Woollett (09/06/2003)
'First is in the middle of the village of East Holme. Full compliment of signs and a depth gauge, often known to read 2' during winter months. Second is just off the main highway, concrete base, no signs. Infrequent use and overhanging trees mean the roads either side are slippery.'
Fifehead Neville ST771111 (1*) Irish Bridge Sent in by Hiroyuki & Kumiko Kasahara (19/05/2004) and Mike Mears (22/05/2004)
'When we went there, the whole bottom was exposed due to the dry
weather. But overflow after rainy days could be easily imagined,
looking at length of the bottom and height of the footbridge.'
Gillingham ST807279 (4*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Simon Pryce (14/09/2003)
'A sign on the approach from the main road warns of a 6’6" width limit on the bridge or a deep ford. Driven the same day, the water was fairly low but I wouldn’t have taken a normal car through it. First two pics are from the east side, third one from the west. It is about 30m wide with steep concrete ramps each side, so can get quite lot deeper without getting much wider. The gravel river bed has reasonably good traction but has been eroded at the base of the eastern ramp, so there’s quite a bump going either way, especially coming out.'
Info from Steve Jackson:
'I am pleased to report that Colesbrook ford has reopened to all traffic.
Dorset County Council's contractor has done a very nice job putting in a
concrete base and all that is left to do is put in a depth gauge.'
Hamlet ST602084 (2*) Suitable for All Sent in by Tony Large (07/04/2002)
'One car length long with a concrete bottom and steepish access. Complete with footbridge, depth marker and ford signs.'
Lower Wraxall ST576008 (2*) Suitable for All Sent in by Nick Woollett (26/04/2006)
'The track beyond the ford is a bridlepath to Chilfrome so vehicle access is banned. There is a delightul footbridge on the right and depth of Ford is probabaly fairly constant at about 6 inches.'
Lydlinch ST743129 (2*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Andrew Ilott (16/05/2007)
'Modern bridge beside a 4 to 6" deep ford. Muddy roadways with gravel ramps and riverbed. 2 or 3" lips on both entry and exit. Large lip (4") onto concrete nearest the camera.'
Melbury Osmond ST575076 (2*) Suitable for All Sent in by Hiroyuki & Kumiko Kasahara (16/08/2004)
Minchington ST966146 (1*) Irish Bridge Sent in by Graham Dance (07/06/2003)
'Part time ford with an Irish bridge. Can be very high in the winter, road to the east floods and is often closed. Photo taken from the north'
Moreton SY805896 (5*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Graham Dance (07/06/2003)
'Photo taken from southern end, aprox. 60 yards wide. Fine gravel base, gated either side but they were open. 4x4 or boat only, looked a bit deep for a car. Unsure of usage, possible access to Snelling Farm but the OPRA through the forest to the north "goes" in a road car'
Rampisham ST562023 (1*) Irish Bridge Sent in by Hiroyuki & Kumiko Kasahara (16/08/2004)
'An Irish bridge with footbridge. The sign states "Road Liable to Flooding" only, instad of "Ford".'
Silton ST783302 (2*) Suitable for All Sent in by Hiroyuki & Kumiko Kasahara (19/05/2004)
'A small ford with sign and footbridge.'
Somerford SZ180941 (1*) Irish Bridge Sent in by Marcel Fleming (22/08/2007)
'The ford at Somerford is actually an irish bridge at the end of a deadend lane at a T junction with a bridleway. Next to the bridge you can drive through the river, but I would only recommend this in a 4x4 as the approach was quite rutted and anything smaller would ground. The river has a gravel bottom to it and had around 5" water when I visited. There is a sign, footbridge but no depth markings.'
Sydling St Nicholas ST634002 (2*) Suitable for All Sent in by Graham Whiting (17/04/2004)
'It's a ford I've been driving for nearly 20 years in a variety of vehicles ranging from an MG midget to a Vauxhall Frontera. Only ever had a problem once, in a Peugeot 304 hire car. Soaked the engine bay and couldn't get the bonnet open, had to phone the AA!'
Tarrant Monkton ST945090 (2*) Suitable for All Sent in by Graham Dance (07/06/2003)
'Concrete base, can get very full in the winter. Footbridge and full set of signs'
'The ford appeared in the Dr. Who episode "The Wakening" first shown in January 1984.' Simon Holland>
Tarrant Rushton ST936052 (3*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Graham Dance (07/06/2003)
'Provided access to Tarrant Rushton until the bridge to the north was built, it now shows little evidence of being used. Gravel and sand base, would recommend 4x4 access only. Very picturesque.'
Throop SZ118959 (5*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Graham Dance (07/06/2003)
'Tarmac ORPA on the eastern side, grass track accross the floodplain to the west. Tributary of the River Stour with a footbridge on the southern side, aprox. 80 yards wide, looks fairly deep and has a loose gravel/sand bottom. Dodgy even in a 4x4.'
I have received complaints from the Hurn Estate that 4x4 drivers are
passing through the ford across the tributary of the Stour near Throop and
then attempting to go on further through the water meadows beyond the field
gate. The UCR is "No Through Road" and no attempt should be made to
continue any further beyond the field gate. The old ford further on at SZ115956
known as "Pig Shoot Ford" was dredged in the 1970's by the river authority
as part of a flood alleviation schem and is now approx 10 feet deep! Need a
submarine.
Turners Puddle (x2!) SY829932 (3*) Off-Roaders Only! SY830933 (3*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Graham Dance (07/06/2003) and Michael Roots (04/08/2004)
'Southern-most of two fords along the same ORPA, gravel and sand bottom. Photo taken from the SW. Roads either side of ford are fine but 4x4 only through it'
West Stafford SY738903 (2*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Kevin Inkley (04/06/2007)
'We approached from the North side down the Lane, lots of gates, muddy as used by the farm for live stock. The Ford itself is across the river in a meadow which is part of the flood plain and the ground was soft as we had a lot of rain Bank holiday Sunday!!!! But it didn't cut up with careful driving. Not sure if it would be a good idea to come at it from the South due to the shallow but peaty climb out……
The water was approx 2 foot deep with a firm base, entry from the north side was 'peaty' the exit was a small climb but firm'
Wrackleford SY668928 (3*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Mike Mears (20/08/2007)
'Two fords on an Unclassified County Road close to Lower Wrackleford Farm.
Both are very deep and suitable only
for 4x4's I'd suggest a Snorkel as well. The second is also quite fast
flowing so you need low range difflock as the back end tends to get
pushed downstream.'
