About Us: Rachel and Jonathan

 

We have lived in Ringwood since 1990 and at Fernwood since 2005 when we lived in a mobile home and built our house. We are from the New Forest ourselves (the villages of Burley and Brockenhurst) and have found the New Forest a fantastic place to bring up our own three children -now young adults but still at home! Ringwood seems to have the best of both worlds, with town facilities and yet having beaches and the New Forest on our doorstep.

 

We are really happy to help with places to visit. We also love to hear about your days out and meals out you have enjoyed, as this enables us to share ideas with other guests. We love walking and cycling in the New Forest and can show you places to visit on the Ordnance Survey map.

 

A few years ago, Rachel finished walking the South West Coastal Path with her friend - 630 miles of sea views, cream teas and nights away in Bed & Breakfast accommodation.  In fact, it was the nights in a gypsy caravan and a yurt (with compost toilet) that really got Rachel started on setting up Fernwood Glamping.

 

We love to meet visitors from other countries and other parts of the UK. We enjoy travelling a lot ourselves and still feel there is a lot of the world to explore.

 

Our Location / Getting Around

 

Our house is about half a mile from the A31 which takes you into Southampton or to Bournemouth / Poole (with popular sandy beaches and cinemas/ theatres). From the centre of Ringwood it is easy to access the main cities in the area by bus and it takes about half an hour by car to get to Salisbury, Bournemouth or Southampton. It takes about 30 minutes to walk into Ringwood from Fernwood, alternatively buses leave every 20 minutes from the bottom of the hill.

 

The town’s Visitor Information Centre is located off the main car park and can provide you with details of many areas nearby that can be explored on foot, bicycle or horseback as well as information about nearby attractions. There is even an open topped hop on / hop off bus that travels around the New Forest villages for two months in the summer.

 

With only five minutes in the car you are able to walk in the New Forest. Bikes can be hired from several local places such as Moors Valley Country park, or the villages such as Burley and Brockenhurst (worth stopping for a cream tea too!).

 

Planning Your Visit

 

We have put together a photo book of Fernwood Favourites, which may give you some ideas of what to do when you come and stay with us. A second photo book has some ideas for longer walks all starting from the free New Forest car parks.  There is a hardback copy of both books in each unit and you wil be sent an on-line link before your stay to help you plan your visit.

 

Places to Visit

 

Ringwood is a traditional market town on the edge of the New Forest which has still retained much of its original character. Every Wednesday the marketplace is blocked off for the traditional street market, but every evening it is buzzing with people, whether it is a meal out in a restaurant or a drink in the pub. In the day time there are plenty of small and unique shops to browse in and coffee shops. The old cattle market has now changed to The Furlong with places to sit and relax and some more well known high street shops, sometimes even French markets or street entertainment.

 

Ringwood is also on the Avon Valley Path, a 34-mile route across fields and footpaths across the Forest and alongside our beautiful River Avon that takes you from Salisbury Cathedral to Christchurch Priory. 

 

The Castleman trail also runs along an old railway track with sections open near Burley and again from Ringwood, through Moors valley Countryside park and on to Poole and can be done in sections or one long day as a cycle trail, with sections along the River and through the forest.

 

There are lots of family friendly attractions and things to do nearby including:

 

Blashford Lakes Wildlife Reserve,

Owl Raptor and Reptile Centre,

Go Ape or the play trail at Moors Valley 

Avon Heath Country Park. for waljs, wooden play area, trails fro the children and a cafe

New Forest Water Park on the road out of Ringwood towards Salisbury with some exciting water sports

Hengistbury Head for a family friendly beach, where you can take a cliff top walk, spend time on the beach and explore the area, there is a land train if you are tired and need a lift back to the car park!

Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park is  very popular with younger children and only 20 minutes away

There are seasonal events at Moors Valey, Avon Heath and opportunities locally for strawberry picking, a maize maze and pumpkin picking.

 

 

The New Forest villages are full of tea shops, ice cream shops, donkeys and ponies and well worth a visit.