Highlight • River
The River Allen
Hiking
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Tips
MCW73
March 27, 2026
Hiking
Though it sounds like a character from a lost Tolkien novel, the "River Wimborne" is actually a bit of a local identity crisis. Nowadays, most people call it the River Allen, but back in Saxon times, it was the Wimburnia—meaning "meadow stream."
It’s a "twin-bourne" town (Wimborne Minster) where the tiny, clear Allen finally crashes the party of the much larger River Stour. The quirky part? The Allen is a rare, pristine chalk stream that’s so posh it’s mostly private, home to high-society trout and very grumpy native white-clawed crayfish. It’s basically the VIP lounge of Dorset waterways!
It’s a "twin-bourne" town (Wimborne Minster) where the tiny, clear Allen finally crashes the party of the much larger River Stour. The quirky part? The Allen is a rare, pristine chalk stream that’s so posh it’s mostly private, home to high-society trout and very grumpy native white-clawed crayfish. It’s basically the VIP lounge of Dorset waterways!
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Nearby routes
Best routes near The River Allen
4
hikers
Easy hike. Easily walkable paths.
Easy
5
hikers
Easy hike. Easily walkable paths.
Easy
3
hikers
Easy hike. Easily walkable paths.
Easy
Details
Informations
Elevation 130 m
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Thursday 29 October
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Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h
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