Places to visit

The Avon Valley

Alderholt is ideally located for those wishing to explore Dorset, the charming New Forest, Salisbury and southern Wiltshire. The village is surrounded by woodland and farmland and provides a range of amenities as well as its own late 18th Century Watermill, which remains in working order and is still used today to mill flour.

Located at the eastern fringes of the District, only 2 miles from the New Forest market town of Ringwood, Ashley Heath lays claim to the shortest High Street in England. Nearby Moors Valley Country Park provides an excellent day out with extensive adventure play areas, narrow gauge steam railway, lakeside walks, tree top trail and ‘Go Ape’ ropes course. The visitor centre, in a 16th Century Barn, houses a tea room and country gift shop. Bicycle hire, a range of cycle trails and an 18-hole ‘pay and play’ golf course cater for the more active.

Situated between Ringwood and Ferndown are the parishes of St Leonards and St Ives. The surrounding area is heath land which walkers and visitors can explore at Avon Heath Country Park, with its visitor centre and marked trails. There is good access to both Rural Dorset, the New Forest, Bournemouth, Poole and the coast.