Get up close to owls, reptiles and all sorts of creepy crawlies at Liberty’s. Highlights include a wide range of birds of prey on display, daily flying displays in the all-weather indoor flying area or outdoor field, a reptile house with snakes, lizards, and much more! Plus a large free car park, and a café and gift shop.

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Hosting a range of wildlife, the Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve consists of flooded gravel pits that are now used for nature conservation and drinking water storage.  Surrounded by willow, birch and alder woodland as well as grassland, the reserve attracts thousands of wildfowl in winter as well as woodland birds including redpoll, siskin and brambling, not to mention playing home to adders, grass snakes, kingfishers, 26 species of dragonfly and invertebrates.  Visit, get involved and learn, surrounded by an abundance of beauty.

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Situated in Moors Valley Country Park, Go Ape’s high ropes course is sure to be one of the highlights of your holiday.  Enjoy a few hours in the trees taking on zip wires, tarzan swings, rope ladders and a variety of obstacles.  A truly exhilarating family day out.

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Moors Valley Country Park and Forest is the natural way to have fun with the whole family in Dorset, learning about and interacting with mini beasts and reptiles.  They have regular events including a Gruffalo hunt, offer accessible trails in beautiful surroundings, as well as cycle tracks, hikes, Go Ape and even their own railway, so there’s plenty to do with the whole family, including the dog.

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For thrilling tree top adventures, complete with high ropes and zip wires, look no further than Go Ape at Moors Valley Country Park. With different levels for different abilities, it makes for a fun and active day out for the whole family. Booking is advised during peak times.

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Located in the centre of Ringwood, this pub is a favourite with sports fans who like to come and watch fixtures on the large TV. There’s a good selection of ales and drinks to choose from at the Inn on the Furlong and a simple bar menu serving pub classics.

The Inn on the Furlong, Meeting House Lane, Ringwood, BH24 1EY

A lovely Victorian pub, close to the town centre that serves superb craft beer and award winning food at a very reasonable price. Burgers are hand-made with the option of creative twists. A purveyor of local produce, The Railway menus reflect much of what is fresh, local and delicious. Dogs welcome.

The Railway (T: 01425 473701) Hightown Road, Ringwood, BH24 1NQ

A friendly café-bar on Ringwood High Street that’s an attractive, lively spot for breakfast, lunch, or coffee with a tasty selection of cakes and all day mezze-style platters during the day, and brasserie-style dishes such in the evening. Perfect for chilling out with a cocktail on a cosy sofa or in the garden at the back. Children and dogs are welcome and there’s live music on Sunday afternoons.

Framptons (T: 01425 473114) Ringwood BH24 1BQ

Sister the Noisy Lobster on Avon Beach, this little restaurant has taken Ringwood locals by storm, winning rave reviews and loyal following. All the menus are fun and exciting with a bias towards fresh seasonal food and of course, lobster when in season.

Noisy Lobster (T: 01425 474253) 25 Market Place, Ringwood, BH24 1AN

Simple pub food at a very good price in the centre of the town. The Original White Heart has a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere and some great ales and beers on tap. Inside is spacious with alcoves and different rooms to settle in.

The Original White Hart (T:01425 472702) Market Place, Ringwood BH24 1AW

A family friendly beach close to Mudeford and Christchurch Harbour with plenty to do for all.  For those with disabilities or small children there is a beach level carpark, and to keep everyone safe there is a designated bathing area and a seperate area allocated for watersports, all overseen by lifeguards in the summer months.  This pretty sand and shingle beach is backed by trees and countryside and if you fancy some fresh local seafood or simply a coffee, ice cream or a cold drink, the beach is home to the excellent Noisy Lobster, serving breakfast, lunch and supper all year round.

Highcliffe beach, beneath the popular Cliffhanger Restaurant is a part sandy, part pebble beach. The beach has sloping access as well as steps down to the shore from the pay and display clifftop car park. To the east, Highcliffe beach towards Barton on Sea is a part sandy beach at the foot of the second most eroded cliff in England. This side of the beach is dog-friendly all year. However do check the tide times as high tide can make it difficult to walk along the beach.

To the west towards Highcliffe Castle beach, the promenade leads across the top of the small beaches inbetween the groynes with views across Christchurch Bay and Hengistbury Head. Groynes 4-8 have dog restrictions as does the promenade during the summer months, May-September. 

A picturesque, tree-lined beach of shingle, and sand at low tide. Good facilities on the cliff top including an excellent tea room, public toilets, baby change and a children’s play area in the Castle gardens. Plenty of parking and sloping access down to the beach. Highcliffe Castle beach is dog-friendly all year round. 

Southbourne Beach is a Blue flag award winning beach with wide, clean, part sand and part shingle beach to the east of Boscombe Pier. With views stretching right across to the Isle of Wight on a clear day and Old Harry Rocks/Swanage to the west.

The beach is popular all year round and during the summer months you can find kiosks serving ice creams and drinks dotted along the promenade.

Other facilities include toilets, baby changing facilities, lost children centres, RNLI lifeguard stations and pubs. There are many beach huts along Southbourne Beach and they are available to rent all year round from the local beach office.

Dogs are not permitted on Southbourne beach from 1st May – 30th September however they are permitted on the promenades all year round when on a lead.

Parking can be found on the clifftop, accessed via slopes leading right to and from the beach.

Southbourne Beach is a Blue flag award winning beach with wide, clean, part sand and part shingle beach to the east of Boscombe Pier. With views stretching right across to the Isle of Wight on a clear day and Old Harry Rocks/Swanage to the west.

The beach is popular all year round and during the summer months you can find kiosks serving ice creams and drinks dotted along the promenade.

Other facilities include toilets, baby changing facilities, lost children centres, RNLI lifeguard stations and pubs. There are many beach huts along Southbourne Beach and they are available to rent all year round from the local beach office.

Dogs are not permitted on Southbourne beach from 1st May – 30th September however they are permitted on the promenades all year round when on a lead.