CASTLEMAN TRAIL STAGE ONE

THE CASTLEMAN TRAIL – Stage One – Stapehill to Ringwood - 19 January 2015

The Castleman Trailway is one of Dorset's gentlest way-marked, walking, cycling and horse riding routes. This 16.5 mile (26.5 kilometres) Trailway follows much of the old Southampton to Dorchester railway line. The Trailway takes you through some of East Dorset's stunning landscape whilst also connecting a string of settlements between Ringwood and Poole. You can find out more about it and the maps at https://www.dorsetforyou.com/castlemantrailway

I have done the first of the two halves with Jim (in photos). We went by car to the Furlong Car Park in the centre of Ringwood and parked there (£5 for 20 hours) then caught the 9:15 am  132 Bus from Stand D in Meeting House Lane which runs along the south side of the car park near Sainsbury's. [This bus no longer runs so you will need to get the No 38 bus to Victoria Road, Ferndown and then cross the road to the bus stop on the other side and get the No 13 bus to Uddens Cross opposite the Old Thatch Restaurant if you want to follow in our footsteps].This took us to Uddens Cross from which it was a flat 9.2 miles back.

 

 

The initial forest path takes you to a bridge over the A31 and you stay to the north of it until Ringwood is in sight.

 

 

It is easy going along forest tracks through Uddens Plantation

One section is along Uddens Water, then there are views of West Moors Nature Reserve.

 

 

After passing through West Moors where it is possible to get sustenance at the Tap & Railway, it is on to the disused railway which heads in a dead straight line to Ashley Heath crossing the Moors River at one point. 

The former Ashley Heath Station

A wild section where the former railway went through a cutting.

After going under the A31 it is on to a section of the old railway which crosses the Avon Valley with a series of restored old railway bridges.

The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul in Ringwood from the Trail

 Left the Trail to follow the Avon Valley Trail north to end up at the Fish Inn near the A31 (the pub sign on the OS Maps) for lunch at 13:30 then walked through the Churchyard to the car park.