Living in Ferndown

Ferndown is a thriving town with a village feel. Positioned midway between the market towns of Ringwood and Wimborne Minster, the location is spot on for those who enjoy outdoors life. Ferndown is surrounded by open countryside and woodland: the New Forest to the east, Cranborne Chase to the north and west, while the coast is to the south. The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon for wooded hill and the area is still green and leafy. Open spaces include Ferndown Common and Parley Common, totalling 526 acres of heathland, and woodland plantations of Ferndown Forest and West Moors, all criss-crossed by footpaths including long distance Stour Valley Way.

Ferndown is well known for its excellent golf courses, among them Ferndown Golf Club (favoured by Peter Allis), picturesque Ferndown Forest Golf Club, and the Championship Course at Dudsbury Golf Club. Further outstanding facilities include King George V Playing Fields with boules court, bowling green, cricket pitch, croquet lawn, four football pitches, six tennis courts and skateboard park. In town Ferndown Leisure Centre has swimming pools, gym, squash courts and sports hall. Out of town Moors Valley Country Park offers 1,000 acres of forest and heathland with cycle routes, tree top trail, golf course and more.

Overall, Ferndown’s focus is on leisure, a comfortable lifestyle and community. The town centre includes a modern shopping complex and a mix of high street names, superstores and quality independents including butcher, baker and greengrocer. A selection of cafes, pub and restaurants includes highly recommended The Kings Arms at Longham and The Pear at Parley.

Transport links are good, too. The A31 skirts Ferndown to the north, running east to the M27 and M3. Bournemouth Station is seven miles away (London in approximately two hours) and Bournemouth Airport is four miles.