Ringwood (England)

The A31 trunk road runs from the end of the M27 motorway through the New Forest, past Ringwood, and on towards Dorchester. About a mile west of Ringwood, the A31 has a major junction with the A338 expressway, which brings traffic from the Bournemouth/Christchurch/Poole conurbation. The A338 also continues north of Ringwood as a single-carriageway road to Salisbury via Fordingbridge. Approximate driving distances:

• From Bournemouth, via A338 – 12 mi (19 km)
• From Salisbury, via A338 – 17 mi (27 km)
• From Southampton, via M27 and A31 – 22 mi (35 km)
• From Dorchester, via A35 and A31 – 35 mi (56 km)
• From London, via M3, M27 and A31 – 100 mi (160 km)

• 🌍 Meeting House Lane. The main bus stops in town, where all buses from elsewhere stop, including the National Express. 

Three National Express bus routes run through Ringwood: from London or Heathrow Airport (approx. 2½ hours) and from Birmingham (approx. 5 hours).

For more local travel, the most frequent bus routes are the X3 running between Bournemouth and Salisbury and the X6 which runs from Poole.

• The Avon Valley Path runs for 35 mi (56 km) between Salisbury and Christchurch, following the River Avon.
• The Castleman Trailway between Ringwood and Poole, following disused train tracks for 15 mi (24 km). Also suitable for cycling and horse-riding.

It is easy to walk around the town, as it is only about a mile wide and mostly flat. There are some signposts near the town centre that show popular walking/cycling routes such as the Avon Valley Path. Google Maps works well for navigating in the town, and also shows the Ringwood sections of the Avon Valley Path and the Castleman Trailway.

There is a circular bus route around the town, the Ringo. It goes to Poulner (the section of Ringwood north of the A31) and to the Lidl/Premier Inn, with the main stop being Meeting House Lane.

Ringwood only has a couple of main roads and no confusing one-way systems, so it is easy to drive around. There is a large paid car park (both short-stay and long-stay) at Meeting House Lane, with street parking available almost everywhere else. However, in the evenings and on warm holidays the roads can be very busy as people queue to join the A31, so it may be faster to walk.

A car will be very useful to have when visiting the various countryside attractions outside the town.

• 🌍 Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve (Hampshire Wildlife Trust), Ellingham Drove, BH24 3PJ (🌍 Car and bike park outside education centre. Bus: X3 to Ellingham Crossroads, 500-m walk from centre), ☏ +44 1425 472760, BlashfordLakes@hiwwt.org.uk. 24 hours daily; centre and car park open 9:30AM-4:15PM, closed 25 Dec. A group of disused gravel pits that have filled with water over time and now form a cluster of lakes over 160 ha. The reserve is a magnet for great flocks of migratory birds in winter (terns, lapwings, oystercatchers...), while in spring and summer dragonflies and wildflowers put on a display. Other resident birds include redpoll, brambling, kingfisher and bittern. 8 km of level paths are suitable for wheelchairs; the hides are also accessible. No dogs except guide dogs. Entry by donation (suggested £4 pp). (updated Aug 2023)
• 🌍 New Forest Northern Commons (National Trust), Rockford Car Park, Ellingham Drove, BH24 3NF (Bus: X3 to Ellingham Cross, just over 1 mi (1.6 km) on foot), ☏ +44 1794 340757, mottisfont@nationaltrust.org.uk. 24 hours daily; car park open dawn-dusk. Walking and bike trails among a landscape of woodland pasture and open heathland. You'll almost certainly see some New Forest ponies, and if you're lucky you might glimpse fallow or red deer, or perhaps hear the song of a Dartford warbler. Just by the car park is a large sand dune for kids to roll down. Dogs must be kept on-lead. Free entry and parking. (updated Aug 2023)
• 🌍 Avon Heath Country Park (Dorset County Council), Brocks Pine, St Leonards, BH24 2DH (Off A31, 2 mi (3.2 km) W of Ringwood. Bus: 38 to St Leonard's Hotel, 10-min walk from park), ☏ +44 1425 478082, avonheath@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. Park daily 8AM-7:30PM / dusk (whichever is sooner). Visitor centre daily 10AM-4PM. Explore several miles of walking and cycling trails through open heathland. The park is part of a breeding programme for sand lizards, nationally-scarce reptiles which favour the heaths of southern England. Facilities include a visitors' centre, dog wash, café, picnic area and an imaginative nature-themed play area. Dogs must be kept on-lead March to July. Free. Parking up to £8. Barbecue day hire £42. (updated Aug 2023)

• 🌍 Moors Valley Country Park and Forest (Dorset County Council / Forestry England), Horton Road, Ashley Heath, BH24 2ET (3½ mi (5.5 km) W of Ringwood. Leave A31 at Ashley Heath turnoff, then follow brown signs. Bus: 38 to Castleman Trailway (stop dordmdam), ½ mi (600 m) from main entrance. Walk or cycle from Ringwood via Castleman Trailway.), ☏ +44 1425 470721, rangers@moors-valley.co.uk. Daily Sep-Mar 8AM-5PM, Apr-Aug 8AM-6PM/7PM during school holidays. Closed 25 Dec. Extremely popular forest park with miles of walking, running, cycling, horseriding and callisthenic trails. Free audio and mindfulness trails to download. Kids will love the treetop walk and Gruffalo sculpture trail. There are numerous on-site activities and attractions, listed below. On-site ranger station, café-restaurant, dog wash and picnic spots. No barbecues or camping. Free entry. Parking charges apply, up to £16 for whole day. (updated Aug 2023)
  • Cycle Hire. Daily 9:30AM-5PM. Proof of ID required. £10 deposit (for up to four bikes) plus adult/child bike 1 hr £8/£7, 2 hr £15/£11, 3 hr £20/£14, all day £24/£18. Helmets free; trailers, tagalongs and child seat extra. (updated Aug 2023)
  • Fishing in Moors Lake. 15 Jun-15 Mar, same hours as park. Dace, perch, roach, rudd, and tench are all regularly caught at decent sizes. No barbed hooks, floating baits, live baiting or spinning. Adult £5.20, child/concession £4.30. You must also have a rod fishing licence from the Environment Agency (£7/£13/£33 per day/week/year). (updated Aug 2023)
  • Golf, ☏ +44 1425 479776, golf@moors-valley.co.uk. Advance booking and payment mandatory. 18-hole, 6337-yard course along the Moors River valley, with four par 5s, ten par 4s and four par 3s. Oct-Mar: 11/18 holes M-F £16.50/£22, Sa, Su, holidays £17/£27; Apr-Oct 11/18 holes M-Sa £17.50/£25, Sa, Su, holidays £20/£30. Good discounts for under-25s. (updated Aug 2023)
  • Go Ape, ☏ +44 1603 895500 (national number), questions@goape.co.uk. Daily 9AM-7PM, booking essential. High ropes, swings, zip wires, and bouncy nets in the trees. There are four courses suitable for different ages, all 1-2 hr in length. If you can't stomach heights, you might prefer a Segway ride through the forest (1 hr). High rope courses from £20-£33, depending on difficulty, nets from £20, segway from £35. (updated May 2021)
  • Hawks in the Forest, ☏ +44 7954 522843 (mobile), hawksintheforest@gmail.com. By appointment only. Walk with a Harris's hawk! Your guide, a professional falconer, will instruct you on how to handle the bird, which will then fly freely as you walk through the woods and take turns in calling it to your outstretched gloved hand. Walks are aimed at couples and small groups. One adult £50, two adults £70, four adults £120; children £15, family (two adults, two children) £80. (updated May 2021)
  • 🌍 Moors Valley Railway, ☏ +44 1425 471415. Winter weekends and school holidays 10AM-4PM, summer daily 10AM-5PM. Email via online contact form. Return trip: adult £4.35, child £2.90. Footplate courses £180-£225 incl lunch and refreshments. (updated May 2021)

Most of the local river and lake fishing rights are controlled by either Ringwood & District Anglers' Association or Christchurch Angling Club. Annual membership for adults costs £205 (R&DAA) or £140 (CAC), which you might consider if you're planning on staying in the area awhile or visiting multiple times a year. Otherwise, CAC offer holiday memberships to all of their sites for one week (£70) or two weeks (£90). You must also have a rod fishing licence from the Environment Agency, which costs £6-£82 depending on type and duration. (Aug 2022)

• 🌍 Ringwood Fishery (Christchurch Angling Club), The Bridges, West Street, BH24 1EA. Opening: daily 1 hr before sunrise-1 hr after sunset. Seasons: coarse fishing 16 Jun-14 Mar, salmon 1 Feb-31 Aug, sea trout 15 Apr-31 Oct, brown trout 1 Apr-15 Oct. Just west of town, where the river Avon briefly splits into two courses. There are fast-flowing and calmer sections, as well as pools, holes and side streams. CAC annual or holiday members only. (updated Aug 2022)

If you're not willing to purchase membership, your options are limited. Moors Valley Park sells day passes for one of its lakes (see above), as do sites further upstream in Fordingbridge.

• 🌍 Bagnum Equestrian Centre, Bagnum Lane, BH24 3BZ (3½ mi (5.5 km) SE of town, via B3347, Rod Ln, and Charles Ln), ☏ +44 1425 476263. W-Su 8:30AM-5:30PM. Email via online contact form. Stables that cater to riders of all abilities from ages 6 and up. Take part in a hack - a group ride out into the New Forest or, if a complete novice you may prefer a walk-out, where your horse's reins are held by an instructor on foot. Hacks 1 hr £40, 1 hr 30 min £52, 2 hr £65. 30-min walkout £22. (updated Aug 2022)

• 🌍 Ringwood Town Market, Market Place, BH24 1AW. W 8AM-3PM. Established in 1226, the weekly market sells food, clothes and crafts. (updated Aug 2022)
• 🌍 Ringwood Farmers Market, Gateway Square, BH24 1AT (corner of The Furlong and Meeting House Ln; not on the High Street as suggested by Google). Last Sa of month 10AM-2PM. Hampshire and Isle of Wight food and drink from a variety of producers. (updated Aug 2022)

• 🌍 Sainsbury's, 24 Meeting House Lane, BH24 1EY. M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM. (updated May 2021)

• 🌍 Waitrose, The Furlong, BH25 1AT. M-Sa 7:30AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM. (updated May 2021)

• 🌍 Lidl, Christchurch Road, BH24 3AS. M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. (updated Jul 2021)

• 🌍 Café Velo, 2 Star Lane, BH24 1AL, ☏ +44 1425 480410, cafeveloringwood@outlook.com. 9AM-2PM, closed Tu. Cyclists' café for locally-sourced brunch and lunch. Veggie and vegan options. Bike storage and water bottle filling available (updated Sep 2021)

• 🌍 Indian Tree, 14 Market Place, BH24 1AW, ☏ +44 1425 476563. 5PM-11PM. Indian curries, as the name suggests. Prices are typically £8.95 (chicken) to £13.95 (king prawn). Also offers takeaways. (updated Jul 2021)

• 🌍 Price's Fish And Chips, 38 Christchurch Road, BH24 1DN, ☏ +44 1425 480290. Lunch W-Sa noon-1:45PM, dinner Tu-Sa 5PM-9PM. Popular traditional chippy. For something a bit different, try their homemade sweet chilli fishcakes. Medium cod, chips and side £8.50. (updated Jul 2021)

• 🌍 Fromage to Yours, 2 Fridays Court, BH24 1AB, ☏ +44 1425 470263, info@fromagetoyours.co.uk. M 10AM-2PM, Tu-Sa 9AM-4PM. Café-deli specialising in local cheese and charcuterie, served in salads, paninis and on sharing platters. Paninis £6-£7.50, salads £5-£10, platters £23-£33. (updated Sep 2021)

• 🌍 The Old Cottage, 14 West Street, BH24 1DZ, ☏ +44 1425 474283. Lunch Tu-Su noon-2:30PM, Dinner Tu-Th 6PM-9PM, F-Sa 6PM-9:30PM. Classic dishes made with locally-sourced meat and fish, housed in a 16th century cottage. Mains cost £15-£20. Also offer a separate Sunday Lunch menu with different roast options. (updated Jul 2021)

Always popular in the New Forest.

• 🌍 Fernwood Glamping, Fernwood, Hangersley Hill, BH24 3JN, ☏ +44 1425 476892, +44 7730 586601 (mobile). Check-in: 5-10PM, check-out: 10AM. Stay in a red Romany caravan or corrugated shepherd's hut in a quiet setting on the edge of town. The caravan and hut each sleep two adults and two kids, and come equipped with bedding and basic toiletries, a minifridge and kettle. Bring your own camp cooker or barbecue, or make use of the firepit. No dogs. Two adults: one night £100, two nights or more £80 per night. Children: £20 per night. Add £10 per night during summer peak. (updated Aug 2022)

The area code for landline phone numbers in the Ringwood area is 01425, or +44 1425 from outside the UK.

• 🌍 Ringwood Library, Bickerley Gardens, Christchurch Road, BH24 1DW, ☏ +44 300 555 1387. Tu-Th 9:30AM-5PM, Sa 9:30AM-1:30PM. The municipal library offers Wi-Fi, computers, printing and photocopying facilities. (updated Nov 2022)