Avon Heath Country Park
Children will enjoy the extensive play area, interactive exhibits, sensory trail, lizard enclosure and a heathland walk.
The ponds and streams around the heath are full of wildlife
The Basics
Time: 30 minutes for the Short Wander or 1 hour 30 minutes for the Viewpoint Trail.
Distance: 1 km for the Short Wander or 3 km for the Viewpoint Trail.
Terrain: The Short Wander is on flat, sandy, well maintained paths. The Viewpoint Trail has a few short climbs.
Pushchair: The Short Wander
Dogs: Dogs are welcome if following the Doggy Do Code
Refreshments: Avon Heath café, directly beside play area with indoor and outdoor seating. Plenty of picnic benches.
Toilets: Beside café/play area
Public Transport: The 38 (Wilts & Dorset) bus stops at St Leonard's Hotel, which is a 10-minute walk from the park. Passengers from Salisbury or Bournemouth can take the X3 (Wilts & Dorset) to Ringwood and then change to the 38. Passengers from Poole can take the X6 to Ferndown or Ringwood and then change to the 38.
Parking: Gates open 8 am - 7:30 pm. Standard prices are £3.20 for up to 2 hours, £6.30 for 2-4 hours, £8.40 all day. Offpeak prices between October and Easter outside of school holidays £2.40 for up to 2 hours, £4.70 for 2-4 hours, £6.80 all day. (Postcode: BH24 2DH - W3W: card/shirtless/zoomed)
The sand lizard enclosure is occupied during the summer months
When entering the park you will immediately be greeted by an extensive children’s play area beside a roundhouse café, a visitor centre with interactive exhibits and a sand lizard enclosure. There is plenty to keep children busy here all day, but it is well worth getting out onto the heath to see the park in its full glory with purple heather, silver sandy paths and wildlife-filled ponds.
The Route
There are three marked walks at the park, all of which are very well signed from the visitor centre and do not require my directions. You can pick up a free paper map from the visitor centre.
The First is The Sensory Trail. This is a short, ten minute walk around the central area designed for pre-schoolers with items such as musical instruments to discover along the way.
The second is The Short Wander that takes in beautiful heathland, ponds and woodland in a short, easy to follow circuit (green markers).
The third is the slightly more demanding, but very rewarding, Viewpoint Trail that involves a few climbs to reach a cluster of benches with a wonderful view (purple markers).
Other highlights for a family visiting Avon Heath Country Park will include:
A play area with giant tunnels, zip line, stream, climbing wall, wavy slide, giant wooden mini-beasts, sand pit, wooden walkway and house.
A café and picnic area beside the play area.
Barbecue hire.
A visitor centre with interactive exhibits including Madagascan Hissing Beetles, colouring sheets, bird call buttons and wildlife cameras that children can control (open 10am-4pm daily).
An enclosure containing sand lizards (they hibernate in winter).
A bird hide.
A wildlife pond.
A Petanque Court (balls for hire).
Table Tennis (rackets for sale/hire)
A Shop selling nature themed books, gifts and toys.
Seasonal activities, trails and events for children (extra charge - see Avon Heath Country Park website).
Mobility Tramper for hire.
* entrance to the country park is free *
Did you know?
The sand lizard enclosure (vivarium) is a popular attraction for visitors, but it is also part of the park’s important conservation work. Any eggs that are laid are passed to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, who help the eggs to hatch safely before releasing them in their native habitats such as Hengitsbury Head and sites in Hampshire.
If you liked this walk…
…try this one at Moors Valley Country Park which is nearby and also makes a good day out from The New Forest.
