Linford bottom, Ringwood.

Linford bottom today, not much water in the stream at the moment but the heather is looking beautiful. Easy walk on either side of the stream. Takes about 30 minutes to an hour depending on whether walk with dogs or small children. 

Castleman trailway from Ringwood to Ashley Heath.

Walking form Ringwood to Moors valley CP along the Castleman trailway today with Martin, Phoebe and our youngest granddaughter. We saw a few swans, a little Egret, lots of seabirds and ducks and squirrels too. Walk down from the centre of Ringwood, down onto the Bickerley Green, following the Avon path. Once over the bridge and onto the Castleman trailway, turn right and head towards the A31. Pass under the road bridge, following the red road marking, cross the road behind it and you will see the the left turn onto the castleman to Moors valley and St Ives. Once you get to a small road to a business you can turn right to ascend the hill if you want to follow Pine Avenue back, through to Ebblake and Verwood or cross the road and continue to reach Moors valley, St Ives or still further West Moors. This track goes most of the way to Poole with a few on road parts.

Ringwood to Verwood through the forest.

A lovely walk back from Ringwood through the forest. If starting your walk in Ringwood head down to the bridge over the river to join the Castleman trailway. When you reach the road, cross and turn left after the going under the road bridge.

On reaching the small road cross and and go up hill to the forest. Join the route down Pine Avenue and keep on this route until you reach a metal gate on the outskirts of Verwood. Go through the gate and into Ebblake nature reserve. 

Turn right at the first pond. Cross Ebblake bog on a raised track and join a small path at a gate. Now turn left. 

This path comes out in the Ebblake estate. Turn left and then straight on pass a small playground. Turn right to join a path behind the houses. (I took a detour here to take a look at where my youngest daughter Rachel is hoping to buy her first house, exciting times from them).Now cross the bridge and turn right into Potterne wood. 

The path goes behind Potterne park and the houses. Turn left but don't cross the bridge into the park. This path through a small wooded area reaches the road and then doubles back along another path behind houses. Keeping left the path finally reaches the Verwood Road where you turn right to reach the village centre.

Ringwood to Verwood

Beautiful walk from Ringwood to Verwood, via Moors valley, the lovely Crane lake and Potterne park. It's an easy walk and so much see and enjoy along the way.

The Coach Road, Ashley heath forest, Ringwood.

A walk in Ashley forest this morning. Starting from the "Dump" car park (newly renamed "The coach road car park" by the Forestry commission on their new sign)It's just past the dump about half way to Ringwood.

Head down the main path until a short way past the second junction. Go through the left hedge on small path that leads to fitness trail. Keep on this path, crossing several junctions until you come to red marker.

Go left then right and then left again following the red markers. There is a bench just before you get to this point, it's a good spot for a picnic or a flask of coffee.

Finally left onto track. When you reach the main track cross it and go up towards the Ringwood road. Turn left and then bear right keeping on track near the road. Turn left to reach the car parking area.

A coffee stop in the forest.