Moorings on the River Stour (Dorset)

The Dorset Stour is about 97 km long. It flows south into Dorset through the Blackmore Vale, past Gillingham, Sturminster Newton and Blandford Forum, is joined by the River Allen at Wimborne Minster, and meets the Hampshire Avon at Christchurch before flowing through Christchurch Harbour into the English Channel.

Only the lowest part carries boats. The Stour is tidal and navigable as far as Tuckton, and small craft can pass the low bridge at Iford to reach rapids about 1.5 km further up. The way in from the sea is through the Run at Mudeford, where the bar can have less than 0.5 m at low water springs and moves after winter storms, so the harbour and its rivers suit shallow-draught boats. The harbour has a double high water and a 4 knot speed limit inside.

Moorings on the Stour are on its lower reaches, which, like the harbour, have many marinas, boat clubs and landing stages. Christchurch Sailing Club has a pontoon on the north bank near Christchurch Quay, just west of where the two rivers meet, with visitor moorings. BCP Council is one of several organisations that manage moorings in the harbour and rivers, and a ferry crosses the Stour just below Tuckton Bridge.