Dragonfly Cabin Guidebook
Food Scene
Masala
9 Meeting House LnGood value Indian
Seasons
Horton RoadThe closest place to stroll for breakfast!
Every Sunday during the summer at 3pm Wimborne St Giles village hall (about 20 minutes away) hosts delicious cream teas for the public. This is a beautiful village and lovely area for walks. The cake selection is always extensive!
Wimborne Saint Giles
Every Sunday during the summer at 3pm Wimborne St Giles village hall (about 20 minutes away) hosts delicious cream teas for the public. This is a beautiful village and lovely area for walks. The cake selection is always extensive!
Great Atmosphere, food and staff.
Checkout the outdoor eating areas!
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
India Cottage
35 Christchurch RdGreat Atmosphere, food and staff.
Checkout the outdoor eating areas!
Independent, family run, licensed speciality coffee house and kitchen
Nava Coffee House, Kitchen & Bar
22-24 High StreetIndependent, family run, licensed speciality coffee house and kitchen
Good food from this chain, at the bottom of Ringwood high street. The first pub you find if you walk from the cabin!
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fish Inn
West StreetGood food from this chain, at the bottom of Ringwood high street. The first pub you find if you walk from the cabin!
Really friendly welcome and great food.
Not just for cyclists, but an easy cycle from the cabin, found just after you pop out of the Castleman Trail.
Café Velo
2 Star LnReally friendly welcome and great food.
Not just for cyclists, but an easy cycle from the cabin, found just after you pop out of the Castleman Trail.
Luna Coffee
13 High StServing pastries, tea cakes and more, with a sun trap courtyard out the back.
(Boston Tea Party), voted in Telegraph Top Ten places for brunch
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Boston Tea Party
15 The Furlong(Boston Tea Party), voted in Telegraph Top Ten places for brunch
Food all day, vibrant after-work scene on Fridays, check out their current deals such as weekday, early evening happy hours, and special deal cheap eats.
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Framptons
48-50 High StFood all day, vibrant after-work scene on Fridays, check out their current deals such as weekday, early evening happy hours, and special deal cheap eats.
Independent family owned restaurant with good trip advisor reviews.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lovitaly
1 Market PlIndependent family owned restaurant with good trip advisor reviews.
V & G's
2 West StQuality Italian
Domino's Pizza - Ringwood
24 Southampton RoadGood pizzas from this chain.
As featured on BBC2 Remarkable places to eat, serving exceptional seasonal food sourced within a 25 mile radius; allow some time to stroll around their very own kitchen garden
147 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Pig
B3055As featured on BBC2 Remarkable places to eat, serving exceptional seasonal food sourced within a 25 mile radius; allow some time to stroll around their very own kitchen garden
Great food at this pub on the edge of the forest.
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Alice Lisle
Rockford GreenGreat food at this pub on the edge of the forest.
Red Shoot
Toms LaneGood place to eat in the forest
featured on BBC2 Remarkable places to eat, plus named Country Pub of the Year in the Good Pub Guide 2021
70 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Royal Oak
Ringwood Roadfeatured on BBC2 Remarkable places to eat, plus named Country Pub of the Year in the Good Pub Guide 2021
Harlees Verwood
94 Manor RoadFish and chips in Verwood
New Panda
7A Turbary RoadOur recommendation for Chinese takeaway
Parks & Nature
Totally awesome park!
The 12th most visited tourist attraction in the UK 2021.
Walks, cycling, 7km mountain bike trail, Go-Ape, Segways, tree-top trail and plenty more...
262 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque y bosque de Moors Valley
Horton RoadTotally awesome park!
The 12th most visited tourist attraction in the UK 2021.
Walks, cycling, 7km mountain bike trail, Go-Ape, Segways, tree-top trail and plenty more...
Worth the walk to the headland for the exhilarating view, or take a boat from Poole harbour to view from the sea!
152 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Old Harry Rocks
Worth the walk to the headland for the exhilarating view, or take a boat from Poole harbour to view from the sea!
Another great country park to explore. Good walks.
Just beware that there are quite high hourly parking fees!
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Avon Heath Country Park
Brocks PineAnother great country park to explore. Good walks.
Just beware that there are quite high hourly parking fees!
Just a 15 minute drive away this award-winning Park is recognised as both a tourist attraction and a Conservation Centre and is one of our favourites. There are daily separate timetables throughout the day. There are horse drawn carriage rides and a bumpy off-road tractor-trailer ride accompanied by lots of banter! The park provides tables and benches for you to enjoy your packed lunches, or there is a small cafe on site.
28 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park
Just a 15 minute drive away this award-winning Park is recognised as both a tourist attraction and a Conservation Centre and is one of our favourites. There are daily separate timetables throughout the day. There are horse drawn carriage rides and a bumpy off-road tractor-trailer ride accompanied by lots of banter! The park provides tables and benches for you to enjoy your packed lunches, or there is a small cafe on site.
Just at the beginning of the road to Salisbury (in a 10 minute drive) you will find this hidden gem. Disused gravel pits were turned into a nature reserve which today attracts a wide variety of birds and other wildlife (we have even seen the elusive water vole here!) The shady paths provide an excellent location for a stroll during sunny weather and you have the chance to bird spot along the way. Hides and bird feeding stations provide fantastic areas for some photography.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve
Ellingham DroveJust at the beginning of the road to Salisbury (in a 10 minute drive) you will find this hidden gem. Disused gravel pits were turned into a nature reserve which today attracts a wide variety of birds and other wildlife (we have even seen the elusive water vole here!) The shady paths provide an excellent location for a stroll during sunny weather and you have the chance to bird spot along the way. Hides and bird feeding stations provide fantastic areas for some photography.
Purbeck Hills
Drinks & Nightlife
Just a stroll down the road to this welcoming pub with great food (and warm fires in colder seasons!)
The Three Legged Cross
Ringwood RoadJust a stroll down the road to this welcoming pub with great food (and warm fires in colder seasons!)
Good place to stop for brunch or lunch in Ringwood.
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Framptons
48-50 High StGood place to stop for brunch or lunch in Ringwood.
Activities
This is a short drive (about 10 minutes), just outside Ringwood. The park offers wakeboarding, water-skiing, inflatable aqua park, kayaking, paddle boarding and more.
151 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
New Forest Water Park
Ringwood RoadThis is a short drive (about 10 minutes), just outside Ringwood. The park offers wakeboarding, water-skiing, inflatable aqua park, kayaking, paddle boarding and more.
Try Careys Manor, (or plenty of other hotels) for a luxurious Spa Day.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Careys Manor Hotel
Try Careys Manor, (or plenty of other hotels) for a luxurious Spa Day.
Days Out
A good one to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day!
115 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Oceanario
Pier ApproachA good one to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day!
Lush Manufacturing Ltd
17 Witney RdLush provide factory tours.
Book early for a tour and if you miss out it’s still worth visiting the shop to purchase from the range of Ringwood Brewery beers and a selection of other goods. Remember to look out for Ringwood Brewery beers if you pop into any of the local pubs!
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ringwood Brewery
138 Christchurch RdBook early for a tour and if you miss out it’s still worth visiting the shop to purchase from the range of Ringwood Brewery beers and a selection of other goods. Remember to look out for Ringwood Brewery beers if you pop into any of the local pubs!
Well worth the 40 minute drive as you can spend a fully packed day here. Whilst the main feature is the Motor Museum itself there’s so much more. Take a tour round the country house, the cottage garden, ride on the monorail above the displays, hop on the veteran open top bus round the grounds and the list goes on! There is a large cafe at the entrance serving good food all day.
197 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo Nacional del Motor, Beaulieu
Well worth the 40 minute drive as you can spend a fully packed day here. Whilst the main feature is the Motor Museum itself there’s so much more. Take a tour round the country house, the cottage garden, ride on the monorail above the displays, hop on the veteran open top bus round the grounds and the list goes on! There is a large cafe at the entrance serving good food all day.
Just 1.6 miles along Horton Road, you can even walk! A pleasant hour or two can be spent wandering about this centre (newly refurbished early 2022) which has gardening, camping, hot-tubs and more. A cafe serves drinks, cooked breakfasts, lunches and teas.
Hillier Garden Centre Three Legged Cross
Ringwood RoadJust 1.6 miles along Horton Road, you can even walk! A pleasant hour or two can be spent wandering about this centre (newly refurbished early 2022) which has gardening, camping, hot-tubs and more. A cafe serves drinks, cooked breakfasts, lunches and teas.
On the edge of Ringwood this park provides a few hours of entertainment with birds of prey, flying displays and reptile talks. You can even book Falconry Experience Flying Days, Owl Experience Days and Photography Days.
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Centro de Búhos, Rapaces y Reptiles de Liberty
Crow LaneOn the edge of Ringwood this park provides a few hours of entertainment with birds of prey, flying displays and reptile talks. You can even book Falconry Experience Flying Days, Owl Experience Days and Photography Days.
A 20 minute drive cross-country brings you to this National Trust House and Gardens. With a fascinating history and acres of parkland to walk around and explore there is plenty to enjoy.
78 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kingston Lacy
A 20 minute drive cross-country brings you to this National Trust House and Gardens. With a fascinating history and acres of parkland to walk around and explore there is plenty to enjoy.
Bournemouth Beach
Needs no more introduction!
Fabulous beach with shallow swimming areas and lifeguards in season.
121 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Playa de Sandbanks
Banks RoadFabulous beach with shallow swimming areas and lifeguards in season.
Boscombe is one of the quickest destinations. It is a lively beach where you will find cafes and bars and all the usual beach side delights.
34 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Boscombe Beach
Boscombe is one of the quickest destinations. It is a lively beach where you will find cafes and bars and all the usual beach side delights.
A trip across the harbour entrance, on the chain ferry, brings you to the beautiful stretches of Studland beaches. Glorious walks along the expanses of beach await, with a scattering of cafes along the way. These beaches are some of the best in the country and possibly some of the best in the World! For a truly memorable outing catch the first ferry by foot at 0700 and be the first people to make footprints on the breathtaking beaches as you stroll towards Ballard Down and Old Harry Rocks.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sandbanks Terminal station
A trip across the harbour entrance, on the chain ferry, brings you to the beautiful stretches of Studland beaches. Glorious walks along the expanses of beach await, with a scattering of cafes along the way. These beaches are some of the best in the country and possibly some of the best in the World! For a truly memorable outing catch the first ferry by foot at 0700 and be the first people to make footprints on the breathtaking beaches as you stroll towards Ballard Down and Old Harry Rocks.
Castlepoint Shopping Park
Castle Lane WestBeautiful beach, includes a naturalist area!
51 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Knoll Beach Studland
Beautiful beach, includes a naturalist area!
Probably the most amazing wild swimming location in Dorset
23 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Winspit Quarry
Probably the most amazing wild swimming location in Dorset
Local food sourcing
Located on the back road towards Fordingbridge, the trip there is part of the fun as you are sure to come across a pony or two. This family run hideaway has won multiple awards. They specialise in their local meat products. They even stock local Hampshire produced wine. You will also find a cafe and tea rooms on site.
29 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hockey's Farm Shop
Located on the back road towards Fordingbridge, the trip there is part of the fun as you are sure to come across a pony or two. This family run hideaway has won multiple awards. They specialise in their local meat products. They even stock local Hampshire produced wine. You will also find a cafe and tea rooms on site.
On the edge of Ringwood this farm shop was featured on BBC2 Remarkable Places To Eat. It boasts award winning pork pies and sausages. This family run farm shop has a butchery, shop, delicatessen and cafe which have gained a reputation for quality.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Crow Farm Shop
169 Crow LnOn the edge of Ringwood this farm shop was featured on BBC2 Remarkable Places To Eat. It boasts award winning pork pies and sausages. This family run farm shop has a butchery, shop, delicatessen and cafe which have gained a reputation for quality.
Tucked away just off Ringwood High Street this fantastic bakery showcases their breads and homemade cakes. Their speciality is a range of sourdough bread (which we can highly recommend). They also have a cafe so you can sit and enjoy those cakes with a cuppa!
BakeHouse24
Lynes LaneTucked away just off Ringwood High Street this fantastic bakery showcases their breads and homemade cakes. Their speciality is a range of sourdough bread (which we can highly recommend). They also have a cafe so you can sit and enjoy those cakes with a cuppa!