Ferndown Town: Trails, Nature and Leisure

For travellers considering Ferndown Town as a destination, trails, nature and sport offer different starting points for planning. When considering the routes, it helps to look at where they go: two trails pass through Ferndown; another starts there and returns to its starting point.

Trails and landscapes

The Stour Valley Way passes through Ferndown, as does the Castleman Trailway. The Ferndown, Stour and Forest Trail starts in Ferndown and leads through the forest, across the heath and along the banks of the River Stour. The return route crosses farmland back to the starting point. This trail therefore takes in several types of landscape and has a start and return point; the other two trails mentioned pass through Ferndown.

Ferndown Forest has numerous paths and trails, open areas and streams. Visitors who value both trails and varied landscape features during their stay will find plenty to explore here: paths, open spaces and waterways. Seasonal conditions can affect the experience at Slop Bog. There, a boardwalk crosses the Sphagnum bog and offers opportunities to explore the ponds. Crossing the bog and exploring the ponds offer a different focus from the routes mentioned that pass through Ferndown.

Sport and leisure

The King George V Pavilion and Recreation Grounds include a children's playground, six tennis courts, four football pitches, a cricket pitch and a bowling green. The facilities therefore cover several sports as well as a playground. A six-court tennis facility at the King George V Playing Fields is available year-round. The bowling green at the King George V Playing Fields is open to the public at certain times; check these times before your visit.

The KGV Wheeled Sports facility includes a concrete park with a halfpipe, Blended Jumpbox, Pump Bump and Volcano. These named features give a concrete impression of what makes the skatepark distinctive. This area can be clearly distinguished from tennis, football, cricket and bowls when choosing between sporting interests.

Ferndown Forest Golf Course welcomes pay-and-play golfers. A Toptracer driving range at the course is also open to everyone. Booking and access conditions may change; check the current conditions before your visit. Access differs between the two facilities: pay-and-play golfers are welcome, while the Toptracer driving range is open to everyone.

Historic site nearby

The Church of All Saints in Hampreston is located near Ferndown. The parish church, which has Norman origins, is Grade II* listed. Its origins and listing give it a distinctive historic character and add a cultural point of interest to the trails, landscapes and sport.

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