Ashley Wood Nature Reserve can be found in Tarrant Keyneston which is located between Wimborne and Blandford.  The ancient woodland comes alive in spring and from mid/late April to early May you should see the most wonderful carpet of bluebells.

Googling suggested to park on the main road and we drove up and down the small village working out the best way to get in to the woods.  We finally found out that there are several paths and since the village is very small I’d suggest parking where you see public parking bays and walking to the woods which you can see behind a few cottages.  We parked near the True Lovers Knot pub and because we couldn’t see a pathway on the main road when we arrived my husband suggested we walk down the lane which the pub sits on and then through the field next to it.  I’m not even sure if this was allowed so I probably wouldn’t advise it though.  We did however stay close to the edge of the field and stuck to the tractor paths which then led us up to a farm with a public path straight into the woods.  If you do venture down the lanes then look out for pheasants and rabbits in the hedgerows, we spotted quite a few on our walk.

We walked for over an hour taking in the most stunning sights of bluebells and noted there was plenty of pathways so you didn’t have to touch any of the wild flowers.  My children know the importance of not walking too close to flowers (I’m forever reminding them) so they were very good and only climbed the trees and fallen logs which are on the pathway.  We looped through the woods and knew we were coming back down close to the road and at this point the boys wanted to go one way while I wanted to go another so we said we’d have a race to the pub.  The girls won!  Although at one point I did question if we were in someone’s back garden when we came across a washing line haha.

Once we got back out on the main road the heavens opened and within just a few minutes we were drenched.  Luckily the pub provided a hot coffee for me and cold drinks for everyone else and we played a game at the table before heading back to the car and home again.

It’s very interesting to know that almost half of the world's bluebells are found in the UK and colonies of this wild flower take a long time to establish, around 5 to 7 years from seed to bloom.  They're considered so important that they're a protected species in the UK.

The Dorset Wildlife Trust acquired the reserve in 1999.  If you would like to read more about Ashley Wood Nature Reserve then please visit the Dorset Wildlife Trust.

Pamphill Bluebell Woods is also currently in full bloom and nearby you’ll find Pamphill Dairy which has a café, play park, farm shop and an awesome ice cream parlour.  We’ve tested several of their homemade ice cream flavours over the years and thoroughly recommend a visit.  If you would like to read more then please see our blog post on Pamphill Bluebell Woods and Pamphill Dairy.

Need some more ideas on places to go in Dorset?

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Pubs with play parks

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The Castleman Trailway is a wonderful 16.5 mile route which follows much of the old Southampton to Dorchester railway line.  The route is marked with the green and yellow Castleman Trailway logo and this can be found at main entrances, on way marker posts and on street lampposts.

We recently discovered a woodland section of the Trailway which is located near Uddens Trading Estate in Wimborne.  There’s roadside parking on Uddens Drive and from here we walked just a couple of minutes down the lane going past Chestnut Grove on the left and the trading estate on the right.  We then saw a sign for Canon Hill Plantation and a small car park.  From here you can enter the woodland and you’ll see a large information board and map.

There’s lots of pathways to take but we spotted a big table and thought this would be a good spot for a picnic with our friends before venturing on into the forest.

We decided to take the wider path and stuck to the Trailway post makers which took us through the woods where the children had great fun climbing trees and discovering ready made dens to play in. 

From here we walked further on the woodland path, over a bridge and onto another wider path which we would have carried on if the kids hadn’t begged us to go back into the woods.

We found another huge den and a table close by so we could stop for a break and listen to all the birds singing in the trees.  My husband’s eagle eyes spotted a bat box high up in a tree and I’m sure there’s lots of wildlife to be seen once night falls.

We were walking for almost 2 hours on our loop and our weak bladders and slightly weary legs were ready for the pub so we went in The Old Thatch which is on a couple of minutes away on the same road that we parked on.  They have a fantastic woodland play area called ‘Bear Island’ and once we all got drinks we sat down to enjoy the sun while the kids explored the large play frame and swings.  If you’re looking to stay longer then the restaurant offers a varied menu with main meals and children’s meals.  In the summer time you can order pizzas in Bear Island and having eaten in the restaurant and garden before, I can thoroughly recommend both.

Dorset is such a diverse County with so many places to visit, where shall we go on a woodland walk next?

If you would like to read more about the Castleman Trailway Route then please visit the Dorset Council website.

For more information on the pub we visited including upcoming family friendly events, please visit The Old Thatch.

Need more ideas on places to visit in Dorset?  If so, please check out some of our other Blog posts below.

Where to see Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Free or low cost things to do in Dorset with kids

Crazy golf courses in Dorset

Tout Quarry Sculpture Park in Portland

Longham Lakes Circular Walk