Ringwood
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Ringwood is a market town on the western edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, right on the border with Dorset. If driving to Bournemouth or the Jurassic Coast from Southampton or London, chances are you'll pass Ringwood on the A31. In truth, the road thunders past a little too close for auditory comfort, but that does make it easy for you to turn off and discover what the place has to offer. If it's not market day, there probably won't be much going on in town, but the near countryside offers plenty of wholesome outdoor activities: angling in the Avon, horse-riding on the heath, and falconry in the forest. Non-alliterative fun is also available; read on.
Understand
Founded by West Saxons, Ringwood's name probably means "border wood", referring to its natural environment and position near the Hampshire-Dorset boundary. In a charter of 961 CE, it was recorded that King Edgar the Peaceful gave some of the town's land to an Oxfordshire monastery. This uncontested act by a king known for his calm pleasantness rather set the tone for Ringwood: during subsequent centuries, nothing much happened. Whereas nearby Burley had to contend with a milk-crazed dragon, and other parts of the New Forest bore witness to medieval regicide, Ringwood was quietly busy becoming a prosperous market town.
The market has been held weekly for as long as anyone can remember — certainly since at least the 14th century — and the major industry besides tourism is a well-known real ale brewery. Shooting and fishing are popular local pursuits, and Ringwood is the place to stock up on supplies. Other items on the country town bingo card are also present and correct: Waitrose? Tick. Cosy pub on every corner? Tick. Local branch of the Women's Institute, stable house prices, Tory MP since 1910? Tick, tick, tick.
Get in
By car
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)
By bus
- 1 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.
On foot
- 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.
Get around
On foot
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.
By bus
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.
By car
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.
See
- 1 St Peter and St Paul Church, Market Place, BH24 2AW, ☏ +44 1425 489898. There has been a church on-site for at least 1000 years, though the current building only dates from the 1850s. Look out for the 15th-century monumental brass, a matchstick model of the church made by air raid wardens while on fire watch in the 1940s, and a contemporary triptych depicting the two patron saints and a cross. Free, donations welcome.
- 2 Meeting House & History Centre, 22 Meeting House Lane, BH24 1EY, ☏ +44 1425 480656. Open for visits M Tu, Th-Sa 10AM-noon, W 10AM-2:30PM. Times vary for events and exhibitions. Grade II*-listed Presbyterian meeting house dating from 1727, now houses the municipal archives. A selection of artefacts is on permanent display, and the house hosts numerous events throughout the year, including concerts and art exhibitions. Entry by spare change.
- 3 Liberty's Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre, Crow Lane, BH24 3DZ, ☏ +44 1425 476487. Apr-Sep daily 10AM-5PM, Oct-Mar Sa Su and Feb half-term 10AM-4PM. Large collection of owls, hawks, falcons, eagles, and vultures, some of which take part in flying displays every day. There is also a small reptile house on site, which puts on occasional shows in the summer. Site can be difficult for wheelchairs. No dogs. Adult £14.95, senior £12.95, child (3-15 yr) £6.50.
- 4 Poulner Baptist Chapel, Linford Road, Hangersley, BH24 3HZ. Worth a look if you're passing is this unusual thatched chapel with whitewashed mud walls and a gracefully crumbling churchyard. If the modern chapel next door is open, it may be possible to look inside.
Do
Parks and nature
- 1 Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve (Hampshire Wildlife Trust), Ellingham Drove, BH24 3PJ (1 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).
- 2 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.
- 3 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.
Moors Valley
- 4 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 5 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.
Fishing
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)
- 6 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.
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.
Riding
- 7 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.
Buy
- 1 The Furlong, BH24 1AT, ☏ +44 1425 474291. M-Sa 7:30AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-4PM, some shop hours differ. If you ever wondered where the forest's green welly brigade shopped, wonder no more. This mid-sized al fresco shopping centre has a decidedly middle-class offering of chain stores and cafés. One independent of note is The Forge Cycleworks (☏ +44 1425 482797, M-Sa 9AM-6PM), selling a vast range of bikes, parts and accessories.
- 2 Ringwood Tackle, 5 The Bridges, West Street, BH24 1EA, ☏ +44 1425 475155. M-Sa 7AM-5:30PM, Su 7AM-noon. An Aladdin's cave of fishing tackle and bait, staffed by friendly men with decades of knowledge of the local rivers and lakes.
- 3 Roebridge Natural Food Market, Unit 3, Meeting House Lane, BH24 1EY, ☏ +44 1425 473133. M-Sa 8AM-5:30PM, Su 9AM-4PM. Small regional chain of greengrocers stocking local produce including New Forest mushrooms and Dorset chillies. Also sells nuts and free-range eggs.
Markets
- 4 Ringwood Town Market, Market Place, BH24 1AW. W 8AM-3PM. Established in 1226, the weekly market sells food, clothes and crafts.
- 5 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.
Supermarkets
- 6 Sainsbury's, 24 Meeting House Lane, BH24 1EY. M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
Eat
Budget
- 1 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
- 2 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.
- 3 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.
Mid-range
- 4 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.
- 5 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.
Drink
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- 1 Ringwood Brewery, 138 Christchurch Road, BH24 3AP, ☏ +44 1425 470303, store@ringwoodbrewery.co.uk. M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, tap room from 11AM. Tap room and beer shop for Ringwood beers; buy 'em by the pint, jug, flaggon, piggon, or even firkin (that's 72 pints!) The brewery no longer offers tours.
- 2 Inn On The Furlong, 12 Meeting House Lane, Ringwood, BH24 1EY, ☏ +44 1425 475139, enquiries@theinnonthefurlong.co.uk. Daily 9:30AM-11PM. 18th-century free house with good range of beers and cocktails.
- 3 The Original White Hart, 4 Market Place, Ringwood, BH24 1AW, ☏ +44 1425 472702, originalwhitehart.ringwood@marstons.co.uk. Daily noon-11PM. 17th-century coaching inn. Although it's a Marstons pub, it also serves Ringwood ales. Sports on the telly and pool table. Wheelchair accessible. Dogs welcome.
- 4 The Elm Tree, Hightown Road, BH24 3DY, ☏ +44 1425 472516, info@elmtreeringwood.co.uk. M-Th noon-10:30PM, F Sa noon-11:30PM, Su noon-9PM. Thatched cottage with cosy interior and large beer garden. Live sports on TVs. Basic cheap pub food available, which gets mixed reviews.
- 5 The White Hart Inn, 171 Southampton Road, BH24 1HU, ☏ +44 1425 483123. Su-W noon-11PM, Th noon-11:30PM, F Sa noon-midnight. Email via online contact form. In the residential neighbourhood of Poulner is this characterful low-ceilinged pub with pool table, darts and dominoes. Lounge chairs and picnic blankets in the garden in summer.
Sleep
- 1 Dunnroaming, 176 Christchurch Road, BH24 3AS, ☏ +44 7508 810336 (mobile), 176dunnroaming@gmail.com. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Two en-suite twin rooms with blackout curtains. Free Wi-Fi and luggage store. Off-street parking. From £71, booked in advance. Copious breakfast included.
- 2 Premier Inn, Forest Gate Business Park, BH24 3AS, ☏ +44 1425 206667. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Around a 15 min walk from the high street. Several accessible rooms. Free parking and Wi-Fi. On-site restaurant for breakfast and dinner. From £42 for a double room, booked in advance.
- 3 Moortown Lodge, 244 Christchurch Road, BH24 3AS, ☏ +44 1425 471 404, enquiries@moortownlodge.co.uk. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10:30AM. A Georgian hunting lodge converted into a boutique B&B with ensuite rooms for couples - each room has one double or super king-size bed. Good breakfasts, including vegetarian and vegan. B&B doubles from £140.
Many of the pubs and inns in town also offer accommodation, all from about £70 per night when booked in advance.
Camping
Always popular in the New Forest.
- 4 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.
Connect
Phone
The area code for landline phone numbers in the Ringwood area is 01425, or +44 1425 from outside the UK.
Internet
- 2 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.
Go next
- The New Forest - Ringwood is on the outskirts of the national park which has many footpaths and bridleways.
- Fordingbridge - A smaller town to the north has both river and forest activities, plus access to a stately home and Roman villa.
- Bournemouth - Its beach is very popular in the summer, and the town is the main shopping/nightlife area for people in Ringwood.
- Salisbury - Home to Salisbury Cathedral and a gateway to Stonehenge
- Southampton - The port for many cruises, with good connections to other cities in the UK.
| Routes through Ringwood |
| Dorchester ← Wimborne Minster ← | W  E |
→ New Forest →  → Southampton |
| Bournemouth ← Christchurch ← | SW  N |
→ Fordingbridge → Salisbury |