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Photo: Peter Beaven, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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The Moors Valley Railway is a 7+1⁄4 in narrow gauge passenger railway, in the Moors Valley Country Park at Ashley Heath, Dorset, England near Ringwood in Hampshire. There are 21 steam locomotives, 2 diesel locomotives and 1 steam locomotive under construction. The railway is fully signalled, with two signal boxes, one in a Great Western Railway style and one in a British Rail Southern Region style. The latter box made use of a 28 lever Stevens lever frame from Becton Gas Works, as well as containing a 12-lever mini-frame and push-button panel, for the control of the Lakeside area. The railway was constructed at its present location in 1985/86 and opened to the public on the 26 July 1986, after the closure in 1985 of its predecessor at Tucktonia in nearby Christchurch, which had run since 1980. Lakeside Station initially opened in 1989, but was rebuilt in 1995 which included a platform for the mainline. a whole loop of the railway is now roughly one mile, however including sidings totals around 11⁄2 miles
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Dorset County Council / Forestry England
Extremely popular forest park with miles of walking, running, cycling, horseriding and callisthenic trails. Free audio and mindfulness trails to download. Kids will love the treetop walk and Gruffalo sculpture trail. There are numerous on-site activities and attractions, listed below. On-site ranger station, café-restaurant, dog wash and picnic spots. No barbecues or camping.
Dorset County Council
Explore several miles of walking and cycling trails through open heathland. The park is part of a breeding programme for sand lizards, nationally-scarce reptiles which favour the heaths of southern England. Facilities include a visitors' centre, dog wash, café, picnic area and an imaginative nature-themed play area. Dogs must be kept on-lead March to July.
Christchurch Angling Club
Just west of town, where the river Avon briefly splits into two courses. There are fast-flowing and calmer sections, as well as pools, holes and side streams.
There has been a church on-site for at least 1000 years, though the current building only dates from the 1850s. Look out for the 15th-century monumental brass, a matchstick model of the church made by air raid wardens while on fire watch in the 1940s, and a contemporary triptych depicting the two patron saints and a cross.
Grade II*-listed Presbyterian meeting house dating from 1727, now houses the municipal archives. A selection of artefacts is on permanent display, and the house hosts numerous events throughout the year, including concerts and art exhibitions.
Hampshire Wildlife Trust
A group of disused gravel pits that have filled with water over time and now form a cluster of lakes over 160 ha. The reserve is a magnet for great flocks of migratory birds in winter (terns, lapwings, oystercatchers...), while in spring and summer dragonflies and wildflowers put on a display. Other resident birds include redpoll, brambling, kingfisher and bittern. 8 km of level paths are suitable for wheelchairs; the hides are also accessible. No dogs except guide dogs.