Enjoy the unique play structures of Moors Valley (Moors Valley Country Park & Forest)

Member Name: deb10

Product:	Moors Valley Country Park & Forest
Date:	09/04/07 (1485 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Children, pets and cyclists welcome, beautiful views and a great way to let off steam

Disadvantages: No rubbish bins, no shade in the main picnic area and dirty toilets

Moors Valley Country Park and Forest

www.moors-valley.co.uk

Horton Road
Ashley Heath
Nr Ringwood
BH24 2ET

Email: moorsvalley@eastdorset.gov.uk

Tel: 01425 477880


Looking for something a bit different for a Sunday afternoon stroll, then this place could tick all the boxes. Moors Valley covers 750 acres in the Valley of the Moors River. Not easily sign posted until you are right on top of the entrance, a Sat Nav device could prove invaluable to get you here.

However, if you type in the above postcode on the RAC route planner website (www.rac.co.uk), it will find the place for you and can print off directions for a return route home. There are no admission charges. Opening times are from 8 am to dusk all year round except Christmas Day and a few days in January for cleaning the site.

For public transport links contact East Dorset District Council for more information. I saw no bus stops or signs close to the park entrance and none inside.

^^^ PARKING ^^^

On approaching the entrance you will notice four ticket barriers, two for the entrance and two for exit. On busy days there is usually quite a queue. As you approach the barrier, press the green button and you will be issued with a parking ticket. Do not loose this as you need to pay before exit. If the ticket doesn’t issue or the barrier does not life, there is a speaker phone direct to the information centre where rangers are on hand to help you.

To pay on exit, either place your ticket in one of the three machines just outside the entrance or hand it to the receptionist/park ranger at the desk in the information centre. You pay by the hour and charges are very expensive, on the same level as an NCP. If you are there for the afternoon, expect no change from your £10 note. Paying is by cash and most denominations of sterling are accepted. There is no ATM machine in the park that I am aware of, so make sure you have enough cash with you.

Parking on busy days can be a nightmare. Visitors are here in their masses when the weather permits and if you get here later than mid-day, be prepared to park quite some distance away from the park entrance. With no allocated parking bays, this is really just a free for all.

Pedestrians and dogs are everywhere and have no regard to motorists trying to park. Be extra observant and alert and keep to less than 10 mph around the wood. On the occasions I have been there, no assistance is given to those trying to park. Even though there are signs inside the park saying there is 24 hour security, I have never seen a security patrol around the car park, so lock or take any valuables with you.

The car park is literally in the wood, so do not expect any tarmac roads. It’s uneven in places but has lots of chippings scattered around to stop slipping in bad weather. It is still accessible for wheelchairs and buggies though.

Most importantly, as this car park is vast, try and remember a landmark as to where your vehicle is. Car spaces have no markings and one tree looks the same as the rest. Leave well before dusk otherwise you might not find your car again.

^^^^ THE INFORMATION CENTRE^^^^^^

With no steps to climb, disabled access to the park should be no problem and to the information centre. This is huge barn, converted to a cafeteria, shop, toilets and information point. As you walk inside, there is desk situated on the left in the corner. A park ranger is always on hand to help you and for your safety, they are all first aid trained.

It’s here at the desk where you report lost children, pay your car park ticket, book your day pass for some course fishing and purchase some of the beautiful prints for sale at the entrance. Please note that course fishing is seasonal so please call the centre prior to arrival. There are many leaflets by the desk to take, giving you details of forthcoming events at the park and the surrounding area’s.

We only use the cafeteria for tea and coffee as we always pack a picnic. As like anywhere you visit now, nothing is cheap. It is self service but the pine tables and chairs are wiped down and clean. For just under £20 you can get cake and soft drinks for an average family. To be honest, take your own food. The barn is exceptionally hot and dark in the summer months and quite uncomfortable. It’s much nicer to sit outside in the fresh air and enjoy the Hampshire views. The Café takes bank debit cards and cash for payment.

The Ladies, Gents and Disabled Toilet are situated just outside of the information centre. They are sign posted from inside the barn. Do not expect anything spotless and tidy; remember you are in a wooded area. The toilets smell, the seats are splattered with urine, but there is running cold water and if you are lucky, some soap in the dispensers. If you are desperate, you will use them but don’t hang about. I did not personally see any baby changing units inside the Ladies toilet, though that is not confirmation there isn’t one. So just incase, take a changing mat with you as there are many picnic benches situated around the area to place your little one on if need be.

^^^^^ THE COUNTRY SHOP ^^^^^

Called a Country Shop but with it’s abundance of plastic snakes and lizards, there is not much country about this place. Quite a quaint shop, situated inside the Information Centre, filled to the ceiling with toys, jewellery, sweets and other souvenirs. They must have had a few shop lifters in there as the assistant’s eyes are watching every customer’s move. If your child so much as touches a toy, you are pounced upon and they place the toy back in the original place. The Manager waits at the door, not to greet you but scan you up and down and that’s before you go in. Not exactly a most welcoming outlet and the prices are over the top.

I did like the coral bracelets though but at £3.99 decided against it. A basic plastic horse that I last saw in Pound land was on sale for £2.50. However, the Chrystal collection is very pretty and not too over priced if you really have to buy one souvenir. Prices vary but start from £2 for a small piece.

There is limited room inside as the aisles are so tightly packed, so buggies and wheelchairs would not be able to manoeuvre sufficiently. I also recommend not taking young children inside otherwise the shop assistants might have heart failure.

^^^^^ AL FRESCO ^^^^^

For the sake of your bank balance and the goodness of your health, enjoy the fresh air, beautiful surroundings and eat your own picnic. With an abundance of picnic tables littered just about everywhere, there is no shortage of somewhere to sit. I have never seen portable BBQ’s, so I would not recommend you take one without ringing the information centre first.

The main picnic area is by the lake, not far from the entrance. Swans and ducks pass by but do not intrude in your eating. Pack some extra blankets, lots of hand wipes, flask of tea, a cool box and enjoy. Many families go that extra mile and bring along tennis nets, foam bats, footballs and swing balls. I personally don’t as it’s extra to carry and there is ample for the children to do without taking half of your garden toys with you.

On the down side, there is no shade and no litter bins anywhere on site, due to the safety of the wildlife the park claims. As I haven’t much wildlife, except at the lake, I would say it is to reduce the workload for the staff. As you have to take your rubbish with you, pack a few spare carrier bags, you will need them if you are eating out. This is a pain admitted and can be quite smelly in the boot of your vehicle. There are no bins in the car park either so do not bother to hunt one down. You really do have to take your rubbish with you.

^^^ DOGS ^^^^

Dogs are allowed in the park as long as they are on a lead. You can let them off once inside the main forest, away from the public. Dog bins are supposed to be situated around the park to dispose of waste, but I haven’t seen one yet. Perhaps they are hidden in the bushes …..

I have seen a few pink nappy sacks thrown into the bushes with its dark brown contents bulging for all to see. Not all owners pick up after their dog and the further you go into the wood, the more likely you are to walk in something smelly.

I haven’t see any outside taps to give your pet a drink but there are on occasions, plastic bowls situated by the gift shop, information centre and train station filled with water. Don’t rely on these being here and play safe by bringing your own water for your pet. Pets at Home sell a portable water bottle with a trough underneath, perfect for woodland walks for about £10.

^^^ LOTS TO DO ^^^^^^

This place is vast and there is plenty to keep you occupied for the good part of the day. Children have two amazing adventure parks to play on. One is for the younger kidlets with a sand pit enclosing it. The Play Trail is a multitude of wooden play structures ranging from a wooden ants nest, a spiders web, snakes and ladders and mazes. This gives the children the chance to climb, crawl and generally have a wonderful time. It does get busy as this section is a real crowd puller. The floor is padded and covered in chipping, so is quite safe but as some of the frames are high, be aware of your children at all times to prevent an accident.

The miniature steam train offers rides lasting around 10 minutes, taking you through a replica station where you have to change for the next train. To purchase tickets you have to go to the lake area and buy them from the ice cream hut next to the station. The ticket master punches your ticket and you climb into the small open carriages and sit astride the wooden bench, griping on for dear life as the train hurtles through the tunnels. The carriages have enclosed sides so there is no fear of falling out but it is unnerving climbing in as the carriage rocks on the small tracks.

This is good fun and the little train is immaculate, a real enthusiast’s dream. If there are not too many crowds, your children can have their picture taken with the driver too. For two adults and three children, a ten minute ride cost just under £8. Not suitable for disabled users and buggies are not allowed as are wheelchairs.

The tree top trail is a 200 metre walkway through the tops of the tree’s and not for those with a fear of heights. Amazing views but not recommended for small children or disabled visitors.

Go Ape has to be pre- booked on www.goape.com or call them on 0870 444 5562. I have never done but according to the leaflet, there is a high risk of danger attached to this activity.

You are instructed by a qualified member of staff but are not accompanied around. An adult must supervise a child over 10 and it is your responsibility to get around the course safely. Open from Easter through to the summer. Basically it is a high wire adventure where you spend over two hours suspended in the air – literally like an ape. You will be 40 feet up! Not for the faint hearted but according to the picture on the leaflet, a safety harness is provided.

The price is £25 for adults and £20 for ages 10 to 17. Payment for this can be made via credit card and debit card and a booking fee will be added. Personally I would rather sit on West Wittering beach and admire the views from a deck chair, but each to their own.

On a gentler note, there is a four hole family golf course, plus an 18 hole par 72 course for the more professional golfer. This is payable at the information desk prior to using. Please call them for a price on 01425 479776.

There are various walks available; most of the woodland has a concrete path unless you venture off course. The way marked walks include the Lake and Riverside walk. Approx ¾ mile and takes about 20 minutes to complete. This is an easy stroll, with benches and no hills to worry about.

The Look out Walk is slightly longer at 45 minutes as a guild line. This is a gravel and dirt track but takes in some of the most beautiful scenery around. There are steps here and the ground is uneven.

Park and Forest walk is 3 miles and will take around 2 hours to complete as will the Long Forest Walk. This is for the professional rambler and not recommended for young children. There are picnic benches along the way.

Because you share the park with cyclists, be very aware of them as sometimes they do not warn you of their approach until it is too late. With the noise of the outside environment it is hard to hear them and the tarmac paths are not wide enough for both pedestrians and cyclists alike. I appreciate they have to ride somewhere but I really feel it is a safety issue to have both pedestrians and cyclists together on the same route.

^^^^ CONCLUSION ^^^^

Whether you want to cycle, walk or orienteer, this is quite an amazing park to spend a good part of the day. Even with the lack of rubbish bins and dirty toilet’s, this is still worth a visit. I wouldn’t drive out of the way just to see this parkland but if it’s less than an hour’s drive away, take a look, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Summary: Explore the many virtues of the English country side.