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All you need to know
The market town of Ringwood, on the edge of the New Forest, offers an array of interesting shops, eateries and a lively weekly market, plus an abundance of car-free walks and cycle trails for appreciating the natural beauty of the forest landscape.
Ringwood is an ancient market town on the western edge of the New Forest. The town’s market charter dates back to 1226, whilst earlier mentions of the town as ‘Rimucwude' (meaning 'rim of the forest') have been found in documents as far back as 955 AD. Today, Ringwood is still famous for its thriving weekly market, held on Wednesday mornings throughout the year, and the wide range of shops, boutiques, pubs, cafes and restaurants that line the high street and the lively Furlong Centre.
The town is also well known for wonderful walks along the River Avon, and the renowned Ringwood Brewery, which offers the opportunity to sniff locally grown hops and sample the popular ales and beers brewed on-site.
The disused railway track between Ringwood and Poole, the Castleman Trailway, takes walkers, cyclists and horse riders through the area’s scenic heathland, car-free, and also links with the popular Moors Valley Country Park, perfect for an action-packed family day out for walks, cycle trails and Go Ape!
If you’re looking for traditional seaside fun, make for the nearby Blue Flag sandy beach at Bournemouth. Ringwood has everything you need for a memorable holiday in the New Forest.
Get up close to owls, reptiles and all sorts of creepy crawlies at Liberty’s. Highlights include a wide range of birds of prey on display, daily flying displays in the all-weather indoor flying area or outdoor field, a reptile house with snakes, lizards, and much more! Plus a large free car park, and a café and gift shop.
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Despite the weather had a terrific outing. Wonderful birds, knowledgeable staff.
August 2020
Plenty of birds to see , look well kept . Good bird display , told you a lot about the birds that he flew. Interesting reptile centre. Had a nice Tea and lemon drizzle cake. Well worth a visit
June 2022
We took the grandchildren here and had a great morning with them. There was lots to see, there was plenty of accessible information for the girls and the flying display was great!
June 2022
Hosting a range of wildlife, the Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve consists of flooded gravel pits that are now used for nature conservation and drinking water storage. Surrounded by willow, birch and alder woodland as well as grassland, the reserve attracts thousands of wildfowl in winter as well as woodland birds including redpoll, siskin and brambling, not to mention playing home to adders, grass snakes, kingfishers, 26 species of dragonfly and invertebrates. Visit, get involved and learn, surrounded by an abundance of beauty.
A must for birdwatchers. Very good accessible hides
October 2022
Situated in Moors Valley Country Park, Go Ape’s high ropes course is sure to be one of the highlights of your holiday. Enjoy a few hours in the trees taking on zip wires, tarzan swings, rope ladders and a variety of obstacles. A truly exhilarating family day out.
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Moors Valley Country Park and Forest is the natural way to have fun with the whole family in Dorset, learning about and interacting with mini beasts and reptiles. They have regular events including a Gruffalo hunt, offer accessible trails in beautiful surroundings, as well as cycle tracks, hikes, Go Ape and even their own railway, so there’s plenty to do with the whole family, including the dog.
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We had 6 children with us (aged 5 down to 10 weeks old) and had a wonderful day here, walking through the forest, going on the little train ride and the nature trail.
September 2019
Lovely place for a visit either for walking or cycling. Great for kids
August 2020
Lovely country park. Very interesting play structures for the kids set during a lovely forest walk - with an excellent high tree walk for all ages. no entrance fee - just pay for parking. The park has an excellent miniature railway - really well supported and maintained - it has a really extensive layout with realistic signalling. It is operated like a real railway. Great fun. Food available - but in times of social distancing it was really busy with queues which is understandable. All in all a fab place to visit - kids loved it. There is also a Go Ape centre at the park for additional cost - but outside the age range for our kids so we didn't try this.
July 2021
A good outdoor attraction for all the family to enjoy.
July 2021
Excellent entertainment for everyone, plenty of activities for most age groups, food acceptable and basis, no rubbish bins so if picnicking you need to take everything away with you, they do however accept rubbish accumulated on purchases made on site. A good day out. Lots of parking spaces.
August 2021
For thrilling tree top adventures, complete with high ropes and zip wires, look no further than Go Ape at Moors Valley Country Park. With different levels for different abilities, it makes for a fun and active day out for the whole family. Booking is advised during peak times.
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Located in the centre of Ringwood, this pub is a favourite with sports fans who like to come and watch fixtures on the large TV. There’s a good selection of ales and drinks to choose from at the Inn on the Furlong and a simple bar menu serving pub classics.
The Inn on the Furlong, Meeting House Lane, Ringwood, BH24 1EY
A lovely Victorian pub, close to the town centre that serves superb craft beer and award winning food at a very reasonable price. Burgers are hand-made with the option of creative twists. A purveyor of local produce, The Railway menus reflect much of what is fresh, local and delicious. Dogs welcome.
The Railway (T: 01425 473701) Hightown Road, Ringwood, BH24 1NQ
Great beer, lovely garden and cool interior. Best chicken burger I’ve ever had, and feedback around the table on the other burgers was very glowing too!
April 2022
A friendly café-bar on Ringwood High Street that’s an attractive, lively spot for breakfast, lunch, or coffee with a tasty selection of cakes and all day mezze-style platters during the day, and brasserie-style dishes such in the evening. Perfect for chilling out with a cocktail on a cosy sofa or in the garden at the back. Children and dogs are welcome and there’s live music on Sunday afternoons.
Framptons (T: 01425 473114) Ringwood BH24 1BQ
Sister the Noisy Lobster on Avon Beach, this little restaurant has taken Ringwood locals by storm, winning rave reviews and loyal following. All the menus are fun and exciting with a bias towards fresh seasonal food and of course, lobster when in season.
Noisy Lobster (T: 01425 474253) 25 Market Place, Ringwood, BH24 1AN
This restaurant has now closed in Ringwood.
January 2019
Simple pub food at a very good price in the centre of the town. The Original White Heart has a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere and some great ales and beers on tap. Inside is spacious with alcoves and different rooms to settle in.
The Original White Hart (T:01425 472702) Market Place, Ringwood BH24 1AW
A family friendly beach close to Mudeford and Christchurch Harbour with plenty to do for all. For those with disabilities or small children there is a beach level carpark, and to keep everyone safe there is a designated bathing area and a seperate area allocated for watersports, all overseen by lifeguards in the summer months. This pretty sand and shingle beach is backed by trees and countryside and if you fancy some fresh local seafood or simply a coffee, ice cream or a cold drink, the beach is home to the excellent Noisy Lobster, serving breakfast, lunch and supper all year round.
Beautiful beach, lots of sand for youngsters- definitely been high on our favourites list, for more than 30 years and still is now the 'children' are nearly 30! - well worth the drive from New Forest. The Noisy Lobster is great and now has an 'outdoor upstairs' too. The Beach Cafe, half-way along, is excellent too- used to do very good carrot cake! The connecting beach towards Steamer Point is dog-friendly all year which is a bonus. Walking to the quay end, you can catch the ferry to Hengistbury Head which is beautiful beach too and often quieter (top favourite!) Even this last week (JULY 2021) the 'kids' wanted to crab-fish from Mudeford Quay!!
August 2021
Nice beach with good facilities
April 2023
Highcliffe beach, beneath the popular Cliffhanger Restaurant is a part sandy, part pebble beach. The beach has sloping access as well as steps down to the shore from the pay and display clifftop car park. To the east, Highcliffe beach towards Barton on Sea is a part sandy beach at the foot of the second most eroded cliff in England. This side of the beach is dog-friendly all year. However do check the tide times as high tide can make it difficult to walk along the beach.
To the west towards Highcliffe Castle beach, the promenade leads across the top of the small beaches inbetween the groynes with views across Christchurch Bay and Hengistbury Head. Groynes 4-8 have dog restrictions as does the promenade during the summer months, May-September.
A picturesque, tree-lined beach of shingle, and sand at low tide. Good facilities on the cliff top including an excellent tea room, public toilets, baby change and a children’s play area in the Castle gardens. Plenty of parking and sloping access down to the beach. Highcliffe Castle beach is dog-friendly all year round.
Lovely clean sandy beach and a really i would highly recommend this spot for your car to break down takes the ouch out of waiting for the recovery truck
April 2017
Lovely
April 2019
Very picturesque beach with great access, looks good for a beach day
October 2021
Southbourne Beach is a Blue flag award winning beach with wide, clean, part sand and part shingle beach to the east of Boscombe Pier. With views stretching right across to the Isle of Wight on a clear day and Old Harry Rocks/Swanage to the west.
The beach is popular all year round and during the summer months you can find kiosks serving ice creams and drinks dotted along the promenade.
Other facilities include toilets, baby changing facilities, lost children centres, RNLI lifeguard stations and pubs. There are many beach huts along Southbourne Beach and they are available to rent all year round from the local beach office.
Dogs are not permitted on Southbourne beach from 1st May – 30th September however they are permitted on the promenades all year round when on a lead.
Parking can be found on the clifftop, accessed via slopes leading right to and from the beach.
Southbourne Beach is a Blue flag award winning beach with wide, clean, part sand and part shingle beach to the east of Boscombe Pier. With views stretching right across to the Isle of Wight on a clear day and Old Harry Rocks/Swanage to the west.
The beach is popular all year round and during the summer months you can find kiosks serving ice creams and drinks dotted along the promenade.
Other facilities include toilets, baby changing facilities, lost children centres, RNLI lifeguard stations and pubs. There are many beach huts along Southbourne Beach and they are available to rent all year round from the local beach office.
Dogs are not permitted on Southbourne beach from 1st May – 30th September however they are permitted on the promenades all year round when on a lead.
Wonderful sandy, dog friendly beach with spectacular, far fetching views. The addition of Sobo serving fantastic coffee is great.
October 2023