A new local discovery – Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre

We are always on the lookout for new places to take the kids locally and upon recommendation from one of the the mum’s at the kids swimming lessons we headed to the Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre in Throop at the weekend.

Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre is the gateway to the Stour Valley nature reserve, where the kids can walk, run or cycle along riverside paths and even take a paddle in the river.

We took our trusty backpacks which contain flower, bird and bug books, binoculars and a diary so we can write down all the plants and animals we saw.

Stour Valley is one of the best places locally to spot Kingfishers too and we had our fingers and toes crossed that we might spot one.

When walking along the path Isaac bumped into a photographer who told us the best place to spot a Kingfisher, so we set off on a purpose to find the perfect spot.

A little way along the path we spotted a photographer clicking away and saw, not one but two birds in close proximity.

A quick check in Sebby’s book and we discovered we were looking at a Heron and an Egret.

After a brief stop we carried on to find the Kingfisher spot.

The photographers description of the sighting spot was accurate and we found it easily, but sadly for us there had been no sighting that day, so we carried on to look for some flowers that Eliza could press in her new flower press.

All in all we walked just under 5 miles and I have promised the kids we will go back as they are as desperate as me to spot and take a picture of a Kingfisher!!

The visitor centre itself runs activities throughout the year from pond dipping to guided river walks, just pop over to their facebook page for more information.

Kingfisher Barn and the River Stour Way is certainly somewhere we will visit again and again!!

Do you enjoy river walks?

• days out with kids
• Dorset
• river stour
• river walk