Ringwood: Culture, Trails and the River Avon

Ringwood lies at a crossing point of the River Avon on the western edge of the New Forest. The town combines this distinctive landscape setting with a history worth discovering, a regular market and several trails for different excursion ideas. Anyone wishing to plan a trip that combines culture, exploring the town and outdoor activity will find various starting points here for planning their own days.

Churches and history around the Market Place

A central cultural landmark is the Church of St Peter and St Paul on the Market Place. It belongs to the Parish of Ringwood in the Diocese of Winchester, lies within the Ringwood Town Conservation Area and is a Grade II* listed building. A church has stood on this site for at least 1,000 years. The present building was constructed between 1853 and 1855. There is also specific practical information for your visit: the church is open daily from 10:00 to 15:30.

The Ringwood Meeting House also offers an insight into the town's history. It was built in 1727 by English Presbyterians and regularly hosts exhibitions by various individuals and organisations. This means that a stay in Ringwood can be planned around not only historic buildings but also changing cultural impressions. The Old Bridge on West Street adds to this historic picture: for centuries, it was the most important crossing over the River Avon to Ringwood.

Market, gardens and trails

The Charter Market takes place every Wednesday at the Market Place. If you are planning your visit for a particular day of the week, you can incorporate this event into your trip. The Jubilee Gardens provide another connection with the town: a mill stream runs through the gardens. Together with the town's squares and buildings, this creates a varied selection of options for a day spent discovering Ringwood's culture and landscape at your own pace.

For longer outings, the Avon Valley Path runs through Ringwood. The route is 34 miles long and connects Christchurch with Salisbury. It therefore serves as an important point of reference for travellers wishing to include Ringwood in a more extensive route plan. The Castleman Trailway has a different character: it follows the route of a former railway line. When planning your visit, you should therefore distinguish between a historic town walk, a visit to the market and a longer route, rather than treating all the experiences in the same way.

The right holiday apartment for your travel plans

When looking for a holiday apartment in Ringwood, you can first decide which focus will shape your trip. Those interested in culture can make the Church of St Peter and St Paul, the Ringwood Meeting House and the historic Old Bridge their priorities. For a stay with more time outdoors, the Avon Valley Path, the Castleman Trailway and the Jubilee Gardens provide specific themes for planning each day. For your daily itinerary, you can distinguish the Charter Market, held on Wednesdays, and the cultural sites on the one hand from the 34-mile Avon Valley Path on the other.

Ringwood is therefore a versatile base for a trip combining history, river landscapes and trails.

Discover more places

For further travel planning, you can also explore Brockenhurst, Sutton Scotney, Hayling Island, Martin, Boldre, Monk Sherborne, Horndean and Fair Oak.

For the overall travel overview: Hampshire.