A Riverside Walk - Exploring the River Frome

Date: Saturday, 13th September 2025

Time: 1pm till 3pm

Cost: £7 THS Members, £10 Non-Members (includes tea and cake)

Meet: Outside the Corn Exchange

Join the Thomas Hardy Society for an enjoyable walk following the River Frome as it winds around Dorchester.

The Frome has always been a major contributor to Dorchester life. Historically, the River Frome provided a vital water source, enabling settlement and agriculture, and serving as a trade route, though the town itself was strategically built on higher ground to avoid flooding.

Thomas Hardy had a deep connection with the River Frome, which served as a significant inspiration for his literary works and a frequent backdrop to his life and characters. The River Frome and its surrounding landscape, including the water meadows, are vividly depicted in his novels, and many locations along its banks are associated with his life and writings. We will enjoy relevant readings from Hardy's works along the way.

As an added bonus, the walk follows a lovely circular route along the River Frome where there are plenty of opportunities to spot local wildlife along the way, including ducklings, swans and brown trout. The Frome is also one of the most important rivers in the UK for water voles.

The walk will finish at the King's Arms for tea and cake, included in the price.