White Mill

White Mill stands on the River Stour at the edge of the Kingston Lacy estate near Sturminster Marshall, the last surviving mill on this stretch of the river, rebuilt in 1776 on a site already recorded in the Domesday Book. Extensively repaired by the National Trust in 1994, it keeps its original elm and applewood machinery, now too fragile to turn, so the mill no longer grinds and is shown instead on guided tours through its floors, the upper ones reached by a steep wooden staircase. Outside, the garden runs down to the water beside the old stone bridge, and the mill opens only in the warmer months at weekends, though the riverside can be enjoyed at any time. Dogs are welcome on a lead, and two Trust walks start from the car park opposite: the moderate 3.2-mile Droves walk through the water meadows, where dogs stay on leads near livestock, and a 4-mile circuit through Shapwick that is not suitable for them. Reviewers say the volunteer guide's tour turns a small building into an absorbing hour, and pair it with Kingston Lacy or Badbury Rings nearby. One tip: there are no toilets, so plan a stop elsewhere.