Local Area

Discover what’s on the doorstep of our award-winning campsite.

Back of Beyond Touring Park is ideally situated in the peaceful countryside near Ringwood, offering a tranquil retreat with easy access to some of southern England’s most scenic and diverse attractions. We are on the Hampshire/Dorset border and are within easy reach of some great places to visit.

Just a short drive from the New Forest National Park, Moors Valley Country Park, and Avon Heath, guests can enjoy woodland walks, local beaches, cycling, wildlife spotting, and outdoor adventure activities.

Historic market towns such as Wimborne Minster and Ringwood (our closest town) provide cultural interest, charming shops, and local dining, while the Jurassic Coast – with its dramatic cliffs and iconic spots like Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door – make for a memorable day trip. Our location blends natural beauty, rich heritage, and coastal adventures, all within reach of our park’s serene, adults-only setting. Find out more below about places to eat, to visit and some of our local towns and villages.

Eating Out
Towns & Villages

  • Ferndown

    Now a Bournemouth suburb, Ferndown has a large Tesco a Sainsbury’s superstore, and a Lidl. It also has a bustling high street with a wide range of shops. The Community Market takes place on Mondays at Pennys Walk. You will…

  • Blandford Forum

    Blandford Forum was rebuilt after devastating fires to create a fine example of a Georgian town. Worth seeing is The Blandford Town Museum a wealth of artefacts and archives from Prehistoric to the present day, The Royal Signals Museum (set…

  • Tolpuddle Martyrs

    Tolpuddle Martyrs (24 miles south west). This Dorset village commemorates the farm labourers who were arrested for forming a trade union in 1834 and transported to Australia, leading to the foundation of trade unions. There is a walking trail around…

  • Portsmouth

    Portsmouth (44 miles) makes a great day out. At the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard you can go aboard Nelson’s warship; HMS Victory and view King Henry VIII’s Mary Rose ship, rescued from the sea bed. Next door is the designer outlet…

  • Weymouth

    Weymouth (40 miles) has a sandy beach and beautiful sea front as well as a harbour. Attractions include the Sealife Adventure Park and RSPB reserve. There are cycle routes around the town and a Sandworld Sculpture Park. Worth a visit…

  • Winchester

    Winchester (33 miles) is the county town of Hampshire and the former capital of Wessex, kingdom of the Anglo Saxons under King Alfred the Great. It has a Park & Ride and there’s a lot to see here, including: The…

  • Swanage

    Swanage (31 miles without the Sandbanks ferry) is a traditional seaside town with sandy beaches, surrounded by the Purbeck Hills and famous for the Swanage Railway steam railway which takes a scenic 12-mile route to Norden, just past Corfe Castle….

  • Hythe

    Hythe (25 miles) on the eastern edge of the New Forest and its surrounding area, known as Waterside, is on the edge of Southampton Water. Take a wander up the Georgian High Street or catch the passenger ferry into Southampton….

  • Southampton

    Southampton usually has at least one gigantic cruise ship visible in its terminal. There’s excellent shopping at Westquay and the Mayflower Theatre brings with it West End shows. Plus, there are historic sites and fascinating museums. Southampton is the historic…

  • Shaftesbury

    Shaftesbury is accessed by a minor road across scenic Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You’ll encounter Zig Zag Hill on the way, one of the bendiest roads in England! Great for walks, the town has the famously steep…

  • Salisbury

    Salisbury has a famous cathedral, a theatre and two cinemas. It’s a beautiful city to walk around with quaint alleyways and numerous waterways. You’ll find a good selection of shops and and places to eat and there are 5 Park…

  • Wareham

    Wareham is the gateway to the Isle of Purbeck. It’s a historic Saxon market town on the River Frome, near Poole Harbour, with pubs, cafes and restaurants plus massive earth ramparts built by Alfred the Great. There are plenty of…

  • Lymington

    Lymington is an elegant Georgian town with a bustling high street, old cobbled walkways and several quays, along with galleries, venues and a museum, plus a large outdoor seawater swimming pool. There’s a weekly Saturday market. Lymington to Yarmouth is…

  • Lyndhurst

    Lyndhurst is actually a village – the largest in the New Forest and the ‘capital’ of the area. The New Forest Heritage Centre (free to visit) is here, the New Forest Reptile Centre is two miles east and the New…

  • Poole

    Poole has a famous quay where you can buy fresh seafood, catch a ferry to Brownsea Island (famous for its red squirrels) or organise a sea fishing trip. There’s a shopping centre and a good selection of pubs and restaurants….

  • Christchurch

    Historic Christchurch has a famous Priory and a picturesque harbour where the Stour and Avon rivers flow into the sea. In addition to the shops, restaurants and cafes, it’s popular for:

  • Bournemouth

    This great seaside town has a lot to offer with miles of sandy beaches, clifftops, two piers, shopping centres, theatres, gardens, new cinema complex, music venues and nightlife. Bournemouth’s highlights include: Seven miles of south-facing sandy beaches stretching from swanky…

  • Burley

    You’ll often find ponies roaming the streets of this traditional New Forest village, which has witches, smuggling and dragon slaying in its history! There’s a good size car park and you can browse unusual shops selling curios and the famous…

  • Ringwood

    Our nearest town is a traditional country town with a good selection of shops, coffee shops, pubs, restaurants and takeaways, some of which deliver to our site. It has a Waitrose, a Sainsbury’s and a large Lidl. Things to see…

Days Out

  • Hurn Forest

    A 20-25 minutes walk from our campsite – a large stretch of heathland and woodland with miles of tracks and trails, entrance on Boundary Lane which goes from our nearby roundabout – great for dogs.

  • Sandbanks

    At the Western end of the sweep of Bournemouth bay, this famously expensive peninsular has wonderful sandy beaches on one side and Poole Harbour on the other. You can cross the mouth of Poole Harbour on a car ferry (if…

  • Upton Country Park

    Upton Country Park, Poole (13 miles south west) has a Georgian Mansion and extensive grounds on the edge of Poole Harbour. With a botanical walled garden, miles of walking and cycling tracks plus a tearoom and free entry, it’s well…

  • Kingston Lacy

    Kingston Lacy (14 miles west) is a National Trust stately home and gardens with plenty of walks and a cafe. (Dog friendly). Famous for its snowdrops and bluebell displays in the wider Kingston Lacy estate. Find out more about Kingston…

  • Cranborne Chase AONB

    Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (17 miles north west) covers 380 square miles of scenic countryside in Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Somerset. The area is an International Dark Sky Reserve with numerous cycling and walking routes. Find out…

  • Old Wardour Castle

    Old Wardour Castle (27 miles north west) was once a lavish home that was destroyed in the English Civil War. Dogs are welcome on a lead. English Heritage members are free. Find out more about Old Wardour Castle. Image courtesy…

  • Wilton House

    Wilton House (24 miles north) is a magnificent, beautifully restored country house and gardens set in landscaped parkland just outside Salisbury, home to the earls of Pembroke. You may recognise it from its appearance in Bridgerton. (Assistance dogs only in…

  • Corfe Castle

    Corfe Castle (25 miles south west without the Sandbanks ferry) is a fairy-tale ruin on a hill with a picturesque village nearby. (Dogs are welcome on a lead). The Swanage steam railway stops here. Corfe Castle is free for National…

  • Beaulieu

    Beaulieu (26 miles south east) has the National Motor Museum, an abbey, stately home and extensive grounds with a monorail, plus Buckler’s Hard shipbuilding village nearby. We would also recommend the Beaulieu to Buckler’s Hard walk, which is approximately 2…

  • The Tank Museum

    The Tank Museum (28 miles south west) at Bovington has an impressive collection of tanks and weaponry. Look out for live-action displays and the popular TankFest event. (Assistance dogs only). Find out more about The Tank Museum.

  • Stonehenge

    Stonehenge (31 miles north) is the iconic monument dating back 5,000 years. Dogs on leads are allowed outside only. Pre-booking is strongly advised, especially during peak times. English Heritage and National Trust members are free. Find out more about Stonehenge.

  • Stourhead

    Stourhead (35 miles north west) is a stately home run by the National Trust with stunning grounds famous for autumn colours. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Find out more about Stourhead.

  • Longleat

    Longleat (41 miles north west) is a magnificent stately home with famous safari park and other attractions including a maze. Dogs are not allowed in most areas, but there are unsupervised kennels at the Sarari Park entrance. Find out more…

  • Abbotsbury

    Abbotsbury (42 miles south west) historic and picturesque village has Sub-Tropical Gardens (dogs welcome on leads) and the Swannery, (dogs prohibited) the only place where you can walk among nesting mute swans. Chesil Beach is one of several walks near…

  • Knoll Gardens

    Knoll Gardens near Ferndown (7 miles) specialise in ornamental grasses under the UK’s leading specialist, Neil Lucas, who sometimes gives tours. (Guide and hearing dogs only.) Find out more about Knoll Gardens.

  • Compton Acres

    Compton Acres (16 miles) has 10 acres of formal gardens in different styles with a highly rated cafe, located between Bournemouth and Poole at Canford Cliffs, near Sandbanks. Dogs are allowed in the gardens, cafe and tearooms, but must be…

  • Furzey Gardens

    Furzey Gardens (17 miles) are informal woodland gardens with a thatched seasonal cafe run by a local charity that supports people with learning disabilities. (Assistance dogs only). Find out more about Furzey Gardens.

  • The Jurassic Coast

    The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site stretching from Studland to Exmouth in Devon. Highlights include Durdle Door, the arched rock formation in the sea, Lulworth Cove, the almost circular bay with unique geology and West Bay cliffs (featured…

  • The Isle of Purbeck

    The Isle of Purbeck is a peninsular with stunning beaches, a dramatic coastline, a ruined castle and great seaside towns, forming part of the Jurassic Coast path. Studland Bay is a National Trust nature reserve with unspoilt sandy beaches and…

  • Hurst Castle

    Hurst Castle was part of our coastal defences from Tudor times to WW2. It’s only accessible by shingle bank from Milford on Sea, a lively seaside village with a shingle beach, or by passenger ferry from Keyhaven (runs April to…

  • Hengistbury Head

    This headland is at the eastern end of the Bournemouth beaches. It’s an important archaeological site and a nature reserve. Cars are restricted, so you have to walk, cycle or take the land train (if it’s running) over to Mudeford…

  • The New Forest

    Cross the cattle grids and enter the wonderful world of the New Forest – 219 square miles of woodland and heathland, towns, villages and coast. You can walk or cycle for miles and there’s no shortage of pubs and cafes…

Local Events

Discover what’s on locally

As well as our own special events that we run at Monty’s Bar, Back of Beyond makes a great base for visiting some of the bigger (and smaller) events in the local area. Use as a base to head out to Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. Below we’ve listed some of the key events which take place locally. We’d also recommend using the following websites to find out what’s on locally:

The New Forest
Visit Hampshire
Visit Dorset