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Sturminster Newton sits at a natural crossing point of the River Stour, where the low-lying meadows of the Blackmore Vale meet the rising slopes of the Dorset hills. It is a town defined by its agricultural roots; for centuries, it served as the focal point for the region’s dairy industry, and the ghost of the old livestock market - which was once one of the largest in the country - still shapes the layout of the town today. The architecture is a functional mix of thatched cottages, red brick, and local stone, anchored by the medieval six-arch bridge that still carries a warning of transportation for anyone damaging the structure. While the railway station closed in the 1960s, the old trackbed now forms part of the North Dorset Trailway, providing a level, practical route for walking or cycling toward Blandford Forum. Life here tends to revolve around the small cluster of independent shops in the centre and the restored 17th-century watermill just downstream, which remains in working order and continues to grind flour using the power of the Stour.